Prebiotics 101: What They Are, What They Do, and Where You Can Find Them

You’ve probably heard of probiotics, living microorganisms that support a healthy digestive tract. Eating them, or having them inside your gut, can help your digestive system function more efficiently and may contribute to a healthier immune system, among other health benefits.

 

But have you heard of prebiotics?

According to the official definition, a prebiotic is any substance used by microorganisms inside the body that confers health benefits. Translation: prebiotics are beneficial microbes’ food. While researchers are still learning about their full potential to boost overall health or even treat disease, one thing is for certain—adding more prebiotics to your diet can give you a happier gut.

How prebiotics work

Most prebiotics are types of dietary fiber, which is a kind of carbohydrate that human enzymes can’t digest. Not every fiber is a prebiotic, however, because there are two categories of dietary fiber: soluble fiber, which is fermented by gut bacteria, and insoluble fiber, which is not fermented. The soluble fibers that are metabolized by beneficial gut microbes are considered prebiotics. Inside your gut, prebiotics stimulate beneficial gut microbes to grow, improving gut health—and other areas of health, too.

Some prebiotics come from sources besides food and impact parts of the body beyond the gastrointestinal tract, but most of the ones we know about are found in food.

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