Prebiotics

What Are Prebiotic Supplements?

Prebiotics and probiotics are two terms that you’ve probably heard a lot about in relation to gut health. Probiotics are the good type of bacteria that we need in our digestive system to balance the bad bacteria and they can help to provide a wide range of health benefits. You can consume these healthy bacteria through supplements or by eating a balanced diet, particularly one that’s rich in fermented foods, such as yoghurt, sauerkraut, kimchi, kefir, and sourdough bread.

Prebiotics are indigestible plant fibre that probiotics eat to produce more good bacteria and support a healthy gut and immune system. You can find prebiotic fibre in Jerusalem artichokes, asparagus, radicchio, apples, pears, fennel, leeks, chicory root and much more.

Prebiotic supplements are natural supplements that you can take to boost your intake of prebiotics and further fuel the production of probiotics. GoodnessMe stock some of the best prebiotic supplements in Australia with a great range of vegan protein powders, prebiotic blends full of fibre and nutrients, wholefood bars and formulas that are packed with both prebiotics and probiotics to improve and maintain the digestive system and promote overall health and wellbeing. Shop them online today with free delivery Australia-wide over $75.

Are Prebiotic Supplements Effective?

Studies suggest that prebiotic supplements can maximise the benefits and deliver a range of potential health benefits to the body, including:

1. May stimulate the immune system – By helping to increase the good flora in your gut, prebiotics may be able to boost your immune system and reduce your risk of developing several diseases.
   
   
2. May help with Irritable Bowel Disease (IBD) – As prebiotics can produce more probiotics in the body, this may be able to help balance the good and bad bacteria in the digestive system and assist in reducing inflammation, constipation, and diarrhoea. 
   
   
3. May help with weight loss – Taking prebiotic supplements may be able to help with weight loss. Plant-based prebiotics are full of fibre which can fill you up faster and reduce appetite. They also produce short chain fatty acids when fermented which can also suppress appetite and cause good gut bacteria to thrive and multiply. 
   
   
4. May help lower cholesterol levels – The short chain fatty acids made by prebiotics are metabolised by the liver and may help to lower blood pressure. They also help to absorb fats and phospholipids in the lower intestine which may be able to decrease the level of bad cholesterol (LDL).
   
   
5. May improve mineral absorption – Prebiotic supplements may help you to absorb important minerals more effectively, such as calcium and magnesium. These minerals are needed for strong, healthy bones and to reduce the risk of bone-related diseases, such as osteoporosis.
   
   
6. May improve the digestive system – Since plant-based prebiotics are loaded with fibre, they may help you to digest food better and prevent constipation by keeping the digestive tract flowing smoothly.
   
   

How do Prebiotic Supplements Work?

When you take prebiotic supplements, you are helping to feed the live microorganisms that your body needs to maintain optimal health. Since prebiotics are plant-based fibre that’s unable to be digested by the body, it travels down through the intestines to reach the colon where it is then fermented and transformed into food for probiotics, such as healthy bacteria and yeast.

Prebiotics are also unaffected by enzymes and gastric acids which is great news for probiotics! This means they can reach your colon intact without being destroyed or degraded in any way as can happen with probiotics when passing through your digestive system. Prebiotic supplements are also more durable with a much longer shelf life than probiotic supplements as they contain no living bacteria.

What Prebiotics Should I Buy?

Prebiotic supplements come in different forms, from protein powders and handy sachets to on-the-go prebiotic snacks, such as wholefood bars. You can take prebiotic supplements on their own or combined with probiotic supplementation for the ultimate gut-friendly routine. Check out these popular prebiotic supplements available online at GoodnessMe:

1. Protein Powder – We stock high quality plant-based protein powders by leading brands like Nutra Organics. Shop Nutra Organics Thriving Protein with an organic pea rice blend and delicious vanilla flavour. It’s gentle, dairy-free and packed with 1 billion probiotics, as well as folate and calcium. You can also find Nutra Organics Hemp Protein with vegan collagen for glowing skin and healthy nails and hair, as well as convenient sachet options to add into drinks and food.
   
   
2. Wholefood Bars – Our wholefood bars by Nutra Organics make perfect lunchbox snacks or work time treats. The Coco Biotics probiotic bar is rich in omega 3 with a divine chocolate and coconut flavour, while the Berry YUM Biotics is a kid-friendly snack full of berries, vegan protein, and prebiotic fibres for happy tummies!
   
   
3. Prebiotic/ Probiotic Blends – Get the best of both worlds with a vegan blend of prebiotics and probiotics. Try Eden Health Foods Pre-Probiotic Ultimate Biotic with 18 strains of probiotics, including Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, and soil-based organism for daily digestive maintenance. We also have Queen Garnet Probiotic & Prebiotic Powder with 5 billion bacteria in each serve and Queen Garnet Plum for a hefty dose of antioxidants. 
   
   

How Do I Take Prebiotics?

You can take prebiotics by eating prebiotic foods, such as jerusalem artichokes, bananas and asparagus, or by taking a prebiotic supplement. If you’re taking a prebiotic supplement in powder form, it should be mixed into a drink, such as water or a breakfast smoothie, or stirred into food, such as cereal or yoghurt. Our Nutra Organics protein powders can also be used in raw and baked treats.

You can combine a prebiotic supplement with a probiotic supplement, creating what’s called a synbiotic effect. Try to take the probiotic about 15 minutes before the prebiotic on an empty stomach to ensure they don’t interact too soon. We recommend to seek advice from a health practitioner before introducing supplements and changing your diet.

Discover what prebiotic supplements can do for you at GoodnessMe. You can also buy probiotics online separately or combined with prebiotics in a vegan blend. Consider adding our other supplements and organic products to your routine for an all-round healthy routine, including vitamins, collagen supplements, superfoods, smoothie boosters, beauty powders and more.