Probiotics VS Prebiotics

Hi, last lesson we came across this term "Probiotics" and "Prebiotics". Many of us don't know whether there is a difference in these terms.

Probiotics means "pro-life". Probiotics are live microorganisms found in, or added to, fermented diary foods such as yogurt, buttermilk, sour cream and fermented vegetable foods such as miso, tempeh (fermented tofu) and sauerkaut. Probiotics are also available in supplement form.

So how do Probiotics work?
When a person consumes a product containing probiotics, these bacteria adhere to the intestinal wall for a few days. Once attached to the intestinal wall, the bacteria can exert their beneficial actions. The activity of these bacteria is short-lived, and they need to be consumed on a daily basis to benefit human health. Although the exact mechanism of how probiotics work is currently being researched, probiotics do benefit our health and in the following conditions:

-Diarrhea
-Infections in infants and children in daycare
-Irritable bowel syndrome and inflammatory bowel diseases
-Lactose intolerance
-Urinary and genital tract infections in women
-Reduce the risk of allergies in infants

It is important in order to be effective, there is a minimum number of bacteria that must be present in foods. Although the exact number of bacteria is unknown, it is estimated that a daily dose of at least 1 billion to 10 billion of bacteria are needed to be effective. As live cultures can survive only a period of time, food and supplements containing probiotics have a limited shelf life, and those products must be properly stored and consumed within a relatively brief period of time to receive maximal benefit.

Prebiotics:
Non digestible food ingredients, that beneficially affect the host by selectively stimulating the growth and/or activity of one or a limited number of bacteria in the colon, and thus improve host health (Gibson and Roberfroid, 1995). They are food components related to probiotics. These are types of fiber naturally found in fruits, vegetables and whole grains that promote the growth of friendly bacteria. Inulin and oligofructose are the most widely studied. Prebiotics can be added to functional foods, typically to those that contain probiotics.

Effects of prebiotics

Prebiotics are specifically targeted to act on the flora in the large intestine.

The following effects of prebiotics have been claimed:

• relief of constipation
• reduce intestinal pH
• restore intestinal bacterial balance
• effect blood cholesterol level
• reduce risk on colorectal cancer
• effects on the immune system
• better intestinal flora in infants

Source: http://www.food-info.net/uk/ff/prebiotics.htm