What are Postbiotics?
​Postbiotics are bioactive compounds made when the healthy bacteria in your gut feed on various types of prebiotic food in your colon, such as fibers. Although these bioactive compounds are considered the waste products of probiotic bacteria, they offer various health benefits to your body .
What are the benefits of Postbiotics?
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Postbiotics can help strengthen your immune system. For example, postbiotics like butyrate, a short-chain fatty acid, can stimulate the production of regulatory T cells in your intestine. Those cells help control the magnitude of your body’s immune response. They can also help in maintaining the gut barrier function, reducing inflammation and fighting infections of the digestive system .
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Prebiotics vs. Probiotics vs. Postbiotics
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Probiotics are living microorganisms that confer health benefits on the host when consumed. Prebiotics are dietary materials that these bacteria feed on. Postbiotics are healthy byproducts naturally produced by probiotics as part of their life processes. A clear distinction between probiotics and postbiotics is that probiotics consist of living microorganisms, while postbiotics are non-living, although still effective.
The basic of Gut Health
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What is the microbiome, the microbiome consists mostly of living microorganisms, such as bacteria, viruses and fungi. This can be found throughout your body. However, most of these microorganisms, particularly bacteria, reside in your intestines, referred to as your gut Microbiome. The Microbiome plays an important role in many bodily functions, ranging from stimulating the immune system to nutrient absorption. Every individual has a unique makeup of microbiome microorganisms that are affected by many factors, such as overall lifestyle, diet, medications, weight, age, genetics.
Studies show there are certain strains of bacteria that can have beneficial effects, while an imbalance of gut microbiota is linked to gastrointestinal conditions (like irritable bowel syndrome), autoimmune and cardiometabolic conditions. A diverse microbiome is normal. We do not totally need to eradicate the bad, but a higher percentage of beneficial bacteria is the goal. That’s where pre-, pro- and post-biotics come into play. Each of the “biotics” can make a difference in the environment of your gut microbiome—and therefore your overall health and well-being.
What are foods that contains Probiotics?
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Foods that contain postbiotics include fermented foods such as kefir, kimchi, sauerkraut, tempeh, yogurt, and certain pickles. Vegetables and fermented foods high in probiotics should be the goal when seeking to increase postbiotics for optimal gut health .
