{"id":3772,"date":"2017-04-30T06:43:22","date_gmt":"2017-04-30T06:43:22","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.vivehealth.com.au\/blog\/?p=3772"},"modified":"2017-04-30T06:43:22","modified_gmt":"2017-04-30T06:43:22","slug":"whats-the-deal-with-prebiotics","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vivehealth.com.au\/blog\/2017\/04\/30\/whats-the-deal-with-prebiotics\/","title":{"rendered":"What’s the deal with Prebiotics?"},"content":{"rendered":"

by Mindy Duncan (student Naturopath)<\/p>\n

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Probiotics have long been a topic of discussion for numerous reasons, namely the well-researched positive impacts they have on many aspects of human health. However their equally, if not more beneficial counterparts prebiotics, are rarely mentioned. So what exactly are they and why are they so important?<\/p>\n

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Firstly….What exactly is a prebiotic?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

A prebiotic is a non-digestible dietary fibre which is defined as:<\/p>\n

\u201ca selectively fermented ingredient that allows specific changes, both in the composition and\/or activity in the gastrointestinal microbiota, that confer benefits upon the host<\/em>\u201d.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

This essentially means that they only enhance the growth of beneficial bacteria to support not only healthy digestive function, but well-being & longevity in every aspect. They are the essential<\/strong> fuel which helps good gut bacteria survive and thrive.<\/p>\n

Being non-digestible, these fibres resist being broken down by our gastric (stomach) acid and continue to travel down into the colon where they are fermented by our microflora and begin their beneficial role of supporting the growth & function of our good gut bacteria. This is where the magic happens!<\/p>\n

Probiotics NEED prebiotics to survive!<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

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Why are they beneficial?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

So why do we need them? There are a many reasons we should include prebiotics in our daily diet. Here are just a few of the remarkable things that they do for us:<\/p>\n

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