Pre, Pro, & Post Biotics

The gut is where the immune system begins, where neurotransmitters for brain and mental health are made, and where nutrient absorption and detoxification happen. It also plays a role in blood sugar regulation, and skin health. The gut is life and it’s essential for disease prevention, treatment, and long term health.

Unfortunately, many people are still taking poorly formulated and ineffective supplements — either due to an under informed/under educated recommendation or because it’s just really hard to navigate the wellness world (understandable). Dose and formulation matter. Ideally, we want multi human strains, high potency, and resistant to degradation by stomach acid.

Eating fermented foods is fantastic, IF your gut can handle it, and in addition to, NOT instead of, a functional supplement. It would be ideal to get everything through the diet, but in order to get a dose that creates change and supports health long term, you’d have to eat a very large amount of fermented food. And for many people, especially those with IBS or other gut issues, fermented foods can actually trigger symptoms.

Most supplements are PRObiotics — that’s likely what you’ve heard the most, and they’re great. We can get PREbiotics from food, and POSTbiotics are made after (more on this below). BUT, if we can get all 3 in a supplement, that further supports gut health and improves efficacy. So what’s the difference between them?

🥦PREbiotics: these are food for the bacteria we know as probiotics — PREbiotics feed PRObiotics to keep them alive and thriving. High fibre foods like vegetables are the best source, as well as fibre extracts like inulin.

🦠PRObiotics: these are the bacteria themselves. They need to be fed and replenished regularly because we lose them through digestion.

✨POSTbiotics: these are short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) produced by PRObiotics once they feast on PREbiotics. These are what lead to decreased inflammation, and a lot of the positive effects we associate with PRObiotics.

*Some digestively react to PREbiotics — which is an opportunity to work on gut health more generally with a practitioner.

Follow your gut.