Supplements & functional ingredients Prebioticsversus I


t is a fair assumption that most people have heard of probiotics. From celebrity-endorsed yoghurts to funky kombucha cans, it can feel like every item on the aisles of food health stores has the label of ‘probiotic’. Someone may not know the intricacies in the science behind how they work, but – thanks to the abundance of adverts for yoghurt drinks showing women carefully caressing their bellies – they can probably deduce probiotics are a benefit to the gut. But what about its similar- sounding counterpart, prebiotics?


probiotics


Over recent decades in both research and product development, probiotics have been hailed for their benefits on the body and digestive system. But what about the often overlooked, similar-sounding, prebiotic? Ellys Woodhouse speaks to Dr Alexandra Shustina, founder of Whole Gut Health; Dr Mastaneh Sharafi, vice-president of scientific and clinical affairs at Ritual; and Dr Megan Rossi, founder of The Gut Health Doctor, to hear about the benefits of taking prebiotics, their food sources and how they compare with probiotics.


“I know that people probably know more about probiotics than prebiotics, they’re everywhere, all over the health food stores”, agrees Dr Alexandra Shustina, founder of Whole Gut Health. “People think they understand probiotics better than prebiotics because they’re just more out there. People see that the [concept of a] probiotic is easier to grasp, like, ‘I’m just putting a good bug in there’. Whereas with a prebiotic, you [have] got to know a little more and think, ‘Well, why do I need it?’”


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Ingredients Insight / www.ingredients-insight.com


Vectorpocket; Natasha Markina/Shutterstock.com


ectorpocket; Natasha Markina/Shutterstock.com


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