Clinical Nutrition

Probiotics and Prebiotics

Probiotics contain live organisms, usually specific strains of bacteria that directly add to the population of healthy microbes in the gut. Probiotics can be taken through both food and supplements.

Prebiotics are specialized plant fibers. which act like fertilizers that stimulate the growth of healthy bacteria in the gut. Prebiotics are found in many fruits and vegetables, which contain complex carbohydrates, such as fiber and resistant starch. These carbohydrates aren't digestible by the human body, so they pass through the digestive system to become food for the bacteria and other microbes.