By now, we must be well aware of what probiotics are. They are living microorganisms that thrive inside our gastrointestinal tract and aid the process of digestion and metabolism. These factors further help promote overall gut health. Also referred to as good bacteria, probiotics are safe to consume and can easily be sourced through the cultures of fermented dairy products like dahi, lassi, chaas, cheese and more. Hence, it is important to keep including these foods in our daily diets, especially for these probiotics (microorganisms) to remain active.
What Are Prebiotics? Difference Between Probiotics And Prebiotics:
To put it simply, prebiotics are food for probiotics. A lesser-known but close companion to probiotics, they are plant fibres that are not digestible by the body but can help good bacteria grow and survive in the gut. Hence, health experts suggest, if you are consuming probiotic-rich food, then it is also important to include prebiotics in your daily diet.
Celebrity nutritionist Lovneet Batra curated a list of some commonly available prebiotic foods that you can consider adding to your grocery list for everyday consumption. She took to Instagram to state, “Prebiotics are a form of dietary fibre that feeds the ‘friendly’ bacteria in your gut. These healthy fibres include inulin, fructooligosaccharides, galactooligosaccharides, beta-glucans, pectins, and resistant starches.”
Find the detailed post below:
Also Read: Prebiotics For Weight Loss: How Prebiotic Fibre Can Help You In Reducing Body Fat
Gut-Healthy Diet: Here’re 5 Healthy Prebiotic Foods To Add To Your Diet:
Garlic:
A common food ingredient available in every kitchen, garlic helps promote the growth of beneficial bifidobacteria in the gut. Besides, the nutrients in garlic further help prevent the growth of disease-promoting bacteria.
Onion:
Onion is probably one of the most accessible food ingredients across the globe. According to nutritionist Batra, it is “rich in inulin and FOS (fructooligosaccharides)”. For the unversed, FOS is a form of soluble fibre that helps strengthen gut flora, breaks down fat in the body and promotes overall immunity “by increasing nitric oxide production in cells”.
Flaxseeds:
Considered a superfood, flaxseeds are equipped with almost every essential nutrient we need for overall good health. According to Lovneet Batra, “The fibre content of flaxseeds is from mucilage gum, cellulose and lignin” and helps boost healthy gut bacteria, further breaking down the dietary fats you digest.
Banana:
Banana is considered one of the best ways to consume prebiotics. A low-fructose fruit, it is rich in fibre and contains inulin -“a substance that stimulates the growth of good bacteria in the gut,” explains Nutritionist Batra.
Barley:
This cereal grain is rich in beta-glucan, a type of prebiotic fibre that propels the growth of probiotics in the intestines. Moreover, Lovneet Batra explains that the beta-glucan in barley is also considered great to “lower total and LDL (bad) cholesterol and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease”.
Now that you have the list handy, we suggest including these food ingredients in your diet and nourishing yourself from within. But always remember, moderation is the key.
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