Where are Prebiotics and Probiotics Found?

Probiotics are found in fermented dairy foods like yogurt, aged cheese and kefir. Aged cheese contains live cultures of organisms such as lactobacilli and bifidobacteria. Non-dairy foods such as soy beverages, miso and kimchi also contain beneficial microbial cultures. Probiotics are also available in the form of pills and are used to treat intestinal infections.

Prebiotics are naturally found complex carbohydrates in our diet. Examples are inulin and galactooligosaccharides which belong to the category fructooligosaccharides. These carbohydrates are commonly found in foods such as onions, bananas, garlic, asparagus, whole-wheat foods, leeks and soybeans.

Uses of Prebiotics and Probiotics

Probiotics are widely used in the treatment of diarrhea and to treat the gastrointestinal side effects of antibiotic treatment, as antibiotics tend to destroy the good microbes in the gut. Probiotics help prevent as well as treat infections of the urinary tract and vaginal yeast infections. They are known to play a role in preventing or treating colds and flu. They are also used in treating irritable bowel syndrome and to speed up the treatment of intestinal infections.

Prebiotics promote the growth of good bacteria in the gut, thus enhancing overall gastrointestinal health. They are also said to promote, improve and enhance calcium absorption. Studies have shown that prebiotics and a healthy gut can help improve mental health and regular consumption of prebiotics can fight stress, anxiety and depression. These research studies tested the saliva of people who consume prebiotics regularly and found decreased levels of cortisol, a hormone that is directly linked to mental disorders.