Probiotics, Prebiotics & Postbiotics: What are the Differences?

We are discovering more and more every day about how our gut health influences the rest of our bodies. Much like our skin, the gastrointestinal lining is the body’s first defense against the environment.

However, this thin lining is fragile and can be easily disrupted by genetic, dietary, and environmental factors.

Changes to gut homeostasis can lead to chronic inflammation, poor nutrient absorption, abdominal pain, and even gastrointestinal cancers. Many diseases are associated with the gastrointestinal tract, such as irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease, ulcerative colitis, peptic ulcers, and can all lead to lower quality of life and poor health outcomes.

And with the discovery of the gut-brain axis, in which the intestinal system has been found to be neurologically linked to the cognitive and emotional centers of the brain, researchers are realizing that the gut plays a major role in our mental and psychological health.

For example, the neurotransmitter serotonin is responsible for stabilizing mood, feelings of well-being, and happiness. 95 percent of serotonin is found in the gastrointestinal tract and may be one of the mediators of the gut-brain axis.

That said, probiotics, prebiotics, and postbiotics are becoming major health trends in improving gut health.

What are the differences between them, and how do they assist in improving one’s gut health? Learn more about the how and why in this article.