Postbiotics
When you take prebiotics or probiotics, people don't realize that at the end of the day, the hope is to get some postbiotics - Will Bulsiewicz MD
image by: Georgia Gabrielson Frost
HWN Suggests
Are the new postbiotic pills the real key to better gut health?
NOT so long ago, the very idea of swallowing live bacteria to boost our health would have seemed utterly ridiculous.
But in the past two decades, the market for drinks, foods and pills that promise to boost our beneficial gut bugs - which studies are now linking to everything from reducing the risk of depression to shrinking the size of our waistlines - has dramatically expanded.
First came probiotic supplements - so-called 'friendly bacteria'. Then prebiotics, which provide the fuel these bacteria feed off. Now comes a new breed of biotic supplement: the postbiotics.
Resources
Postbiotics - Everything You Need To Know About The Gut Health Trend
Now “postbiotics” are hitting 2021 wellness trends reports. They are defined as “the “waste” of gut microbes after the process of fermentation. Because postbiotics are not live (like prebiotics), they may be much easier (no refrigeration needed) to roll into more supplements and foods/beverages. Research is in early days.
Postbiotics and smart toilets: new era of harnessing our microbial chemicals to keep us slim and healthy
Microbiome research has now become one of the hottest topics in science as multiple conditions, including heart diseases, obesity and appetite and mood changes, appear to be linked to the microbes inside our gut.
Postbiotics May Help Protect and Support Health—Here's What They Are and How You Can Get Them
Scientists are enthusiastic about postbiotics thanks to what research has suggested about the compounds' potential health benefits.
Postbiotics—A Step Beyond Pre- and Probiotics
The concept of postbiotics is based on the observation that the beneficial effects of the microbiota are mediated by the secretion of various metabolites. However, its precise definition remains under discussion.
Probiotics Are Cool and All, but Have You Heard About Postbiotics?
Unlike pre- and probiotics, postbiotics aren't something you can consume in food or supplement form; it describes what happens when the two combine
Probiotics, Prebiotics, and Postbiotics: What to Know
Postbiotics are bioactive compounds that are produced when your good gut bacteria (probiotics) ferment fiber. “So probiotics + prebiotics = postbiotics,” explains Finley. You cannot create postbiotics without prebiotics, the latter of which Finley deems “the real MVP for gut health.” Examples of postbiotics include butyrate and acetate, two short-chain fatty acids, which Christensen explains are made “by certain types of gut bacteria, and bacterial cell wall fragments, which can either stimulate or modulate the immune system.”
The Low Down on Pre-, Pro-, and Post-Biotics
The gut is absolutely key to health, and bacterial diversity is one of the hallmark signs of gut health. So you’ve heard of probiotics. You may have even heard of prebiotics. But how much do you know about postbiotics?
You’ve Heard Of Probiotics & Prebiotics — But What Are Postbiotics?
The search for better gut health continues. Just when we all finally got a handle on the benefits of probiotics and prebiotics, the powers that be have added another "biotic" to the mix.
Are the new postbiotic pills the real key to better gut health?
But is this latest spin on 'biotics' just a way to get us spending yet more on our wellbeing - or can they really boost our health?
Introducing Stitches!
Your Path to Meaningful Connections in the World of Health and Medicine
Connect, Collaborate, and Engage!
Coming Soon - Stitches, the innovative chat app from the creators of HWN. Join meaningful conversations on health and medical topics. Share text, images, and videos seamlessly. Connect directly within HWN's topic pages and articles.
