Prebiotics

Prebiotics – classification and significance for the gut

Many people are already familiar with probiotics, which are often mentioned in connection with digestion and the intestinal flora. The term prebiotics is less common. These are special, indigestible food components that play an important role in the gut.

The following information is general and non-binding. It does not replace individual medical advice. Nor can it replace treatment by a physician, psychotherapist or physiotherapist. We consider the services of physicians, psychotherapists and physiotherapists to be very important. Therefore, ongoing treatment should not be interrupted or discontinued, and treatment that becomes necessary in the future should not be postponed. No promises are made that healing or success will occur.

Prebiotics are certain dietary fibers that pass through the human small intestine unchanged and are only metabolized in the large intestine by the microorganisms living there. They serve as a food source for selected intestinal bacteria and thus contribute to supporting the balance of the intestinal flora.

The gut ecosystem consists of a large number of different microorganisms. This entirety is referred to as the intestinal flora or gut microbiome. Its composition is individual and changes over the course of life. Various external factors such as a one-sided diet, persistent stress, environmental burdens or certain medications can influence this balance. If this leads to a shift in the bacterial composition, this is referred to as an imbalance of the intestinal flora.

A disturbed intestinal flora can manifest itself through various, mostly non-specific complaints.

Possible accompanying symptoms of a disturbed intestinal flora

• Abdominal pain

• Flatulence

• Diarrhea or constipation

• Nausea

• Vomiting

• Headaches or migraine

• Fatigue

• Food intolerances

• Inflammatory changes in the intestine

• Signs of a limited nutrient supply

These symptoms can have many causes and should always be considered in the overall context.

Nutrition and prebiotics in everyday life

A balanced, high-fiber diet is a central basis for a stable intestinal flora. Foods with prebiotic properties can be part of such a diet. These include, among others:

Apples

They contain pectin, a dietary fiber that is utilized by bacteria in the large intestine. The peel is particularly rich in pectin, which is why apples are best eaten unpeeled.

Fermented foods

Sauerkraut, kimchi or other fermented vegetables contain microbially altered components that can be used as part of a varied diet.

Potatoes

Potatoes that have been cooked and then cooled contain resistant starch. This is not digested in the small intestine but is available to microorganisms in the large intestine.

Yeast

Certain yeast strains are being studied in the context of nutritional science because they can compete with other microorganisms in the intestinal environment.

Vegetables rich in prebiotics

Vegetables such as artichokes, black salsify, chicory, Jerusalem artichoke, onions, garlic or dandelion root contain inulin and other prebiotic fibers that are metabolized in the large intestine.

Individual consideration of intestinal health

In the case of pronounced or persistent complaints, a differentiated look at the intestinal flora may be useful. In naturopathic practice, stool tests, among other things, are used for this purpose in order to obtain indications of the composition of the intestinal flora, inflammatory processes or other functional abnormalities.

These results serve as an orientation and are usually discussed and classified as part of a holistic approach.