{"id":1745,"date":"2021-08-19T09:52:00","date_gmt":"2021-08-19T16:52:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sovereignlaboratories.com\/blog\/?p=1745"},"modified":"2026-04-30T07:33:56","modified_gmt":"2026-04-30T14:33:56","slug":"difference-between-probiotic-and-prebiotic","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sovereignlaboratories.com\/blog\/difference-between-probiotic-and-prebiotic\/","title":{"rendered":"Probiotics vs Prebiotics: What\u2019s the Difference?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong><span style=\"color: #333399;\"><a style=\"color: #333399;\" href=\"https:\/\/my.clevelandclinic.org\/health\/articles\/14598-probiotics\">Probiotics<\/a><\/span><\/strong> <span style=\"color: #000000;\">are naturally occurring bacteria that live on the lining of the intestinal tract. These beneficial bacteria aid in the digestion and absorption of food. People can take probiotics in supplement form and can also be found in a variety of foods.<\/span> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.webmd.com\/digestive-disorders\/prebiotics-overview\"><strong><span style=\"color: #333399;\">Prebiotics<\/span><\/strong><\/a> <span style=\"color: #000000;\">are a good companion to probiotic supplements and help digest and produce probiotic bacteria. When taken through a food source or supplement, prebiotics can increase the efficacy of probiotics.<\/span> <span style=\"color: #000000;\">Believe it or not, our bodies need<em>\u00a0<\/em>bacteria. Often discounted as a dirty word, bacteria, or rather\u00a0<em>good<\/em>\u00a0bacteria, play an essential function in the health of our gut and immune system. <\/span> <span style=\"color: #000000;\">An additional supplement that compliments probiotics are prebiotics.\u00a0Here is a breakdown of the differences between probiotics and prebiotics and their potential benefits when used together:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">What are Probiotics?<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">What are Prebiotics?<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">How Probiotics and Prebiotics Can Help Improve Gut and Overall Health<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Trusting Your Gut: Are Probiotics and Prebiotics Right for You?<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span style=\"color: #000000;\">What are Probiotics?\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">On our intestinal tract lining live two main types of probiotic bacteria,\u00a0Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium. These probiotic bacteria work hard to maintain optimal gut health. They also aid good digestion. Probiotics are so important to the health of our gut that they are often referred to as \u201cfriendly\u201d bacteria.\u00a0<\/span> <span style=\"color: #000000;\">Naturally occurring probiotic bacteria grow and live in our gut. When properly fed, they aid in the digestion process. They also create vital nutrients and vitamins, help fight off bad bacteria, and support the cells on the lining of our stomach and intestines.<\/span> <span style=\"color: #000000;\">Probiotic supplements or foods are created by taking live microorganisms found in the human body and isolating them. Probiotics also occur naturally in fermented foods such as yogurt, pickles, cheese, kombucha, sauerkraut and kimchi.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"color: #000000;\">What are Prebiotics?\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Prebiotics work differently than probiotics due to the inability of our digestive system to break them down. Unlike probiotics, prebiotics do not contain bacteria. Instead, they are a type of dietary fiber that acts as food for probiotic bacteria.\u00a0<\/span> <span style=\"color: #000000;\">Prebiotics can be consumed as a food additive or supplement and are processed by our digestive tract, where they make their way to our colon and help probiotic bacteria grow. Prebiotics, like probiotics, are also found in foods such as garlic, artichokes, leeks, bananas, asparagus and onions.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"color: #000000;\">How Probiotics and Prebiotics Can Help Improve Gut and Overall Health<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Whenever there is an imbalance in our gut\u2019s bacteria, the immediate symptoms can present themselves as diarrhea, heartburn, and occasional constipation. However, a lack of good gut bacteria has also been linked to fatigue, sluggishness, mood, and occasional sleeplessness.\u00a0<\/span> <span style=\"color: #000000;\">Other overlooked symptoms of an imbalance of gut bacteria can sometimes include a lack of sleep, allergies, skin rashes, sugar cravings, and noticeable moods. Additionally, bad gut health symptoms can also show up with autoimmune concerns.<\/span> <span style=\"color: #000000;\">Microbiome therapy or the use of probiotics and prebiotics have\u00a0been known to help restore this bacterial balance. This can aid in curbing intestinal issues and may help ease related symptoms.<\/span> <span style=\"color: #000000;\">Additionally, healthy gut bacteria help produce higher serotonin levels in our brains, boosting our mood levels.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Trusting Your Gut: Are Probiotics and Prebiotics Right for You?<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Ideally, we should consume 25 to 35 grams of fiber to maintain a healthy level of gut bacteria. However, environmental stressors, prescribed dietary restrictions, and the normal daily demands of life can get in the way.<\/span> <span style=\"color: #000000;\">The function of our gut bacteria can play a larger role in our overall health. And this fact has not gone unnoticed as an estimated 4 million people are currently taking a probiotic supplement, according to a<\/span><strong><span style=\"color: #333399;\"> <a style=\"color: #333399;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nccih.nih.gov\/health\/probiotics-what-you-need-to-know\">National Institute of Health (NIH) study<\/a>.<\/span><\/strong> <span style=\"color: #000000;\">Some recent research has suggested that the use of probiotics and prebiotics have shown to have a positive impact in improving and supporting overall health.<\/span> <span style=\"color: #000000;\">Currently, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration considers probiotics a nutritional supplement, so it is not currently regulated as a \u201cdrug.\u201d<\/span> <span style=\"color: #000000;\">While probiotics and prebiotics are not intended as a cure or a drug, both have been shown to impact gut health and symptoms associated with intestinal issues and better overall health.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Frequently Asked Questions about Probiotics and Prebiotics:<\/span><\/h2>\n<h3><span style=\"color: #000000;\">How do know if I need probiotics or prebiotics?<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Since both have been shown to keep our intestinal tract in good health, and both naturally occur in the body, both are needed. They can be helpful when replenished by foods or in supplement form.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Can probiotics and prebiotics be taken at the same time?<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Not only can probiotics and prebiotics be taken together, they are most beneficial to your body when combined. The process of taking them at the same time is called microbiome therapy.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"color: #000000;\">What are the signs of a lack of probiotics and prebiotics?<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">There are many signs that your body might need probiotics and prebiotics. Some signs may include sluggish metabolism, unusual sugar cravings, and persistent digestive issues such as heartburn, occasional constipation and diarrhea. <\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Probiotics are naturally occurring bacteria that live on the lining of the intestinal tract. These beneficial bacteria aid in the digestion and absorption of food. People can take probiotics in supplement form and can also be found in a variety of foods. Prebiotics are a good companion to probiotic supplements and help digest and produce&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12,"featured_media":2211,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_yoast_wpseo_focuskw":"Probiotics vs Prebiotics: What\u2019s the Difference?","_yoast_wpseo_metadesc":"Probiotics and prebiotics. 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These beneficial bacteria aid in the digestion and absorption\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.sovereignlaboratories.com\/blog\/difference-between-probiotic-and-prebiotic\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Sovereign Laboratories\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/SovereignLaboratories\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2021-08-19T16:52:00+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-04-30T14:33:56+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.sovereignlaboratories.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/prebiotics-vs-probiotics-comparison.webp\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1000\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"800\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/webp\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Samantha Lander\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@SovereignLabs\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@SovereignLabs\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Samantha Lander\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"4 minutes\" \/>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Probiotics vs Prebiotics: What\u2019s the Difference? - Sovereign Laboratories","description":"Probiotics and prebiotics. 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After spending a considerable amount of time doing \u201call the right things\u201d without seeing any results, she decided to seek out the root cause of her health problems. Samantha was no stranger to the natural abilities of the human body. As a young athlete, Samantha first set goals for herself in team sports such as synchronized swimming, water polo, and field hockey. In high school, she focused on rowing, where she was a member of the St. Louis Rowing Club &amp; one of a team of eight young women who were ranked nationally. Samantha\u2019s perseverance to improve her health and her athletic ability created a career path as a Functional Diagnostics Practitioner. After receiving her B.A. in Sports Management &amp; Functional Movement from the University of Michigan in 2003, she decided to open her own holistic practice, See Fit. Today, she works with clients to identify the root cause instead of a \u201cband-aid\" approach. Using an individualized, holistic path, she incorporates lifestyle, diet, rest, exercise, stress reduction, and supplementation to help her clients achieve their ultimate health and wellness goals regardless of their current age, gender, and ability.","sameAs":["https:\/\/sovereignlaboratories.com"]}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sovereignlaboratories.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1745","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sovereignlaboratories.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sovereignlaboratories.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sovereignlaboratories.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/12"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sovereignlaboratories.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1745"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.sovereignlaboratories.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1745\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2020,"href":"https:\/\/www.sovereignlaboratories.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1745\/revisions\/2020"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sovereignlaboratories.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2211"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sovereignlaboratories.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1745"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sovereignlaboratories.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1745"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sovereignlaboratories.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1745"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}