What is prebiotic?

Prebiotic is a carbohydrate in the form of soluble fiber that is non-digestible to humans, thus generally providing low calories to our diet. However, when the non-digestible fiber passes intact through the stomach and small intestines and reached the large intestines, selected indigenous good bacteria ferments and extracts the nutrients within in the form of vitamins, minerals, amino acids (protein) and other goodies.   The good bacteria multiply, crowding out the pathogens that could not digest the fiber. Any excess not taken up by probiotics is absorbed through the intestinal wall to benefit us.

Characteristics of Prebiotics

All the food we eat provides nutrients not only for us, but for all the microbes in our gut. However, food classified as ‘prebiotic’ has specific characteristics:

·         Human’s salivary and intestinal digestive enzymes cannot break down the fiber.

·         The fiber reaches the colon intact.

·         Can be fermented by specific anaerobic bacteria in the colon.

·         Prebiotics selectively stimulates the growth and/or activity of one or a limited number of beneficial anaerobic microbes in the colon.

·         It does not promote toxin-producing and/or disease causing microbes.

·         As a result, prebiotic influences the species composition and metabolic characteristics of intestinal microbes.

·         Prebiotics elicit systemic physiological functions.

·         Confer important health benefits.

As you can see, it is possible to modulate the composition of the colonic micro flora    through foods for better gastrointestinal health.