Probiotic, Prebiotics, Antibiotics: What's the Difference?

For many individuals who prioritize their health and fitness have likely heard of the terms antibiotics, probiotics, and prebiotics. These terms are everywhere! They can be found on food labels claiming to "contain probiotics" or "supports prebiotic health," to prescriptions given by doctors for both humans and even animals. But what do these terms actually mean? Are they as simple as they are advertised?

To start, the term biotics originates from the Greek word biotikos, meaning “pertaining to life.” While these categories are related in this way, they each represent something different. The prefixes help differentiate them from one another, with pro- meaning “for,” pre- meaning “before,” and anti- meaning “against.”

Probiotics are live microorganisms that are found in fermented foods such as Greek yogurt and kimchi. They are often marketed as an essential way to improve gut health, digestion, and overall wellness. However, there is a common belief, especially in the fitness world, that the more probiotic one consumes, the healthier their gut will be. In reality, probiotics can support gut health but they do not automatically make someone healthy on their own. Many factors can effect how probiotics effects someone such as the strain of probiotic they consumed, the existing microbiome of the person, and their overall lifestyle such as diet and exercising habits.

Prebiotics, on the other hand, are less commonly talked about but they are just as important as probiotics. Prebiotics are non-digestible fibers that serve as "food" for beneficial bacteria that already exist in the gut. For individuals who are already taking probiotics, prebiotics can enhance their effectiveness by supporting the environment that the bacteria need to survive in. Despite their importance to the microbiome, prebiotics are often overlooked, even though they are naturally found in everyday foods such as oats, bananas, and garlic.

Finally, antibiotics are widely used and often taken for granted. They are essential for treating bacterial infections but their use can also disrupt the balance of the gut microbiome. Antibiotics do not distinguish between harmful and beneficial

bacteria and because of this disruption, antibiotics can negatively impact digestion and overall gut health. To overcome this challenge, it is important to incorporate probiotics and prebiotics into one's diet to help restore and support the balance of beneficial bacteria after antibiotic treatment.

While antibiotics, probiotics and prebiotics are all connected through their relationship to living organisms, they serve very different purposes in the body. By understanding and using these biotics wisely, anyone can help their body thrive from the inside out!