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Eat these 7 prebiotic and probiotic foods for your gut health

Eat these 7 prebiotic and probiotic foods for your gut health

Team ErbologyErbology

Get to know the 'two Ps' and find out how to nurture your gut health with seven prebiotic and probiotic foods. 

April 27, 2022 4:54 pm

The simplest way to make sure you’re eating foods that are good for the gut is to follow our four easy steps.

We’ll go into more detail about each of these important points below, but fortunately a gut-friendly diet has lots in common with the healthy diet you may already be eating.

 

How to get a healthy gut

Eating lots of healthy vegetables and whole grains – and avoiding late night pizza cravings – may not be news to you. However, steps three and four might be slightly less familiar.

Let’s get into a little more detail about the two Ps: Prebiotics and Probiotics.

Prebiotics

Prebiotic foods contain fibre which cannot be digested by humans This fibre stays in your large intestine, where most of the gut microbiome is located.

Fortunately, your beneficial gut bacteria are able to ferment prebiotic fibre, breaking it down to release the nutrients within which then provide them with a nourishing meal.

Not only do your gut bacteria get stronger, but more varieties of gut flora flourish, each with its own role to play. A more diverse collection of bacteria in your gut is linked with improved general wellbeing.

Therefore, by eating prebiotics, you’re not only feeding yourself but also all the tiny creatures in your gut! → View Related Products

Probiotic foods

Probiotics are foods that import live bacteria right into your gut. The idea is that these new bacteria will make their way down to your gut to bolster the numbers of ‘good’ bacteria, or even provide new types of bacteria. 

You might like to think of your gut as a savannah; just as the different animals of the grasslands all have different roles to play, so too do the different types of bacteria in your gut. All together, they help to create a flourishing, interconnected ecosystem. 

Some probiotic foods, like those tiny milky drinks that have been around for ages, add ‘predictable’ bacteria to the gut flora. In other words, you’re quite likely to already have these types of bacteria ‘in stock’.

However, other probiotics contain more unusual bacteria that enhance the microbiome and bring new possibilities to it.

Interestingly, research suggests that prebiotics may make more noticeable difference in gut health in the short term. However, the effect of probiotics is valuable in the longer run.(1) In other words, do make an effort to make both prebiotics and probiotics a regular part of your day-to-day eating. That’s the easy part, as they are so tasty.

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Jerusalem artichoke powder

Prebiotics to try…

1. Jerusalem artichokes

Jerusalem artichokes are a wonderful source of inulin, a type of prebiotic fibre. They are actually tubers, rather similar to parsnips and potatoes. Rather sweetly, they are also sometimes known as ‘earth apples’.

In fact, Jerusalem artichokes go by many names, and you may hear them referred to as sunchokes or sunroots, too. This is because they are the edible root of the sunflower plant.

But behind their sunny appearance, these tubers pack a prebiotic punch. Just 20g of Jerusalem artichoke will give you enough prebiotics for the day.(2)

Jerusalem artichokes have a somewhat sweet flavour which goes very nicely as a vegetable side dish, or in sweet or savoury dishes. We love adding a spoonful of our Organic Jerusalem Artichoke Powder to baked goods, too, as the flavour is so mild and blends so well. Try it in cakes, cookies, breads, or these delicious breakfast pancakes.→ View Related Products

 

leeks

2. Leeks, onions, and garlic

While not quite as impressive as the Jerusalem artichoke in terms of prebiotic power, leeks, onions and garlic are all good sources of inulin fibre.

It’s also likely that you’ll have at least one of these – if not more – residing in your fridge already. As well as making a brilliant base for lots of dishes, from sauces to pies to stews, they’ll also provide you with a boost of prebiotic fibre.

Plus, the leeks and onions count as one of your five a day!

 

tigernut granola sea buckthorn

3. Tigernuts

Tigernuts have a rather deceptive name; they are actually tubers, not nuts! However, their taste and texture is so similar to the nut family that they are sometimes called ‘earth almonds’. It seems that lots of prebiotics have rather charming nicknames.

Tigernuts are extremely versatile. While they are perhaps best known for their milk, which is a key ingredient in the Spanish and Mexican drink horchata, if you want the benefits of their prebiotic fibre it’s best to eat them whole. You can grind them into flour to bake with, enjoy them roasted, blend them with dates, or even eat them for breakfast, If you’d like to try a tigernut breakfast bowl, sprinkle a handful of our delicious tigernut granola over your breakfast bowl. Any way you eat them, you’ll feel the benefits of their store of resistant starch fibres, which function as effective prebiotics.(3) → View Related Products

Related reading

"You might like to think of your gut as a savannah; just as the different animals of the grasslands all have different roles to play, so too do the different types of bacteria in your gut. All together, they help to create a flourishing, interconnected ecosystem."

4. Fermented goodies: kimchi, sauerkraut and kombucha

Moving on to probiotic foods, you’ll be pleased to hear that many supermarket staples act as excellent probiotics.

You know that cleansing, bright flavour found in everything from sauerkraut to Japanese fermented pickles? Many of these foods are highly recommended as probiotics. Friendly bacteria feed on the natural sugar or fibre in the food, and then make their way to your gut.

However, make sure that your pickled food isn’t pasteurised, as this process kills the bacteria. Look for words such as ‘raw’ on the packaging, and remember to keep them refrigerated. Kombucha and kefir (both dairy and non-dairy varieties) are great examples of fermented probiotics, along with pickles. However, ensure that your pickles are fermented in salt and water rather than put into vinegar, as pickles in vinegar have no value as probiotics.

Moreover, some foods, like sauerkraut, function as both prebiotic and probiotic. Double for your money! 

 

probiotics

5. Miso

Miso is made from fermented soybeans and thus contains live bacteria. This miracle substance is incredibly versatile once you make it a kitchen staple, with an almost endless list of possibilities.

Make a vegan alternative to a beautiful French onion soup; start your day with a cleansing, comforting bowl of miso soup; include in all manner of sauces to bring depth and flavour. Dress your Asian noodles with miso sauce. And you’ll no doubt discover even more possibilities once you start experimenting.

6. Tempeh

This interestingly-textured relative of tofu is also fermented, which gives it stellar probiotic qualities. However, as with pickles, go for tempeh that isn’t pasteurised to maximise its benefits as a probiotic.

The difference between tempeh and tofu is that the latter is made from soy bean curds, while tempeh contains the whole bean and is fermented.

 

raw vegan chocolate bar recipes

… and something for your sweet tooth

We might associate healthy fibre with vegetables, but you may be surprised to hear that you can find it in sweet treats as well. Dark chocolate is both prebiotic and probiotic.

Sadly, we can’t pretend that dark chocolate should be gobbled up like your five-a-day fruit, as it does usually contain a lot of sugar. However, in moderation it can provide a boost for your beneficial gut bacteria, and is also known for being high in antioxidants.

If you’re feeling very creative, you can even make your own dark chocolate! Check out our recipe below. 

Delicious recipes for a healthy gut

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  • References

    (1) Cerdo et al, “The Role of Probiotics and Prebiotics in the Prevention and Treatment of Obesity” Nutrients, 2019.

    (2) Barszcz et al, “The effects of inulin, dried Jerusalem artichoke tuber and a multispecies probiotic preparation on microbiota ecology and immune status of the large intestine in young pigs.” Archives of Animal Nutrition, 2016.

    (3) Rosello-Soto et al, “Nutritional and Microbiological Quality of Tiger Nut Tubers (Cyperus esculentus), Derived Plant-Based and Lactic Fermented Beverages” Fermentation, 2018.

    Photo credits: Reka Biro-Horvath, Shawn-Olivier Boivin Blanchard.

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