You may have heard about health benefits of probiotics. These “good” bacteria may help with constipation, diarrhea, anxiety, depression and more. But you may not be familiar with prebiotics. They are not the same thing. Prebiotics are the food for probiotics! They occur naturally in certain foods, including:
- leeks
- asparagus
- chicory
- bananas
- Jerusalem artichokes
- garlic
- onions
- wheat
- oats
- soybeans
- supplements
Prebiotics may aid mineral absorption, specifically with calcium and magnesium, to promote healthy bone density. Probiotics are found in foods such as yogurt and kombucha, as well as supplements, skin-care products and even toothpastes!