Best Prebiotic Supplements Which Can Promote Good Bacteria!

Updated on August 17, 2020

Ever heard of the microbiome? It is the colony of good bacteria that resides in all of our guts. 

The microbiome good bacteria can help us with many things in terms of our health: 

  • Great for good nutrition-It helps unleash nutrients from the foods we eat, aids in the absorption of nutrients, and is great for the synthesis of nutrients, too.
  • Great for gut/brain axis: The microbiome can positively affect our brain chemicals
  • Good for the immune system: The good bacteria is great for fighting pathogens and getting your immune system healthy
  • Great for digestive health: Helps with colon health, gets the gut strong, and makes it easier to “go”

Besides, these are way better than Probiotics! Probiotics are known to be a bit fragile in nature, especially when you consider how they are degraded over time thanks to factors like time, light, and heat. Cold is also a factor. 

Probiotics can also be connected to digestive side effects. Some mixes that brag about containing 10 billion probiotics can leave your stomach feeling rather upset, to say the least!

This is where the magic of prebiotics comes into play. A prebiotic is an indigestible fiber that aids in the growth of healthy bacterias in our colon and intestines. They are found in food and supplements we take. 

Prebiotics are great because they boost our microbiome in a comfortable, organic, and safe way.

Prebiotic supplements are the way to go because they are a twofer- they not only boost your microbiome, but they give you soluble fiber that you can use toward your daily recommended intake of the nutrient.

If you get enough fiber, you can look forward to:

  • Better appetite control
  • Healthy balance in blood sugar
  • Health of the heart and cardiovascular system
  • Better management of weight
  • Better digestive health

Experts suggest that you need around 25 to 50g of fiber each day, and that includes soluble and insoluble fiber. 

So, let’s get started. Let’s find out what the best prebiotic supplements are. 

Ready to get your gut health in order? If that’s the case, get ready to choose from these three great products.

Best Prebiotic Supplements of 2020

#1. Prebiotic by Performance Lab

About the Brand

Performance Lab is a popular healthcare brand that offers top quality Orafti supplementation. Orafti is the greatest prebiotic ingredient you can find on the market today. 

But what makes it so great? Orafti Synergy1 is made of chicory root and contains Inulin-FOS, and this ingredient has been bioengineered to offer you 2 in 1 fiber benefits but also a healthy microbiome. 

Performance Lab offers 2 grams of Orafti Synergy 1 per serving. It offers you clean energy thanks to the caplets being made with fermented tapioca. It contains NuFlow, which is a natural flow agent (most supplements use synthetics for their flow agents).

Features

  • This prebiotic offers you great digestive function, which in turn leaves you feeling more comfortable, better at absorbing nutrients and more regular
  • It supports bone health and enhances calcium absorption
  • It helps make the intestinal mucosal wall stronger when thinking about unhealthy toxins, pathogens, and bacteria
  • Can help with weight management
  • Great for immune system function
  • It is a vegan, natural nutri-cap and is crafted from fermented tapioca
  • Helps you get your fiber intake under control and this will help you get a healthy heart, regulate bad cholesterol and more 
  • Helps enhance your food metabolism
  • Nourishes the growth of helpful microflora

Benefits

  • The greatest benefit of this particular prebiotic is the two grams of Inulin-FOS that is known as Orafti-Synergy1. It comes from the chicory root. Inulin and FOS are composed of soluble fibers that have prebiotic traits about them. They are great for the improvement of our digestive health and our well-being as a whole. Both of these are naturally found in the chicory root, 10% FOS, and 20% of inulin).
  • These capsules work by passing into our colon undigested. There they begin to feed the probiotic strains, which stimulates the growth of these strains.
  • Provides you with healthy and robust Bifidobacterium bacteria. This is the good bacteria, and it should make up a large part of your microbiome. These are the good ones that help us avoid the growth of pathogens and aid in food breakdown and the absorption of minerals, too.

Pros:

  • Totally natural formula
  • Ingredients are of the highest quality
  • Contains tons of health benefits

 Cons:

  • Not sold in stores

Customer Experience

We went ahead and looked at the reviews for this prebiotic on the website for Performance Lab. We encourage you to go check out these reviews for yourself: 

” I feel more energy, and I eat better thanks to this prebiotic!” -Lisa M.

“Very effective, I love this prebiotic!”-Laura J

“Excellent, just a bit expensive.”-Antonio J

There are, of course, many more reviews than just that, feel free to check them out when you shop.

Overall, it is no secret why these caplets are doing well in terms of customer satisfaction. They are easy to take, vegan friendly, and do what they say they will do.

#2. PrebioMD

About the Brand

PrebioMD is a popular name when it comes to prebiotics. PrebioMD is manufactured by 1MD that is a well-reputed healthcare company. 

They offer restorative prebiotic supplement, and it is formulated by doctors to help you maintain balance in your digestive microbiome, all in one easy serving per day!

You will love that it helps promote good gut health, promotes balanced microflora, and offers you a better immune response and digestive response. The benefits of this particular prebiotic are known to show themselves in just 7 days.

Features

  • The supplement is very easy to take; all you have to do is take one capsule each day, along with food that has fiber in it.
  • Provides you PreForPro, which is good gut food. This is designed to offer you numerous beneficial bacterial strains all in one great capsule.
  • Offers XOS, which is great for your immunity and your regularity.
  • Offers GOS, which goes to the gut undigested to offer you more benefits.
  • The formula is backed by a doctor, Dr. David Kahana. He is a gastroenterologist and suggests that prebiotics are a great way to help people with gastrointestinal issues. Prebiotics, says Dr. Kahana, work in synergy with daily probiotics as a means of supporting healthy microbiome and are great for the improvement of one’s immune and digestive health, not to mention their overall health!
  • This formula gives you a clinical dose of prebiotic that is patented and proven to offer you balanced microflora, better absorption, and also aids in the digestion of nutrients.

Benefits

  • Helps you improve the good strains of bacteria but goes against all the strains you don’t want
  • Users will see the benefits of this prebiotic in just 7 days, and the benefits will only improve from there.
  • Helps enhance heart and bone health by absorbing calcium and magnesium
  • Fights against the oxidative damage that is caused by toxins that leak out of a digestive tract that’s become too porous. 
  • You can improve your whole body and even boost your immunity by taking this prebiotic.

Pros:

  • Contains healthy prebiotics such as xylooligosaccharides and galactooligosaccharides
  • Free shipping offered on your order
  • No harmful additives or fillers
  • Vegan friendly
  • Helpful in just 24 hours
  • Deals offered when you subscribe and save

Cons:

  • Product is not sold in stores
  • Free shipping not offered on single bottles

Customer Experience

Want to know what other customers are saying about this great prebiotic? Check it out: 

“It has helped me avoid feeling bloated and helped with digestion. You can really tell when you miss a day!”- Kindle customer

“I’ve been on it for three weeks now, and my stomach issues have basically vanished!” -Mike

“My hubby has always had stomach issues. He never wanted to go very far, but after a month of taking this, he is a brand-new man!” -Carolyn Rivera

#3. Hyperbiotics Organic Prebiotic Powder

About the Brand

Hyperbiotics is a well-liked healthcare brand and they believes in holistic lifestyles. This product comes with the perfect mix of FOS, inulin, starch, and dietary fiber, which is perfect for nurturing the good bacteria and your friendly flora.

Features

  • Makes it easy for you to get the right amount of healthy bacterias in your gut by offering users an easy to mix powder.
  • Supports digestive and immune system function
  • Inhibits growth of unfriendly yeasts/bacteria
  • Promotes mental clarity and brain function
  • Contains helpful prebiotic fibers from Jerusalem artichoke, green bananas, acacia, and more- you just need a single spoonful to get these benefits.
  • Only 15 calories per scoop, great for people that are on diets where every calorie counts.
  • It keeps you healthy by offering support for healthy weight, great digestive and immune system function, better brain clarity and energy levels, support for the gut barrier, and discourages unfriendly yeasts/bacterias from growing.
  • It is markedly less expensive than other products we have featured today, making it very affordable.

Benefits

  • Supports healthy gut bacteria- these are like a “miracle-gro” formula for your gut. This stuff supports your healthy bacteria, and they will thrive inside your digestive tract. This is an all-natural prebiotic powder that’s easy to incorporate into your daily diet.
  • Helps you look your best: By nurturing the microbes in our guts, we can enjoy better overall health, and when we feel our best, we look our best, too. You will find it easier to manage weight, enjoy better energy levels, and you may even find that your brain function improves, too.
  • You can avoid stomach upset: This prebiotic powder is great if you have a sensitive stomach. It’s all thanks to the included Acacia fiber, this stuff slows down fermentation and offers you better digestive health. This mix is chock full of inulin, resistant starch, soluble dietary fiber, and FOS and will support the gut gently along with supporting the growth of good bacteria, which of course, supports much more of your well-being.
  • This is a great powder you can simply add to your drinks, smoothies, shakes, or juice in order to reap the benefits. Great for people who don’t like to swallow pills. 

Pros:

  • Easy to mix into juice, smoothies or shakes
  • Promotes overall well-being
  • Cheaper than most other products we have seen
  • Vegan-friendly and great if you cannot swallow capsules
  • Totally organic

Cons:

  • Only orders over $39 are offered free shipping
  • Reviews of the product not offered on the website.

Customer Experience

Here are what customers had to say about this prebiotic powder.

“It really works…I feel very cleaned out, and I have even lost a few pounds! I am very happy with the product” -Jason K

“Your prebiotic powder is great; it helps my digestive system work in a very smooth manner. Yours works best at three times less than the price of other products!” Mary A. Sankowski

“You can mix this with anything you drink, it is pretty much flavorless. The first few days, I had really bad gas. This stuff really seemed to clean me out fast and quick!”- Texas KnowHow

The Difference Between Prebiotics and Probiotics

Prebiotics are a sort of fiber that our bodies cannot actually digest. They are nourishment for probiotics or the tiny microorganisms such as yeast and bacteria. They both help support helpful gut bacteria, which promotes good health.

They support the body in creating and maintaining healthy colonies of bacteria and other helpful microorganisms. The end result is that you enjoy better digestion and gut support.

You get prebiotics from eating foods rich in fiber. These include things like veggies, fruits, whole grains, and you can also get them in tempeh and yogurt.

The two interact in a sort of dependent relationship. Prebiotics are food for probiotics. Probiotics thus need to be able to reach prebiotics in order to be as effective as they possibly can.

Prebiotics are a part of some foods the body is not able to digest. They are nourishment for good organisms and bacteria found in our gut.

The benefits of prebiotics and probiotics are linked. Prebiotics are thought to support a healthy gut, improve your digestive health, and offer you fewer health problems when it comes to antibiotics.

Despite all these good benefits, the way in which prebiotics really boost our health is still being researched. 

Calcium absorption is improved (this is also a trait of the products we featured today)

Alters the rate at which the body processes carbs.

Supports probiotics in the gut by fostering their growth, enhancing our metabolism and digestion.

Prebiotics are naturally occurring in lots of foods we eat. That being said, you can still benefit by taking a supplement, as we don’t always have the ability to eat such probiotic-rich foods.

Taking the two together is not known to be harmful. However, if you have any serious illnesses or a chronic disease, it is a good idea to speak with a doctor before you take them just to ensure your safety.

Benefits of Prebiotics

Prebiotics interact with gut bacteria and are promoters of good digestive and overall health. They are ingredients in foods we eat and can also be taken as part of a supplement. 

They are not digested inside our small intestine because our bodies do not have the enzyme necessary in order to break them down. 

This means they instead interact with gut bacteria, and this plays a part in promoting the activity and the growth of bacteria that benefits our health. A lot of this good interaction with the gut bacteria is thanks to fermentation.

Prebiotics are likely to boost the amount of bifidobacteria, which is a friendly bacterium and increases other host friendly bacteria populations.

Prebiotics have shown that they offer us some great health benefits. 

Some of them include:

  • Better absorption of calcium
  • Lowered risk of allergies
  • Benefits our metabolism
  • Boosts health of immune systems

While these have been laid out in our product reviews, it should be noted that research is ongoing regarding these positive side effects. 

The jury is still out as some nutrition specialists are not able to confirm that such prebiotics will boost our health. You can find differing opinions on their benefits everywhere, but most agree they can help.

Prebiotics can be a great way to treat IBS. Results have been mixed when it comes to studies that use prebiotics as a way of treating irritable bowel syndrome. For some of these studies, it appears the prebiotics made the symptoms worse. 

In another study, it appeared that the prebiotics offered a therapeutic outcome. This latter study was quite small, so the conclusions we can draw from such a study are rather limited.

Most probiotics and prebiotics are safe to consume with almost no side effects. However, if you have any chronic illnesses, you should talk to a doctor first. You could experience abdominal discomfort, gas, or bloating while the digestive system gets used to these supplements.

Natural Sources of Prebiotics

In this section, we will talk about natural ways to get your prebiotics, through foods you can find right at the grocery store.

  • Grapefruit- This is a great way to get prebiotics because it is good for gut health, thanks to its fiber content. You also get the added benefits of vitamins A and C.
  • Watermelon- This contains lots of prebiotics and offers good bacteria to our stomachs. You also get lots of water, aiding in your hydration.
  • Bananas- These are loaded with fiber and are good for our guts. They increase good bacteria and reduce the amount of bloating you experience.
  • Beans- These are another great source of good gut bacteria, they boost this amount of that bacteria, to be exact. They are loaded with protein and potassium. Legumes are also fiber-rich; for example, red kidney beans contain 15g of fiber every 100 grams.
  • Onions, Spring Onions, Shallots: These are great veggies that offer prebiotics, and are good at aiding in digestion. They offer nutrients for our well-being and increase the number of good bacteria in our guts.
  • Leeks: These are related to onions, and they are great at helping you increase prebiotic intake. They offer 1.8g of fiber in just 100g.
  • Artichokes- These are high fiber, low carb veggies, and are low glycemic index foods, too. They keep your blood sugar levels at a stable one. Jerusalem artichokes, in particular, contain 1.6g of dietary fiber in just 100g of the veg. By eating this veggie, you can easily boost the number of good bacteria in your gut.
  • Chicory- Chicory root is high in inulin, which is a prebiotic fiber. It is a great source of prebiotics as a result.
  • Flaxseeds- These are versatile and easy to put into smoothies, oatmeal, even sprinkle onto foods you already enjoy eating, such as granola. You can add it to protein shakes, too. They have lots of fiber, which is great for gut health and is good at keeping the digestive system in good working order.

Side Effects of Prebiotic

You might experience the following side effects as a result of taking prebiotics. If you do, talk to a doctor. Chances are that your body is just taking time to get used to the helpful bacteria, but to sure, it is best to talk it over with a professional.

Abdominal Discomfort

Many prebiotic users have complained of the feeling of abdominal discomfort and pain that comes about as a result of using prebiotics. This is normal and should go away after the body adjusts to these healthy bacteria. 

Those interested in using prebiotics that experience such side effects should not give up right away, especially if you are modifying your diet. 

It will take some time for your body to adjust from its previous diet, which was likely high in sugars, carbs, fats, and other properties that make our bodies feel less than great.

Gas

For some people, prebiotics can leave you feeling gassy. It can happen even as a result of eating certain foods high in prebiotics. Gas is produced fast when short sugar chains are fermented and cut up. 

They ferment fast thanks to how tiny they are, especially XOS and GOS. This leads to increased gas and pressure in our guts.

Diarrhea

This is a common side effect that happens, lasting only about 2 or 3 days. People with IBS tend to get this more often. Diarrhea happens because a virus finds its way into your gut. 

Diarrhea can happen because of malabsorption of certain nutrients, but since prebiotics help us absorb nutrients a bit better, you might even help your diarrhea by using prebiotics.

Bloating

Diarrhea, bloating, and constipation are all interconnected. Being constipated can make you feel bloated. Some people will absolutely feel bloated after taking prebiotics as their body gets used to these helpful bacteria.

FAQs

What Does Prebiotic Fiber Do?

These are plant fibers that help you grow healthy bacteria in your gut. They are great at making your digestive system work in peak condition.

Does Prebiotic Make You Poop?

Prebiotics promote the growth of probiotics, which are good bacteria/live culture located in your gut. They are good at restoring and boosting gastrointestinal health. 

This can, in turn, lead to better digestion, which can make it easier to go #2- worth checking out if you are having trouble in that area.

What’s A Good Prebiotic?

You can choose from one of the supplements we have listed above, or you can integrate healthier prebiotic-rich foods into your diet, some of which we have also listed here.  Any of the supplements we have listed above are easy to take each and every day with your meals. 

Alternatively, you can eat more grapefruit, chicory root, legumes such as red kidney beans, or even consume some flaxseeds to get prebiotics. There are other ways of getting these helpful prebiotics, such as gummies and powders.

Are Prebiotic Supplements Effective?

These supplements are still under research, but most signs point to yes. Anecdotally speaking, customer reviews for most prebiotic supplements, especially the ones we listed in our article today, are all favorably rated. 

Customers around the world report positive effects happening as a result of these great supplements, especially those with conditions like irritable bowel syndrome or allergies. 

Some research points to these supplements being effective when it comes to the treatment of obesity, and diarrhea, even the common cold.

Conclusion: Should You Get a Prebiotic?

If you are ready to give prebiotics a try, consider any of the great supplements, we have linked above. They are well-loved by all the customers who had the chance to try them, and they are so easy and unobtrusive to take.

If you have been having trouble with your gut and having a hard time with digestion, consider starting a prebiotic regimen. You might end up being pleasantly surprised at the results. 

Incorporate more prebiotic-rich foods into your diet, and eat more fruits, veggies, and whole grains. You’ll find that you feel a lot better, and your gut will be happier, too.

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