You’ve probably heard a lot about probiotics, but what about prebiotics? Here we’ll explain the difference between a prebiotic vs probiotic and why we chose Sunfiber® prebiotic fiber for Gut Power™ Drinks.
What is a Prebiotic?
While "probiotic" and "prebiotic" sound very similar, they function very differently.
A probiotic is a live organism that has a beneficial impact on the human body.
A prebiotic, on the other hand, is defined as “a substrate that is selectively utilized by host microorganisms conferring a health benefit.” (1)
What does that mean in plain English? Well, it means that prebiotics are food for the healthy probiotics already living in your gut. When the good bacteria in your gut eat those prebiotics, it makes you healthier!
Examples of prebiotics include substances like Sunfiber® (our prebiotic of choice!), galactooligosaccharides, fructooligosaccharides, and polyphenols (another one of our prebiotics!).
Why We Chose Sunfiber® Prebiotic Fiber
With so many prebiotic options out there, why did we choose Sunfiber® for Gut Power™?
As a digestive health dietitian, I’ve used a number of different prebiotic supplements with my clients. They all have their uses, but I quickly found myself recommending Sunfiber® prebiotic fiber to most of my clients.
Why?
Well, Sunfiber® is quite unique in the prebiotic world -- it is the only certified low-FODMAP prebiotic on the market, which means it comes without the typical side-effects of prebiotics, like gas and bloating.
FODMAP stands for Fermentable Oligo-Di-Mono-saccharides And Polyols.
FODMAPs are types of carbohydrates that can cause uncomfortable symptoms, like bloating, gas, and bowel movement changes in those with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
A Well-Tolerated Prebiotic Choice
This creates a bit of a catch-22: digestive conditions like IBS are associated with imbalanced gut bacteria, but most people with IBS can't tolerate taking prebiotics.
As a dietitian working with those with digestive concerns, I really knew that my clients would benefit from taking a prebiotic if they could just tolerate it!
This is why I found myself recommending Sunfiber® over many other prebiotics out there -- bottom line is that it’s the most well-tolerated prebiotic I’ve ever come across. And when you’re working with clients with digestive health issues, being able to tolerate something becomes a really big deal!
So when I decided to start Gut Power™ Drinks, choosing Sunfiber® as our prebiotic was the obvious choice -- I didn’t want people with digestive problems to worry about whether or not they would be able to tolerate our products.
What Exactly Is Sunfiber®?
Sunfiber® comes from the guar bean, which has been cultivated for centuries in India and Pakistan. Researchers discovered that when they partially hydrolyzed the fiber contained in guar (i.e. they broke down the fiber a bit further) that it had many health-promoting properties.
Sunfiber® is non-GMO Project verified, low-FODMAP certified from Monash University, gluten-free, Kosher, and Halal.
How We're Doing Things Differently
Most "synbiotic" products (products that contain both prebiotics & probiotics) contain minuscule amounts of prebiotics. We're talking milligrams here, not grams.
The problem with this is that when you look at the research, you need grams of the stuff for it to truly have a prebiotic effect, meaning that it raises counts of healthy bacteria in your gut.
If you're taking a prebiotic in pill form, we can almost guarantee you're not getting a dosage that would actually improve your counts of healthy bacteria (unless you're taking about 15 pills a day!).
Don't make that mistake -- after all, if you're paying for a supplement, you want it to actually do what you think it should do, right? If that's the case, you need way more prebiotics than your capsules can offer.
At Gut Power™ Drinks, we use the dosages you need to provide an actual benefit to you. That's why we include 6 grams of Sunfiber® in each serving -- this dosage has been studied and proven to have a prebiotic effect.
So toss your "prebiotic" pills and start sipping a delicious cup from Gut Power™ Drinks today -- you'll know that in each cup you're getting clinically-studied dosages of both prebiotics & probiotics to support your gut health.
The Research
We want you to be educated on the numerous benefits of Sunfiber®, so we've curated the latest research for you to check out. Get your nerd on!
You can also read dietitian Kelsey Kinney's (our founder) post that details the latest science on the topic as well.
Role of guar fiber in improving digestive health and function
Randomized clinical study: Partially hydrolyzed guar gum (PHGG) versus placebo in the treatment of patients with irritable bowel syndrome
High-Fiber Diet Supplementation in Patients with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS): A Multicenter, Randomized, Open Trial Comparison Between Wheat Bran Diet and Partially Hydrolyzed Guar Gum (PHGG)
Clinical trial: the combination of rifaximin with partially hydrolysed guar gum is more effective than rifaximin alone in eradicating small intestinal bacterial overgrowth
Consumption of partially hydrolysed guar gum stimulates Bifidobacteria and butyrate-producing bacteria in the human large intestine
Partially hydrolyzed guar gum in pediatric functional abdominal pain
Improvement of the metabolic syndrome profile by soluble fibre – guar gum – in patients with type 2 diabetes: a randomised clinical trial
Suppressive effect of partially hydrolyzed guar gum on transitory diarrhea induced by ingestion of maltitol and lactitol in healthy humans
Partially Hydrolyzed Guar Gum Accelerates Colonic Transit Time and Improves Symptoms in Adults with Chronic Constipation
Partially Hydrolyzed Guar Gum in the Treatment of Irritable Bowel Syndrome with Constipation: Effects of Gender, Age, and Body Mass Index
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