The gut is one of the most important systems in our body, as it's where all the nutrients are digested. If you have a healthy gut, you can expect to see improvements with balancing hormones, less inflammation and improved cognitive function. This article discusses ways to keep your gut happy with three powerhouses; Probiotics, Prebiotics and Postbiotics.
First of all, can you consume these three together in the same diet? Well, it's a simple answer, yes! Each ingredient has different benefits and together they act almost like a team by aiding the other. Prebiotics feed your probiotics, which really help you reap the benefits from postbiotics.
When combining them together in your diet you may also experience some natural and normal side-effects too. But before we get into that, let's first understand the differences between Prebiotics, Probiotics and Postbiotics?
What Are Prebiotics?
Prebiotics are a type of fibre that feed the good bacteria in your gut, helping them to grow and multiply. They work by stimulating the production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), which have many health benefits including reducing inflammation, boosting the immune system and improving gut health. Prebiotics can be found in foods like asparagus, garlic, leeks, onion and chicory root.
What Are Probiotics?
Probiotics are live bacteria that have many health benefits. They work by repopulating the gut with good bacteria, which can improve digestive function and support immune system strength. Probiotics also contain anti-inflammatory properties so they help reduce inflammation throughout your body in places like joints, acne-prone skin or even in your hair!
What Are Postbiotics?
Postbiotics are the metabolic by-products of bacteria that will give you even more health benefits than just Probiotics or Prebiotic alone! They work by stimulating insulin secretion which can help to reduce visceral fat, regulate blood sugar levels and improve cognitive function.
So, which is the best for you? It really depends on what your goals are! If you're looking to reduce inflammation, boost the immune system or improve gut health and digestive function, Prebiotics and Probiotics are the most beneficial. But if you're looking to reduce visceral fat levels or improve cognitive function, Postbiotics is your best bet!
It’s a common myth that all three can’t be taken together, and we often recommend that our clients do!
What Is LactoSpore Probiotic?
One example of a Probiotic is LactoSpore (which is available in our Nourished, gummy nutrients).
Lactospore Probiotic is a natural remedy that has been shown in research to help reduce bloating and abdominal pain while improving stool frequency. LactoSpores®, sourced from this probiotic, is said to fight inflammation around the body by producing short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs).
Probiotics have been found to help with diarrhoea. They can reduce its severity or stop it altogether, and replenish good bacteria that antibiotics kill off. [i] [iii]
The gut flora is essential to our health because it forms a protective barrier that prevents us from getting sick. Probiotics have been shown in studies as being able to help enhance natural antibodies and strengthen immune cells, which are what protect the body against foreign invaders like bacteria or viruses! [ii]
At Nourished we have found that producing nutrients in a gummy format increases the absorption rates of our ingredients, which means ingredients such as LactoSpore can begin having a positive impact on your gut faster than if it was in an isolated tablet.
What is BPL1® Postbiotic?
BPL1® is a powerful vegan postbiotic that is scientifically proven to aid in weight management and support metabolic health. Studies have shown this amazing ingredient reduces visceral fat levels, whilst containing strong anti-inflammatory properties. The results of one study show that people lost up to 2cm off their waist circumference without changing diet or exercise in 90 days. [iv] [v]
The hormone ghrelin, which makes us feel hungry and causes people to overeat when dieting. But this can be combated with BPL1® The product actually increases feelings of satiety - meaning you'll eat less food than before because your body doesn't want any more due to being full from eating fewer calories overall. It also reduces fat deposition resulting in a reduction or lack thereof appetite altogether; making weight loss easier on both ends by producing an inhibitory effect against hunger signals sent out through our brain's reward centre. [vi] [vii]
What Are The Natural Side Effects of Postbiotics and Probiotics
There are a host of natural benefits that come from consuming Postbiotics and Probiotics (even combining them together), but there are a few side effects that are a natural part of consuming these powerful ingredients. If you are not made aware of them, you can feel a little confused, when in actual fact they are a positive sign that you are already starting to see the positive effects take shape and make an impact.
One of the most common reactions people report when they first start taking Lactospore Probiotic and BPL1® is bloating, excess gas and a looseness of the bowels. This usually subsides after a few days or weeks, and actually is a sign that your digestive system has been cleansed from all those pesky bad bacteria!
However, you will not always see side effects when consuming these ingredients. Of course, we take our Nourished every day and we wanted to share with you some insight from one of our staff members Craig, (who is the Senior CRM Executive at Nourished) and has been consuming BPL1® in his Nourished Stacks over the past few months:
- How long have you currently been supplementing BPL1®?
I’ve been taking BPL1® in my Nourished stacks for the last 4 months.
- Why did you want to incorporate BPL1® into your stack?
Like most people, I had put on some lockdown weight, and really wanted to incorporate something into my diet to aid in losing weight as well as exercise and a balanced meal plan.
- What were your expectations of consuming BPL1®?
My expectation was that this ingredient would support me in losing some weight in the long term, rather than being a quick fix.
- What was your reaction to taking BPL1®? Did you experience any side effects?
To be completely honest I didn’t really suffer from any side effects! Normally when I incorporate something new into my routine it takes time to adjust but this just seemed to nicely compliment everything else I was doing.
- After how long did you see a change?
I started to see a change from the third month of taking BPL1®. I felt better in myself, and my clothes felt quite loose. I really noticed the difference after shopping for a new pair of jeans and I could easily get into the next size down. I feel healthier and better in myself because I knew I had lost weight and I felt more confident in myself. I also noticed that I was snacking less as I didn’t feel the need to snack in the daytime between meals.
- How much weight have you lost since taking HT-BPL1?
In total, I lost 14 pounds when I last weighed myself which was 4 weeks ago, but I feel like I have lost more now! Which would make me lighter than I was before the first lockdown.
Adding 5-HTP & LactoSpore To Your Diet!
These powerful Nourishments can be added to your own personalised, freshly 3D printed gummy stacks today! Gummies are chewable, easier to consume and studies have shown that gummy form can lead to higher absorption of certain ingredients.
To add these to your personalised gummy, simply take our quiz or learn more about this multifunctional, game-changing nourishment here.
Want to Learn More?
Some of the side effects are a natural part of the process of these ingredients. However, if you are finding these symptoms too uncomfortable and would prefer to switch it out for a different Nourishment, you can easily do so by editing your stack in your account or contacting us at customerlove@get-nourished.com.
Please visit the studies below to find out additional information regarding this exciting new addition to our Nourishment line-up:
[i] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4769834/
[ii] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4771827/
[iii] https://lactospore.com/research/clinical/
[iv] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30262813/
[v] https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.jafc.5b05934#
