If you feel ‘behind’ in learning exactly how your body works and what it needs, we’re here to remind you that you’re not alone. With so much information out there, it's easy to feel lost in a sea of health options and unfamiliar terms—which is why we’re here to help.
At the heart of the supplement revolution are prebiotics and probiotics, the powerful supplements with the potential to provide a positive influence on your overall health. So, let’s cut through the noise and discover the benefits of these essential nutrients. Read on as we clarify the differences between prebiotics and probiotics and explore the science behind how they work to support your well-being.
What Are Dietary Supplements?
Firstly, a dietary supplement is any supplementary (aka additional) substance that you ingest in addition to your normal, day-to-day diet. They can be utilized for many health purposes, and can include vitamins, minerals, herbs, botanicals or botanical compounds (like caffeine), or live microbials (widely referred to as probiotics).
Supplements can also be ingested in many forms, such as:
They may sound similar and can be easy names to confuse, but probiotics and prebiotics offer different benefits. Let's break it down.
Probiotics
Probiotics are foods or supplements that contain live microorganisms (aka bacteria), and are meant to maintain or improve the normal microflora (aka good bacteria) already present in the body. Some everyday examples of probiotic foods are yogurt and sauerkraut, but as noted above, probiotics can also be contained within a supplement like a capsule or tablet.
If a visual example helps, try to imagine your natural gut microflora as little bacterial soldiers “fighting” to keep you healthy. Probiotic supplements bring in new little bacterial soldiers to fortify your ranks if they are depleted and increase the efficacy of their work.
Prebiotics
Prebiotics are (typically high-fiber) ingestibles that act as food for your existing, natural microflora, and are used with the intention of improving the balance and efficacy of these microorganisms.
If you think of your good bacteria as little soldiers, you can think of prebiotics as the food you are providing to keep them strong in numbers and healthy while they fight for your health.
Some examples of prebiotic foods are whole grains, fruits, and vegetables. Like probiotics, prebiotics can also be contained within a supplemental form such as our URO Prebiotic Fiber Gummies which pack a whole lot of prebiotic punch in a small (and delicious) package.
What Other Benefits Do Probiotics and Prebiotics Offer?
People with vaginas not only have natural microflora in their guts, but also have complex and delicate microbiomes “down there.” In fact, over 50 different species of microbes make up this microbiome that maintains our delicate vaginal pH balance and act as a barrier against sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and pathogens. 1, 2
Specifically, the greatest bacterial and pH protector of the vagina is called lactobacillus (which has multiple strains). Too few or too many of this bacteria can cause a vaginal imbalance, which can carry an increased risk of a UTI as well as some uncomfortable symptoms such as:
- Odor
- Discharge
- Discomfort and/or itching
- Chronic infections
URO Vaginal Probiotic contains four important strains of lactobacilli and is a great option for those looking to easily add probiotics to their routine—especially if you have a dietary restriction that prevents you from eating natural probiotics like yogurt.
Should I Add A Probiotic And/Or Prebiotic Supplements To My Diet?
First of all, we’d like to stress the importance of seeking professional medical advice before you start taking probiotics or prebiotics. With that in mind, the CDC indicates that using commercially available probiotic and prebiotic supplements are generally safe for healthy people, and are safe to take together as prebiotics intentionally benefit and “feed” the bacteria you are gaining from the probiotics.3
Additionally, people currently taking an antibiotic medication may benefit from taking prebiotics and probiotics together, as their symbiotic effect can help quickly replenish the healthy bacteria being killed off by the antibiotics—but this should only ever be directed by your doctor.
There can also be side effects with increased probiotic and prebiotic intake, which—while not dangerous—can range from being a mild annoyance to a real discomfort depending on the person.
These can include:
- Gas
- Constipation
- Loose stool
- Loss of appetite
- Bloating
- Acid reflux
There are rare occurrences where someone feels sick after ingesting certain bacteria from a probiotic or has a dangerous allergic reaction. If you are aware of any allergies to specific bacteria, be very thorough and aware of what bacteria are contained within a supplement you are considering.
If you do not have any known allergy to bacteria but experience extreme stomach pain or hives after ingesting either a probiotic or prebiotic, stop taking it and seek medical advice from your doctor.
Feeding Yourself = Feeding The Systems That Support You.
A diet rich in probiotics and prebiotics can help ensure the growth and maintenance of good bacteria, the eradication of harmful bacteria or overgrowth, and help fortify your defenses against illness.
Adding foods to your diet that contain both probiotics and prebiotics can help them work better together, but sometimes adding new foods or those heavy in fiber can leave you feeling overwhelmed or overly full.4
Supplements are a great way to get the benefits of both in a simpler, smaller way. Our Prebiotic Fiber Gummies and URO Vaginal Probiotic capsules work hand in hand to help support your balance from top to bottom.
Whatever method you choose to integrate probiotics and prebiotics into your regimen, know that you are taking an important step in maintaining your personalized health routine. Just remember—adding any supplements to your routine should be under the trusted guidance of your doctor.
A note on sex and gender: Sex and gender exists on spectrums, and this article uses terms like “male” or “female” to refer to sex assigned at birth. Learn more.
