Dispelling the Myth: Why Prebiotics and Probiotics Aren't Necessary in Your Greens Supplement
In the world of health and wellness, there's a growing trend towards incorporating prebiotics and probiotics into dietary supplements, including greens powders. While these ingredients are touted for their digestive health benefits, the truth is that they may not be necessary additions to your greens supplement.
Let's explore why you might want to think twice before reaching for a greens powder with added prebiotics and probiotics.
Understanding Prebiotics and Probiotics
Prebiotics are non-digestible fibres that serve as food for the beneficial bacteria in your gut, while probiotics are live microorganisms that confer health benefits when consumed in adequate amounts. Together, they play a crucial role in maintaining a healthy balance of gut bacteria, supporting digestion, immune function, and overall well-being.
Greens Supplements: Nature's Nutrient Powerhouses
Greens supplements are concentrated formulations of nutrient-rich greens, vegetables, and superfoods. Packed with vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and phytonutrients, these supplements offer a convenient way to boost your daily intake of essential nutrients and support overall health. However, the addition of prebiotics and probiotics to greens supplements may not be necessary to reap their benefits.
Overemphasis on Gut Health
While gut health is undoubtedly important, the idea that every supplement needs to contain prebiotics and probiotics to be effective or 'debloat' is a misconception. Many whole foods, including fruits, vegetables, legumes, and whole grains, naturally contain prebiotic fibres that nourish the gut microbiota. By consuming a diverse range of whole foods, you can provide your gut bacteria with the nutrients they need to thrive, without the need for supplemental prebiotics.
Stability and Viability Concerns
One of the main challenges with adding probiotics to greens supplements is ensuring their stability and viability. Probiotic bacteria are sensitive to heat, moisture, and acidity, which can compromise their survival during manufacturing, storage, and digestion. Without proper encapsulation or protective measures, the probiotics in greens supplements may have limited efficacy by the time they reach your gut. Which means you're paying for something that will have no tangible effect on you. A better solution would be to eat more fermented foods like Kimchi, Sauerkraut or Kombucha.
Quality Over Quantity
When it comes to prebiotics and probiotics, quality is paramount. Not all strains of probiotic bacteria are created equal, and their effectiveness can vary depending on factors such as strain specificity, dosage, and viability. In many cases, standalone probiotic supplements that are specifically formulated for stability and potency may be a more reliable option for supporting gut health than greens supplements with added probiotics.
Focus on Diversity and Balance
Instead of relying solely on prebiotics and probiotics in your greens supplement, prioritise a holistic approach to gut health that emphasises diversity and balance. Incorporate a variety of whole foods into your diet, including fibre-rich fruits, vegetables, legumes, whole grains, and fermented foods like yogurt, kefir, sauerkraut, and kimchi. By fostering a diverse ecosystem of gut bacteria through dietary diversity, you can support optimal digestion and overall health.
While prebiotics and probiotics play important roles in supporting gut health, they may not be necessary additions to your greens supplement. Instead of focusing exclusively on prebiotics and probiotics, prioritise a diet rich in whole, nutrient-dense foods that naturally support digestive health. By emphasising dietary diversity and balance, you can nourish your gut microbiota and promote overall well-being without the need for supplemental prebiotics and probiotics in your greens supplement. We chose not to include pre or probiotics in our Absolute Elixir to include more effective ingredients for your daily wellness, this also means there's no need to keep your NÆRE in the fridge making that one daily habit even easier.
