Is your GUT missing THIS?

GUT HEALTH is finally becoming more mainstream…

And in a GOOD way!

For reasons that go way beyond “digestion” and “regularity” … maintaining good gut health helps combat disease-causing INFLAMMATION and supports a STRONG immune system.

And at the forefront of the whole “gut health” phenomenon, most folks lean on both probiotics and prebiotics.

And if you’re one of those folks—KEEP IT GOING!

But today I’m going to clue you in on ANOTHER “biotic” that most people don’t know about… and it can take your gut health to a whole new level!

Postbiotics are the newest “biotic” on the gut health team.

Considered a “waste” product, postbiotics are bioactive compounds made when the healthy bacteria in your gut, called probiotic bacteria, feed on various types of prebiotic food in your colon, such as fibers.

In other words, it’s what’s left behind after your body digests both prebiotics and probiotics.

But don’t let the term “waste” turn you off.

Even though your body naturally flushes out waste products through urine and stool, postbiotics are essentially a by-product of your gut’s “good” bacteria, including nutrients such as vitamins B and K, amino acids, and substances called antimicrobial peptides that continually work to slow the growth of harmful bacteria and keep healthy bacteria flourishing—which help strengthen your immune system.

Postbiotic supplements aren’t as readily available as probiotics (yet!), but with a little digging, you can find them at select health food stores or online supplement retailers.

If you do shop for postbiotics, in some cases they may be labeled differently. They may have a name like sodium butyrate, calcium butyrate, or dried yeast fermentate.

You can also naturally increase your production of postbiotics by eating prebiotic- and probiotic-rich foods. Increasing your intake of these foods will naturally up your body’s levels of postbiotics.

To ultimate gut health,

Sarah Reagan

PS – Check out our in-depth look into postbiotics and your immune system in our monthly Health Sciences Institute newsletter. If you’re not yet a member, click here to join.

Sources:

PubMed. “Postbiotics-A Step Beyond Pre- and Probiotics.” https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32717965/

Golen, Toni. “What are postbiotics?” https://www.health.harvard.edu/nutrition/what-are-postbiotics