If you are in a hurry and just want to find out what the best prebiotic supplements is then I’d recommend Hyperbiotics Organic Prebiotic Powder as the best one.
If you’re like me, you like to keep up with the latest developments in the world of health and fitness. In recent years, we’ve learned a lot about the benefits of a healthy gut biome and probiotic bacteria.
These good bacteria provide benefits that extend well beyond the gut itself to nearly all areas of health. If you’re looking to boost your gut health, your first thought might have been a probiotic supplement. But prebiotics can be just as important, and perhaps even more so. But what is the best prebiotic supplement? Here’s what you need to know:
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Prebiotic Supplement 101
Here are some of the most frequently asked questions about prebiotic supplements:
What Are Prebiotics?
To put it simply, prebiotics are fuel for probiotic bacteria. They exist in certain types of high fiber foods. For years, there were two known types of prebiotics: fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS) and galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS).
About a decade ago, a third type was discovered, called gum arabic. Gum arabic is an even more powerful prebiotic than FOS or GOS.
Prebiotics do naturally exist in foods, but they are rare in a typical diet. Therefore, one of the best ways to boost your prebiotic intake is to take prebiotic supplements.
How Do They Work?
Prebiotic fibers feed and nourish good probiotic bacteria. But they are particularly useful because harmful gut bacteria can’t use them as fuel. That means the more prebiotic fiber you consume, the more probiotics flourish, and the more bad bacteria starve.
Many people take prebiotic supplements in conjunction with probiotic supplements. That is a natural pairing and can speed up the process. However, it is not necessary to take probiotic supplements for your prebiotics to be effective. If the prebiotics are successful, probiotic bacteria will grow naturally.
Where Can I Get Prebiotic Supplements?
Prebiotic supplements are available at most major pharmacies and many grocery stores. They are also typically available online, through the company’s websites, or major online marketplaces.
How Much Do They Cost?
Prices can vary, but on average, prebiotic supplements can cost around $15 for 30 servings on the low end, and about $60 for 30 servings on the high end.
Are There Any Side Effects?
Prebiotics and probiotics have no major side effects. However, many can cause gas and bloating, particularly early on in the process and among people with sensitive stomachs. Some supplements include an enzyme designed to prevent this issue. If you have a sensitive stomach, consider looking for one of these prebiotic supplements.
What are the Benefits of Prebiotic Supplements?
Taking prebiotic supplements is one of the most useful things you can do to promote a healthy gut. And healthy guts send ripple effects throughout the entire body. Here are some of those benefits:
Immune Health
Surprisingly, gut health is one of the most critical factors in promoting a healthy immune system. Studies have linked poor gut health to an increase in inflammatory and autoimmune diseases.
Energy and Mood
A staggering 90% of serotonin receptors exist in the gut. Accordingly, the gut biome directly affects mood and energy. That means prebiotic supplements can play a role in boosting energy, improving mood, and to an extent, even fighting off depression.
Heart Health
Research into the link between gut health and heart health is largely in its infancy. However, preliminary studies suggest that a healthy gut has positive effects on blood pressure and cardiovascular health in general.
Weight Loss
Probiotics in general, and particularly one strain known Lactobillus Amylovorus, have been shown to promote fat loss. In one study, eating these probiotic bacteria strains led to a fat loss of 3-4% over a six week period.
Other Benefits
These are some of the most significant health benefits linked to a healthy gut biome. But that’s not all. Additional benefits include:
- Improved digestion
- Lower cholesterol
- Oral health
- Skin health
- And more
As we can see, prebiotic supplements and general gut health contribute to an incredibly diverse array of health benefits.
What to Look For in a Prebiotic Supplement
Prebiotic supplements might all look the same on the surface, but they’re not. Here are a few key factors to help you find the best prebiotic supplement:
Fiber Types
There are three major types of prebiotic fibers: FOS, GOS, and gum arabic. Gum arabic is the strongest, but no single type of prebiotic fiber is enough for a supplement to be as effective as possible. The best prebiotic supplements will feature a blend of two or even all three fiber types of fiber.
Is it Organic?
A prebiotic supplement being organic isn’t just a matter of avoiding pesticides. Organic prebiotics are actually more easily absorbed than non-organic alternatives.
How is it Made?
Prebiotic supplements typically come in one of three forms: powder, capsules, or gummies. The powder is the most versatile, as it can be mixed in with juices or smoothies. Gummies should be the pick if taste and convenience are your priorities. And capsules can be the most effective, as they ensure the prebiotic is not released until it reaches the correct part of the gut.
The Best Prebiotic Supplements
I’ve narrowed down my list of the best prebiotic supplements to the following five products:
BlueBiology Prebiotic Powder
BlueBiology Prebiotic is a fully organic prebiotic powder. It uses chicory root, lentil root, and gum arabic, giving it the fullest variety of fibers available. BlueBiology is one of the only prebiotics that uses gum arabic in addition to FOS and GOS fibers, making it as nutritious as possible for probiotic bacteria.
Many prebiotic supplements can cause bloating and gas. But BlueBiology includes a specially designed enzyme to prevent them.
BlueBiology Prebiotic has no fillers or additives. The three active fibers and the anti-bloating enzyme are the only ingredients in the powder. It is gluten-free, dairy-free, and has no GMOs.
BlueBiology Prebiotic is one of the more expensive products on the list, but it is competitively priced, given its high-quality performance.
Features:
- Organic chicory root powder
- Lentil root powder
- Organic gum arabic powder
- Anti-bloating enzyme
- Form: powder
Pros:
- Full fiber spectrum
- Fully organic
- Enzymes prevent gas and bloating
- Gluten-free
- Dairy-free
Cons:
- Fairly costly
- Can have a bitter taste
1MD Platinum Probiotic with Prebiotic Fiber
1MD Platinum Probiotic with Prebiotic Fiber is a two-in-one product: it is a prebiotic supplement that also contains live probiotic bacteria. You don’t need to take probiotic supplements for prebiotics to be effective (if the prebiotics do their job, probiotic bacteria will grow on its own). But taking the two together can really speed along the process and can enhance overall results.
The prebiotic supplement contains a patented blend called NutraFlora. Unfortunately, this contains only one type of fiber, an FOS.
The probiotic side is particularly extensive. It contains 11 different strains of probiotic bacteria, including several of the best available on the market. Each capsule contains 51 billion live bacteria cells. Another cool feature of 1MD Platinum is the delayed-release capsule. That ensures the supplement reaches the correct place in the digestive system before it is released.
Overall, 1MD Platinum Probiotic with Prebiotic Fiber is an interesting product. On the one hand, it is on the expensive side and only features one style of prebiotic fiber. That said, it is loaded with a wide variety of high-quality probiotic bacteria. And taking the two together is a great way to expedite the overall process of improving gut health.
Features:
- 11 probiotic bacteria strains
- 51 billion live cells per capsule
- Patented NutraFlora prebiotic fiber blend
- Form: capsule
Pros:
- Contains probiotics and prebiotics together in one capsule
- Extensive probiotic blend
- Delayed-release capsule
- Dairy-free
- Gluten-free
Cons:
- Single prebiotic fiber
- Can cause gas
Hyperbiotics Organic Prebiotic Powder
Hyperbiotics Organic Prebiotic Powder is an excellent mid-range prebiotic supplement that offers a good bang for your buck. Like BlueBiology, it has gum arabic, FOS, and GOS. That makes it one of the higher-performing supplements on our list. You can see results in as little as 24 hours.
Like most prebiotic supplements, Hyperbiotics Organic Prebiotic Powder can cause gas and bloating. However, it features a proprietary blend designed to prevent stomach aches. If you have a sensitive stomach, this is a major plus.
Hyperbiotics is fully organic, gluten-free, and dairy-free. However, it is packaged in a facility that handles gluten and dairy, as well as shellfish, nuts, and more. If you have serious food allergies, you should look elsewhere.
Hyperbiotics Organic Prebiotic Powder isn’t the highest-rated product in any individual category. But overall, it is a well-balanced prebiotic that is very effective at an affordable price.
Features:
- Organic acacia fiber
- Organic Jerusalem artichoke fiber
- Organic green banana flour
- Inulin
- Digestive enzyme blend
- Form: powder
Pros:
- Full fiber spectrum
- Fully organic
- A proprietary blend designed for sensitive stomachs
Cons:
- Not allergy safe
- Can cause gas
BeLive Prebiotic Fiber Gummies
BeLive Prebiotic Fiber Gummies are a fairly unique product: they are the only gummy-based supplement on the list. What sets them apart is their taste. While many prebiotics can be unpleasant to take, BeLive gummies are delicious and convenient. But they are also an effective product.
BeLive features two different styles of prebiotic fiber: It doesn’t have gum arabic, but it does have an FOS and a GOS.
BeLive Prebiotic Fiber Gummies don’t include dairy or gluten. And while most gummies are made using gelatin and added sugar, BeLive makes their gummies with natural, fruit-based pectin.
Overall, BeLive is an excellent choice for people who are willing to sacrifice a small amount of performance for a large amount of taste and convenience. It is also very cost-effective relative to most other prebiotics.
Features:
- Chicory root
- Inulin
- Healthy pectin base, no gelatin
- Form: gummy
Pros:
- Multiple fibers
- Tasty gummies
- Gluten-free
- Dairy-free
- Very affordable
Cons:
- Only two prebiotics
- Can cause gas
MAV Nutrition Probiotics + Prebiotics
MAV Nutrition Probiotics + Prebiotics is another two-in-one supplement featuring both prebiotic fiber and live probiotic bacteria. Like 1MD Platinum, this two-in-one only has a single prebiotic fiber, an FOS.
The probiotic side features seven different bacteria strains, including several of the most effective. Each capsule contains 20 billion live cells.
MAV Nutrition Probiotics + Prebiotics also have a delayed-release capsule, ensuring the fiber and live bacteria are all released in the proper place. Further, it contains an enzyme to prevent gas and bloating.
Overall, MAV Nutrition Probiotics + Prebiotics is one of the weaker prebiotics on the list, but an appealing choice if you are looking for a probiotic blend with your prebiotic supplement. It doesn’t have quite the variety of probiotic bacteria available with 1MD, but it is more affordable. Plus, it has an anti-bloating enzyme, preventing that unpleasant side effect.
Features:
- Seven probiotic bacteria strains
- 20 billion live cells per capsule
- Inulin
- Anti-bloating enzyme
- Form: capsule
Pros:
- Contains probiotics and prebiotics together in one capsule
- Delayed-release capsule
- Enzymes prevent gas and bloating
- Gluten-free
- Vegetarian
- Affordable
Cons:
- Only one prebiotic fiber
- Not allergy safe
Conclusion
All of the products on this list are quality prebiotic supplements, and depending on your needs, you can’t go wrong with any of them. But the best overall prebiotic supplement is the Hyperbiotics Organic Prebiotic Powder.
It is one of the only prebiotics available that features the full fiber spectrum of gum arabic, FOS, and GOS. And it is the most affordable of those options. Plus, it has a digestive enzyme designed to prevent upset stomachs.