Prebiotics are certain types of fibre that are frequently found in plants and encourage the growth of beneficial bacteria in the gut, according to mounting evidence. Prebiotic consumption has been linked to improved gut health and researchers recently calculated the prebiotic content of thousands of different food kinds using previously published material to determine which foods have the highest prebiotic content.
The study found that dandelion greens, Jerusalem artichokes, garlic, leeks, and onions have the highest prebiotic content of any food. Prebiotic-rich foods contain significant amounts of fibre, which most Americans do not get enough of. Fibre supports gut microorganisms.
Eating prebiotic-dense foods has been indicated by previous research to benefit health, said Cassandra Boyd, a master’s student at San José State University who conducted the research with Assistant Professor John Gieng, PhD. Eating in a way to promote microbiome wellness while eating more fibre may be more attainable and accessible than you think.
Boyd presented the findings at NUTRITION 2023, the flagship annual meeting of the American Society for Nutrition held July 22–25 in Boston. Prebiotics, which can be thought of as food for the microbiome, are different from probiotics, which contain live microorganisms. Both can potentially benefit microbiome health, but they work in different ways.
Studies have linked higher prebiotic intake with improved blood glucose regulation, better absorption of minerals like calcium, and markers of improved digestive and immune function.