A prebiotic is: “a non-digestible food ingredient that beneficially affects the host [you] by selectively stimulating the growth and/or the activity of one or a limited number of bacteria in the colon” (Am Clin Nutrit, 201;73:406S-409S).

Because prebiotics are non digestible they reach the intestine in an unaltered form, where they grow into live “bio”-cultures. Prebiotics, through natural means, encourage the growth of bifido cultures and in this way can positively influence the balance between beneficial cultures and unwanted bacteria in the intestines.

The “new” fibre

In his article “Gut Reactions: The Power of fibre” published in the September / October 2001 issue of Functional Foods and Nutraceuticals, Dr Paul Clayton PhD states that: ” It is now generally agreed that there are at least six types of fibre – more according to experts – which all have different properties, are handled differently in the body, and which all make a different contribution to our health.”

Dr. Clayton adds “Emphasis is now switching to another type of fibre that is broken down in the body. This may seem a strange concept because most people believe dietary fibre by definition is indigestible. Nevertheless these new fibres are resistant to our digestive enzymes, but they are broken down by enzymes produced by bacteria in the colon. These fibres are known as non-digestible oligosaccharides or prebiotics.”