Prebiotics are types of fiber that feed your friendly gut bacteria. Here are 19 healthy foods rich in prebiotics.
Prebiotics allow your gut bacteria to
Some of these nutrients include short-chain fatty acids like butyrate, acetate, and propionate, which can be absorbed into your bloodstream and improve metabolic health.
However, prebiotics shouldn’t be confused with probiotics, which are live bacteria found in certain foods or supplements.
Read on to explore 19 healthy prebiotic foods to add to your grocery list.
Chicory root is a great source of prebiotics.
Approximately
The greens of dandelion flowers can be cooked or consumed raw.
They
The Jerusalem artichoke — also known as the sunroot, sunchoke, or earth apple — is part of the sunflower family. It, too, contains
Along with its other benefits, inulin helps increase the friendly bacteria in your colon, promoting greater digestive health. It can also aid in the absorption of minerals in your large intestine.
Garlic is a flavorful herb linked to
Garlic acts as a prebiotic by promoting the growth of beneficial Bifidobacteria in the gut. It also helps prevent disease-promoting bacteria from growing.
Onions have many health benefits. They are also
FOS is a type of carbohydrate that helps strengthen gut flora and helps with fat breakdown.
Leeks come from the same family as onions and garlic, and they offer similar
Leeks are nutrient-dense, which means they’re low in calories but high in vitamins and minerals. Thanks to their inulin content, leeks promote healthy gut bacteria and help break down fat.
Asparagus is a popular vegetable and another great source of prebiotics. Like other foods on this list, this nutritious vegetable naturally contains inulin.
Bananas also contain some inulin. Unripe (green) bananas are also high in resistant starch, which has
In addition, bananas contain a variety of other compounds
Barley contains beta-glucan, which is a
Beta-glucan in barley
Whole oats are a healthy grain with prebiotic benefits. Like barley, they contain
Apples contain pectin, a type of soluble fiber with
Pectin increases butyrate, a short-chain fatty acid that feeds beneficial gut bacteria and decreases the population of harmful bacteria. However, more research is needed to fully explore the benefits of pectin in humans.
Konjac root, also known as elephant yam, is a tuber — or a vegetable grown underground, like the potato.
Flour made from this tuber contains
Cocoa beans are seeds from the Theobrama cacao tree used to make chocolate. Cocoa powder makes it easy to add cocoa to oatmeal, smoothies, yogurt, and other recipes.
Cocoa is a
Burdock root is a vegetable commonly used in Japan and has proven health benefits.
Burdock root is rich in inulin and FOS, which support the growth of healthy bacteria in the digestive tract. It also also contains phenolic compounds.
Flaxseeds are a great source of prebiotics.
The fiber in flaxseeds promotes healthy gut bacteria and
Yacon root is a vegetable very similar to sweet potatoes that is rich in fiber.
It is
Jicama root is low in calories and high in fiber, including the prebiotic fiber inulin.
In older
Wheat bran is the outer layer of the whole wheat grain. It contains a special type of fiber made of arabinoxylan oligosaccharides (AXOS).
In
In humans, wheat bran has also been shown to help increase the presence of Bifidobacterium in fecal matter, which leads to softer stools in healthy individuals whose digestion was slow.
Seaweed is a form of marine algae
However, more human research is needed to explore the full benefits of seaweed.
Like apples, avocados
Prebiotic foods are high in special types of fiber that support digestive health.
They promote the increase of friendly bacteria in the gut, help with various digestive problems, and even boost your immune system.
Prebiotic foods have also been shown to improve metabolic health and even help prevent certain diseases.
Since the fiber content of these foods may be altered during cooking, try to consume them raw rather than cooked to gain the full health benefits.
With a variety of options available, you can take your time to find the best prebiotic foods for yourself and your gut.