Many people have heard about probiotics, and know that having a healthy microbiome provides positive health benefits ranging from improved digestion to skin, immune health, mental health and more. These are largely facilitated by postbiotic metabolites formed from probiotic bacteria during the digestive process.

 

Postbiotics are byproducts produced when probiotic bacteria metabolize prebiotics from fiber-rich foods. When we eat carbohydrates containing fiber, the prebiotic ingredients bypass digestion in the small intestine and become food for the microbes in the large intestine. The resulting postbiotic metabolites have many health benefits, so it is important to consume prebiotic foods that fuel the formation of postbiotic metabolites.

 

Because different strains of probiotics will produce different postbiotics, it is advantageous to maintain a more diverse microbiome, meaning a greater variety of beneficial probiotic strains. There are more than 800 metabolites that can be produced by the gut bacteria, but this is largely dependent on what probiotic microbes are being fed.

 

To achieve greater microbiome diversity, consuming varied types of fiber in optimal amounts is recommended. Some people may even be spending money on probiotic supplements and taking them in excessively high, long-term doses, yet not eating enough fiber variety to achieve the optimal benefits. Dysbiosis, or imbalances in the microbiome, can occur from medications, chemotherapy, infections and pesticides. Some conditions may even limit the ability to comfortably ingest specific types of fiber.

 

It is well established that microbiome diversity positively impacts human health, so it is important to get to the root cause of gastrointestinal symptoms in order to help support the ongoing ingestion of fiber from food. Alternatively, supplementation with postbiotic metabolites dispensed under medical supervision may be a good option for those with certain health problems that inhibit optimal fiber ingestion or that have had significant changes to their microbiome.

 

Dr. Ashlyn Zikmund is a naturopathic doctor at Natural Paths to Wellness, located at 1524 Cedar Cliff Dr., in Camp Hill. She has a special interest in gut health, women’s health and metabolic syndrome. For more information, call 717-494-4500 or visit NaturalPathsToWellness.com.