Choosing a Prebiotic Supplement

Public awareness of gut health is growing.  Probiotic supplements have paved the way for a wide array of gut health supplements.  Prebiotics have benefitted from this partly due to the appealing simplicity in explaining that ‘prebiotics are food for probiotics’.  The take-away message is that you need prebiotics to feed your probiotics – both those already in your gut and the probiotics you consume via supplementation.

Prebiotics come from various sources and a healthy diet rich in whole fruits, grains, and vegetables can deliver much of the prebiotic material your gut microbiome requires.  But meeting these demands on a daily basis, which is important for the consistent support of your gut health, leads many people to seek out supplements.  Below are a few tips in helping choose the best prebiotic supplements, if this is the pathway you require.  Always seek support from a FODMAP-trained Dietitian to assist you is assessing if you really need one and which one may be suitable prior to commencing a supplement.

1. Don’t ignore the prebiotics in your diet.

Variety is important when it comes to prebiotics as different probiotics may favour different prebiotic sources.  Most modern diets are already rich in prebiotics like inulin, inulin-like fructans, and FOS, which are found in many fruits, vegetables, and whole wheat products.  Adding more of these prebiotics via supplementation can actually overload your microbiome, leading to increased gas, bloating, and discomfort.

2. Choose dietary fibre.

Regulations surrounding the labelling of dietary fibre require that these ingredients meet a number of requirements, including the scientific documentation of health benefits in humans.  Not all prebiotics qualify as dietary fibre, so make sure your supplement does.

3. Go natural.

While synthetic prebiotics made through chemical processes may produce a measurable benefit in the microbiome, these modified ingredients were not historically part of our diet.  Unmodified prebiotics like resistant starch were naturally part of our ancestral diet and are difficult to get from modern diets due to processing and cooking.

4.Stay FODMAP Friendly.

Many prebiotics are FODMAPs, small, rapidly-fermented fibers that cause discomfort in a substantial portion of the population.  FODMAP Friendly uses third-party laboratory testing to verify that products are free from FODMAPs, allowing consumers to navigate both food and supplement aisles with confidence.

While prebiotics play an important role in maintaining gut health, it’s good to recognize that dietary choices, careful supplement selection, and scientific substantiation should all influence your prebiotic consumption.

By Dr Jason Bush, MSPrebiotic

Check out our FODMAP Friendly certified MSPrebiotic!!

What is MSPrebiotic?

MSPrebiotic is a prebiotic – a natural plant product that feeds the healthy bacteria of our gut microbiome. MSPrebiotic is a Resistant Starch (RS2) prebiotic, which is carefully extracted from potatoes. MSPrebiotic delivers the highest concentration of RS2 and is the only supplement-grade source available on the market. This single-ingredient flavourless powder contains 7g of insoluble fiber per each 10g scoop.

What is Resistant Starch?

Resistant Starch refers to all starches that are not digested by the time they reach the large intestine. Resistant starch type 2 (RS2) is a natural, raw, unmodified type of RS found in certain fruits, vegetables, and grains.
Resistant Starch is not the same thing as regular potato starch. Potato starch contains glucose and starch molecules easily available to break down by our enzymes. Resistant Starch is different because the granular shape prevents our enzymes from converting it into glucose. It remains undigested and becomes fuel for the healthy bacteria in the microbiome. MSPrebiotic is a concentrated form of Resistant Starch.

What does MSPrebiotic do?

1. Stimulate growth of healthy bacteria in gut microbiome.
2. Improve digestion and support regularity.
3. Increase energy.

How can it be consumed?

MSPrebiotic is a flavourless powder, easily added to cool (less than 60 C) drinks or foods like a shake or smoothie, juice, water, yogurt, oatmeal and whatever you can mix! It lightly settles in water, does not clump and helps with satiety with its high fibre content. Follow the dosaging instructions on the package. Start small and work your way up until you feel the effects you are looking for and stay at that dosage. Everyone’s microbiome is different so dosages vary.

Differences between Probiotics
and Prebiotics

Probiotics are the healthy beneficial bacteria in the microbiome of the gut, and can be consumed in food or supplement form. Prebiotics are a special type of dietary fibre that resist digestion and feed the good bacteria that occur naturally in the gut, which is key! Everyone’s gut microbiome is different, and one strain of beneficial bacteria may thrive in one person but not in another. When you feed your own personal strains of probiotic you are working with what you have which can prove more effective than just probiotics alone. MSPrebiotic can be used with your probiotic too!

Where is the FODMAP Friendly MSPrebiotic product stocked?

MSPrebiotic is available to purchase online on their website at www.msprebiotic.ca and independent stockists.

Where can I find out more about MSPrebiotic?

Check out the MSPrebiotic website, Instagram and Facebook.