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What exactly are prebiotics and what are the health benefits?

Best prebiotic supplements collage featuring two products on purple background

Courtesy of brands / Gabrielle Langdon

What are prebiotic foods?

Whole foods are the ideal source of prebiotics, saysAmanda Baker Lemein, MS, RD, LDN.

The tasty vanilla flavor is another bonus.

Omni Biotic AB 10 Microbiome Restoration Probiotic

Best for Constipation: Garden of Life Dr.

Formulated Organic Fiber

Garden of Life Dr.

The outer capsule is actually the prebiotic!

Mindbodygreen Organic Fiber Potency

Its made from Indian pomegranate whole fruit extract, which has antioxidant benefits, too, Largeman-Roth says.

It can also help with IBS and SIBO (small intestinal bacterial overgrowth), she says.

Largeman-Roth also appreciates that these pills come in a refillable jar.

Garden of Life Dr. Formulated Organic Fiber

The product is GMP compliant and free of common allergens, and variousclinical trialsback up the companys claims.

Alexa M., a graphic designer, has also noticed more consistent BMs with Seed.

I like the routine.

Seed DS01 Daily Synbiotic

I dont think all the time, oh my stomach is upset anymore.

Known for producing high-quality and effective supplements, Thorne is a reputable manufacturer that Ajmera highly recommends.

This powder is pretty affordable, to boot.

Thorne FiberMend

It also includes several strains for gut health and 75 mg of prebiotic fiber.

Largeman-Roth appreciates that its formulated specially for womens health issues.

The capsules are chocolate-flavored, which might make them a bit easier to take.

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I wanted a subscription one that was a bit more simple.

Ritual offered a nice multivitamin and pre-pro combo, but didnt venture to push much else.

And those made me nauseous.

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These little guys are individually packaged and super easy to take on the go.

The easily dissolvable powder means you could take it with just water or even mix it into foods.

Unfortunately, traveling can wreak havoc on your digestion, often causing constipation due to changes in your routine.

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The clear product mixes in with water or juice and doesnt have a flavor.

If you like flavor, they also have a strawberry lemonade option.

How do prebiotics impact gut health and overall health?

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What are the downsides to taking prebiotics?

Why might you want to take a prebiotic?

Too muchortoo little prebiotic fiber can cause stomach issues.

Life Extension Florassist Prebiotic Chewable

Is it better to take prebiotics or probiotics?

Its not that one is better than the other.

They have a different function and purpose and work best together.

Natures Way Fortify Optima Advanced Care 90 Billion Probiotic  Prebiotic

What time of day should I take prebiotics?

I recommend first thing in the morning or right before bed, says Glassman.

What should you look for in a prebiotic supplement?

Ritual Synbiotic

Trustworthy companies will make their manufacturing process transparent and the research they cite easily accessible.

Youll also want to look into how much prebiotic fiber the product contains.

Third-party certifications are also a great sign.

Benefiber Prebiotic Fiber Supplement

Meet our experts

“Prebiotics feed the good gut bacteria and encourage them to grow in number” says Keri Glassman MS RDN CDN founder of…

Prebiotic supplements dont agree with everyone and those with sensitive stomachs or issues like IBS or inflammatory…

“If you are having gut issues such as gas bloating or constipation you may need a prebiotic” says Glassman. Given that…

Its not that one is better than the other. They have a different function and purpose and work best together. You need…

The best time to take them is when you are going to remember so experiment with timing to learn when theyre easiest to…

When choosing a prebiotic supplement you want to look for reputable brands backed by clinical research that meet quality…

Keri Glassman MS RDN CDN founder of Nutritious Life  Amanda Baker Lemein MS RD LDN  Rachael Ajmera MS RD  Dr. Navya…