David PerlmutterPresident,, Perlmutter Health Center · Board-Certified Neurologist | Functional Medicine Pioneer | #1 New York Times Best-Selling Author | International Speaker | Host of The Empowering Neurologist Podcast

Feed Your Gut Bacteria With Prebiotics

12 Apr 2015 · 1 min

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1:03

In this brief presentation, Dr. David Perlmutter explains the concept of prebiotics, distinguishing them from the more commonly discussed probiotics. He defines prebiotics as foods and nutritional supplements that promote the growth of beneficial gut bacteria already present in the body. He lists several prebiotic-rich foods—jicama, garlic, onions, Jerusalem artichoke, and dandelion greens—and highlights inulin as a key compound that fuels good bacteria. Dr. Perlmutter recommends incorporating prebiotic foods alongside probiotic supplements and fermented foods to support a healthy gut microbiome.

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So in addition to probiotics that everybody seems to be talking about, we're now hearing the term called prebiotics, and what exactly does that mean? Well, prebiotics is a term used for various foods and even nutritional supplements that are strongly involved in growing— helping your body grow good bacteria. In other words, enhancing the growth of good bacteria that you already have. So there are a number of prebiotic foods that we recommend, things like jicama, garlic, onions, Jerusalem artichoke, dandelion greens, for example, very rich in things that allow good bacteria to grow, things like inulin, for example. So prebiotics are a wonderful thing to have on board in addition to both probiotic supplements as well as the consumption of fermented foods that naturally contain probiotic bacteria.