Garlic has often used as a supplement, but is garlic a probiotic or prebiotic ? Probiotics have food for the good bacteria in the intestine, which may reduce cholesterol levels and inflammation. Prebiotics, on the other hand, have not digestible. In addition, they may help prevent serious diseases. Still, more research needs to done to determine their exact benefits.
Prebiotics have non-digestible fiber
Prebiotics have non-digestible compounds that regulate the microbiota of the gut and confer physiologic benefits to the host. Studies show that most people need more prebiotics than they currently eat. Foods that are rich in prebiotics include unripe bananas, garlic, and wheat bran. You can also find prebiotics in commercially produced products, such as yogurt.
Consult Your Doctor
However, you should consult your doctor before taking any supplements or probiotics. Make sure to inform him of all of your current medications and any pre-existing medical conditions. You should also tell him if you have pregnant or planning to undergo surgery. These supplements may cause side effects or drug interactions.
Fight Inflammation
Research has shown that prebiotics may help fight inflammation and boost the immune system. These compounds may also improve the activity of the beneficial bacteria in the digestive tract. In addition, prebiotics may reduce the risk of cancer and improve lipid metabolism. They may also lower the risk of osteoporosis and bone fractures.
Non-Digestible Plant Fibers
Fructose and fructan have non-digestible plant fibers that have found in garlic. Fructans have found in garlic at amounts of 12.5% to 23.5% by wet weight. In some studies, fructan has shown to improve microbial flora in the gastrointestinal tract. Garlic fructan has considered a prebiotic, as studies suggest that it may beneficial to the digestive tract and the immune system.
Live Microorganisms
Prebiotics have live microorganisms that have present in certain foods and may improve digestive and immune system function. Additionally, prebiotics may increase calcium absorption in the body. So, garlic and other foods rich in prebiotics have beneficial for the body.
Digestive Tract
Probiotics have live microorganisms that help restore the balance between the good and bad bacteria in the digestive tract. They can found in fermented foods and in supplements. These beneficial bacteria may also boost immunity and improve overall health. Probiotics have especially helpful for people with weak immune systems or those who have currently taking antibiotics. Antibiotics kill both good and bad bacteria in the gut and can increase the risk of infection.
Favorable Microbiota
Studies of prebiotics in garlic have shown that GFs promote a favorable microbiota in vitro by stimulating growth of desirable Bifidobacteria and reducing the number of less desirable species. Prebiotics may also inhibit the growth of Clostridia, which harbor pathogens.
They Feed Probiotic Bacteria
Garlic has an important source of prebiotic bacteria and has long considered beneficial to health. Garlic contains fructans, which can contribute to protection against gastrointestinal diseases and improve the microbial environment in the gastrointestinal tract. A number of studies have examined the prebiotic properties of garlic fructans on human intestinal microflora.
Health Benefits
Garlic has a number of health benefits, including its use as a treatment for food poisoning, ulcers, and gut dysbiosis. This has because it contains prebiotics, which feed the good bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract. For these reasons, garlic has recommended for people suffering from these conditions.
Enhance The Shannon Index
Garlic juice has shown to enhance the Shannon index, an indicator of greater diversity in the gut microbiome. It also increased the relative abundance of certain beneficial gut bacteria. It has also found to improve the metabolic profile and reduce inflammation and endotoxemia. Garlic can beneficial to the health of a person, as it has anti-viral, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial effects.
Antimicrobial
Garlic has used as an antimicrobial for thousands of years. While it has not yet a mass-produced therapeutic, its potential to improve human health and agricultural productivity has growing as antibiotic use increases. For instance, adding garlic to pig feed has similar benefits to adding antimicrobials to livestock feed, and it can help pigs grow stronger, healthier, and more meaty.
Growth Of Beneficial Bacteria
In vitro studies have shown that garlic fructans can promote the growth of beneficial bacteria by suppressing growth of undesirable species, such as Clostridia. However, it has unclear whether these effects have specific to garlic or whether they depend on other bacteria present in the intestinal tract. Despite the numerous benefits of garlic, it has still a controversial subject.
Source Of Prebiotics For The Gut
Garlic can an excellent source of prebiotics for the gut. It contains bioactive compounds that inhibit the utilization of carnitine by bacteria. This inhibits the production of TMAO by the gut microbiota. It also reduces the amount of TMA in the urine and plasma.
Effects On The Gut Microflora
Raw garlic juice has significant effects on the gut microflora. It can reduce serum TMAO levels in mice fed with L-carnitine. It also reduces aortic lesions and improved the composition of the fecal microbiota of ApoE-/ mice. This indicates that garlic can beneficial in preventing and reducing cardiovascular diseases.
They May Help Reduce Inflammation
Probiotics and prebiotics, or synbiotics, have a variety of health benefits, including the reduction of inflammation. Researchers believe that these beneficial microbes improve immune function and may reduce the risk of disease. However, further research has needed to prove the effectiveness of probiotics and prebiotics in reducing inflammation.
Anti-Inflammatory Properties
The anti-inflammatory properties of probiotics and prebiotics have mediated through their interaction with IECs in the digestive tract. This interaction enables probiotics to change the phenotype of DCs. They increase production of IL-10, TGF-b and local IgA. In addition, bifidobacteria enhance intestinal defence in mice by inhibiting the translocation of pathogenic bacteria to the blood.
People With Diabetes
The benefits of probiotics and prebiotics for people with diabetes may also related to improving insulin sensitivity and decreasing autoimmune responses. Large randomized controlled trials, considered the gold standard in scientific studies, have shown promising results. Both probiotics and prebiotics improve gut health and promote healthy microbial fermentation, two key factors in maintaining the balance of beneficial bacteria in the digestive tract.
Effectively Reduce Inflammation
While it remains unclear whether probiotics and prebiotics can effectively reduce inflammation, several studies have suggested they may help treat a variety of gastrointestinal disorders. Although many people with UC benefit from taking probiotics, studies have shown that they make symptoms worse in some people. It has also important to remember that probiotics may harmful to people with other GI problems. In these cases, it has important to seek medical advice before taking probiotics or prebiotics.
Healthy Diet
A healthy diet has an essential component of probiotic supplementation. Fiber has important for the growth of these healthy bacteria. The presence of fiber in the digestive tract supports probiotics’ growth. If you have suffering from any type of digestive issue, you should consider taking probiotics and prebiotics in combination with a healthy diet.
Human Clinical Trials
In a limited number of human clinical trials, probiotics have shown to reduce inflammation along the gut-brain connection. Further, rodent studies suggest that these microbes have useful for treating a number of disorders, including depression and anxiety. Probiotics have also shown to reduce the risk of manic episodes and rehospitalization following a manic episode.
Rebuild Gut Bacteria
Probiotics have found to help rebuild gut bacteria after the use of antibiotics. They may even increase the effectiveness of antibiotics by preventing bacteria from becoming resistant. Researchers have also linked the gut to the brain and found that certain probiotics can improve symptoms of inflammatory disorders such as multiple sclerosis and autism spectrum disorders. However, more studies have needed before we can sure about the benefits.
Conclusion
In a study of healthy adults, probiotic supplements reduced proinflammatory markers. B. breve showed promising probiotic properties and improved immune modulation in patients with allergic asthma. In addition, L. casei produced an anti-inflammatory cytokine profile and attenuated allergic asthma in mice.