The Differences Between Prebiotics, Probiotics, and Postbiotics
Dr. Joseph Mercola - Take Control of Your Health
Briana Mercola
4.6 • 1.6K Ratings
🗓️ 16 May 2026
⏱️ 6 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
- The relationship between prebiotics, probiotics and postbiotics is symbiotic, meaning they work together to support and maintain optimal gut health
- Prebiotics are nondigestible food components that promote the growth and activity of beneficial microorganisms in your intestines
- Probiotics are live beneficial bacteria that directly contribute to maintaining a healthy gut microbiome
- Postbiotics are bioactive compounds produced when your body digests prebiotics and probiotics; they're also produced during the fermentation process
- Prebiotics fuel the growth of probiotics, which in turn produce postbiotics that offer additional health benefits
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Probiotics get most of the attention when people think about gut health, but the full picture |
| 0:04.5 | involves three distinct players that work together in a system most people do not fully understand. |
| 0:10.3 | Prebiotics, probiotics, and postbiotics, each serve a different role, and getting them |
| 0:15.4 | confused or out of balance can mean the difference between a strategy that works and one that |
| 0:20.4 | waste your money. |
| 0:22.8 | Dr. Mercola breaks down exactly what each one does and how to use them effectively. |
| 0:28.4 | Welcome to Dr. Mercola's cellular wisdom. |
| 0:31.0 | Stay informed with quick, easy-to-listen summaries of our latest articles, perfect for when |
| 0:35.3 | you're on the go. |
| 0:36.4 | No reading required. Subscribe for free |
| 0:38.3 | at Mercola.com for the latest health insights. |
| 0:44.8 | Hello and welcome to Dr. Mercola Cellular Wisdom. |
| 0:48.0 | Probiotics are the live beneficial microorganisms that colonize your gut. |
| 0:52.5 | Dr. Mercola explains that when you eat fermented foods or |
| 0:55.7 | take a probiotic supplement, you are introducing living bacteria into your digestive tract. |
| 1:01.1 | These organisms support immune function, help maintain the integrity of the gut barrier, |
| 1:06.1 | and compete with harmful bacteria for resources in space. The most commonly studied strains belong to |
| 1:12.2 | the lactobacillus and bifidobacterium genera, though the field is expanding rapidly. |
| 1:17.0 | Prebiotics are the food that probiotics need to survive and thrive. They are indigestible fibers |
| 1:22.5 | that pass through the upper digestive tract intact and are fermented by gut bacteria in the colon. Dr. Merkola highlights that |
| 1:31.0 | without adequate prebiotics, even the best probiotic supplement may fail to establish a lasting |
| 1:36.8 | presence. The most well-studied prebiotics include inulin, fructo-ologosaccharides, and resistant starch. |
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