Ask the Doctors: Probiotics, prebiotics key to healthy gut | Health

Dear Doctor: My big New Year’s resolution was to get my gut into better shape. I’m not talking about a flat stomach — after having three kids, that ship has sailed — but about the gut microbiome. Do I need to take probiotics?

Dear Reader: Considering the abundance of foods and drinks with which many of us celebrate the weeks between Thanksgiving and Jan. 1, the new year is a logical and appropriate time for a gut reset. And, yes, we’re talking about the gut microbiome here, which is the collection of trillions of microorganisms that call our digestive tracts home. These include the vast and varied colonies of bacteria, fungi, protozoa, friendly viruses and other microbes that interact with our bodies and, in many cases, help to keep us healthy. Research into the microbiome continues to uncover the many ways in which gut health plays a role in general health, including how it affects processes as varied as the immune system, blood sugar regulation, the cardiovascular system, cholesterol, weight and even mental health.

The good news is that, with several simple lifestyle choices, you can improve your gut health. To understand how, we should define two important terms — the probiotics that you mention and another equally important piece of the gut microbiome puzzle: prebiotics. Probiotics is the word we use to describe the good microbes living in our guts. A wide variety of types and strains of probiotics are now available as dietary supplements and in food sources such as yogurt, kefir and naturally fermented foods and drinks. The jury is still out as to whether probiotic supplements are actually helpful in achieving and maintaining gut health.