I have heard “prebiotic” and “probiotic” foods are good for my gut. Is this true and what does this mean?Updated 4 months ago

Any food that feeds our gut microbes we call a prebiotic. Our microbiome is uniquely positioned to metabolise a wide range of fibres, most of which we can't even break down, making fibre one of the primary prebiotics that feeds and encourages a diverse microbiome. High-fiber foods include lots of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, and seeds. These foods help our beneficial gut bacteria to thrive and maintain a healthy balance.Apart from fibre-rich foods, polyphenols also act as prebiotics. Polyphenols are compounds found in a wide range of foods, especially in colourful fruits and vegetables like berries, nuts, and seeds, as well as in green tea and even dark chocolate.Probiotic foods, on the other hand, contain live beneficial bacteria. Think of yoghurt, kefir, and fermented foods like sauerkraut. They add to the diversity of microbes in our gut.