Prebiotics vs. Probiotics: What’s the Gut Got to Do with It?

Written by Remedy Nutritionist Jacqueline Alwill @brownpapernutrition

Let’s talk about your gut aka the thriving community of bacteria living in your digestive system. Don’t squirm. These little guys are essential. And if you're sipping on something fizzy from Remedy, you're already showing your gut some serious love.

But what’s the deal with prebiotics and probiotics? What do they actually do? And why does it matter that your Remedy Sodaly has prebiotics while your Remedy Kombucha is packed with probiotics? Let’s clear the fog and break it down - Remedy style.

Your Gut Is Kind of a Big Deal

Your gut isn’t just about digestion, it’s the control centre for your entire well-being. A healthy gut means better energy, stronger immunity, happier hormones, and even clearer skin. When your gut microbiome is out of whack (thanks to stress, processed foods, or too much sugar), everything feels a bit “meh.” That’s where prebiotics + probiotics come in: the dream team working behind the scenes.

First up: Probiotics = The Good Guys

Think of probiotics as the friendly bacteria your gut needs to stay happy and balanced. They're like your gut’s personal wellness squad, helping with digestion, boosting immunity, and even lifting your mood. 

You’ll find probiotics in fermented foods like yoghurt, kefir, kimchi... and, you guessed it, kombucha! Remedy Kombucha, in particular, is made the traditional way, over a slow 30 day fermentation process, meaning it naturally brews billions of these helpful bacteria, ready to move in and make your gut a better place.

Quick fact: Remedy Kombucha contains live cultures that survive the journey through your digestive tract to actually do their job, so it’s not just tasty, it’s a functional food, well, drink. 

Then There’s Prebiotics = The Food for the Good Guys

Here’s where prebiotics come in. They’re not bacteria themselves, they’re more like the VIP snacks that keep your probiotic crew fuelled and thriving. Prebiotics are a type of fibre that your body can’t digest, but your good gut bacteria can. 

Prebiotics naturally occur in foods like garlic, onion, bananas, and oats. But let's be honest, not everyone’s smashing garlic and leeks on the daily. Enter: Remedy Sodaly - gut-lovin’ soft drink alternative that delivers prebiotic fibre in every can. Fizzy, fruity, and fabulous without the sugar crash? Yes please.

Why Remedy Drinks Are a Gut Game-Changer

Let’s be real, traditional soft drinks are on the out. They’re full of sugar (or artificial sweeteners), with no nutritional benefit. Remedy flips the script with better-for-you bubbles that taste amazing and support your gut.

• Remedy Kombucha = contains tea polyphenols, organic acids and live cultures aka probiotics to boost your gut flora
  
• Remedy Sodaly = contains prebiotic fibre to feed the good bacteria
  
• Both = 100% natural, without sugar, and made with delicious natural flavours like ginger, lemon, yuzu, raspberry, orange, apple, guava and the list goes on (check out of the full range on remedydrinks.com)
  
  

Your Gut-Glowing Cheat Sheet

• Probiotics = live good bacteria (like in Remedy Kombucha)
  
• Prebiotics = food for good bacteria (like in Remedy Sodaly)
  
• Together = your gut’s dream team
• A happy gut = better mood, energy, immunity + digestion
  
• Soft drink upgrade = Remedy. Always.
  

So next time you crack open a Remedy, know that you’re not just quenching your thirst, you’re giving your body a fizzy high-five from the inside out. Gut health? Handled. Want to keep your gut goals going strong? Check out my “Nutritionist’s Day On a Plate : Gut loving Pre and Probiotic Edition” below for some handy tips on how to do it:

A Nutritionist's Day On A Plate: Gut Loving Pre-Probiotic Edition

Rise: 2 glasses filtered water + 2 dates (before the gym) 

Breakfast: Eggs on seed and grain toast with avocado (prebiotic fibre) and sauerkraut (live cultures)

Mid Morning: Berries (polyphenol prebiotic) with yoghurt (live cultures) and ground flaxseed (prebiotic fibre) 

Lunch: Remedy Ginger Lemon Kombucha (live cultures) and Chicken minestrone soup - leeks, garlic, barley (prebiotic fibre), chicken broth, tomatoes, celery, carrot, kidney beans, herbs, parmesan 

Afternoon: Apple (prebiotic fibre) and nut butter 

Dinner: Remedy Yuzu Lemon Sodaly (prebiotics) and Japanese Salmon bowl with rice/noodles, vegetables, kimchi (live cultures) and seaweed sprinkle (prebiotics)