Probiotics vs Prebiotics: What's the Difference?
Gut health has become one of the most talked-about topics in wellbeing - and for good reason. Your digestive system plays a part in how you feel day to day, from energy levels to general comfort after meals. But if you've started looking into supporting your gut, you've probably bumped into two terms that sound similar but mean very different things. Understanding the probiotics and prebiotics difference starts with knowing that probiotics are live bacteria and prebiotics are the fibres that feed them.
They're often mentioned in the same breath, which makes it easy to assume they're interchangeable. They're not. Put simply, probiotics are living microorganisms that can contribute to a healthy gut microbiome, while prebiotics are the fibres that feed those microorganisms. Understanding the probiotics and prebiotics difference is one of the simplest ways to make more informed choices about your diet and any supplements you're considering - so let's break it down.
What Are Probiotics?
Probiotics are live bacteria and yeasts that are naturally found in certain foods and in the trillions of microorganisms that already live in your gut - collectively known as the gut microbiome.
Not all bacteria are something to avoid. Many strains exist in your digestive tract as part of a normal, balanced microbial community, and probiotic foods or supplements are designed to introduce more of these helpful strains.
Common probiotic strains you may see listed on food labels or supplements include various species of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium. These are widely studied and commonly included in everyday probiotic foods and supplements aimed at supporting digestive wellbeing.
At Udo's Choice, you'll see these products referred to as Microbiotics. Our Microbiotics range contains carefully selected human-adapted live bacterial cultures designed to support the gut microbiome. We use the term Microbiotics because current UK and European regulations restrict the use of the term "probiotic" in food supplement marketing.
Probiotic Foods
You don't need a supplement to get started - many probiotic foods are easy to find in a typical UK supermarket. Good sources include:
- Live or "bio" yoghurt
- Kefir
- Sauerkraut
- Kimchi
- Miso
- Kombucha
- Some traditionally fermented pickles
Including a variety of these in your meals is a simple way to introduce live cultures into your routine as part of a balanced diet.
What Are Prebiotics?
Prebiotics are a different story altogether. Rather than being live organisms themselves, prebiotics are types of fibre that your body can't digest - but the bacteria in your gut can. Think of them as food for the probiotics already living in your digestive system.
When the bacteria in your gut break down prebiotic fibres, they produce compounds that may contribute to a healthy gut environment. In other words, prebiotics help create the right conditions for beneficial bacteria to thrive.
Prebiotic Foods
Prebiotic fibres are found naturally in a wide range of plant-based foods, including:
- Onions and garlic
- Leeks
- Bananas (especially slightly under-ripe)
- Oats
- Chicory root
- Asparagus
- Jerusalem artichokes
- Pulses such as lentils and chickpeas
Many of these are already everyday staples, so it's often easier than people expect to include prebiotic foods alongside probiotic ones.
Probiotics and Prebiotics Difference: Simple Comparison
Now that you know what each one does, here's the probiotics and prebiotics difference laid out side by side for easy reference:
| Probiotics | Prebiotics | |
|---|---|---|
| What they are | Live bacteria and yeasts | Non-digestible plant fibres |
| Role in the gut | Add beneficial microorganisms | Feed existing beneficial bacteria |
| Found in | Live yoghurt, kefir, fermented foods | Onions, garlic, oats, bananas, pulses |
| Digested by you? | Partially survive digestion | Pass through to the gut undigested |
| Best described as | The "good bacteria" | The "food" for good bacteria |
Did You Know?
You may be familiar with the term probiotics, but at Udo's Choice we use the term Microbiotics. This is because UK and European regulations restrict the use of the term "probiotic" in food supplement marketing. Our Microbiotics products contain carefully selected human-adapted live bacterial cultures designed to support the gut microbiome, which is why you'll see the term Microbiotics used throughout our range.
Can You Take Probiotics and Prebiotics Together?
Yes — in fact, many people find it helpful to think of probiotics and prebiotics as working together rather than as alternatives, even with the difference between them in mind. A supplement or food that contains both is sometimes called a "synbiotic" combination.
The logic is straightforward: probiotics introduce beneficial bacteria, while prebiotics help support the environment those bacteria need to remain part of a balanced gut microbiome. There's no need to choose one over the other - most everyday diets benefit from including sources of both.
Simple Ways to Support Your Gut Every Day
You don't need a complete diet overhaul to start supporting your digestive wellbeing. Small, consistent habits tend to make the biggest difference over time:
- Add a portion of fermented food (like live yoghurt or kefir) to your day
- Include more plant fibre - vegetables, oats, pulses and fruit
- Stay hydrated, as fibre needs water to do its job comfortably
- Vary your diet rather than relying on the same few foods
- Consider a probiotic or prebiotic supplement if your diet is limited or inconsistent
Supporting Your Gut with Udo's Choice Microbiotics
At Udo’s Choice, we believe gut health support should feel simple, practical and easy to build into everyday life.
Our Microbiotics range is designed to provide carefully selected live bacterial cultures to help support your gut health routine, alongside a varied diet, fibre-rich foods and healthy lifestyle habits. Because gut health needs can vary throughout life, the range includes age-specific options for babies and toddlers aged 0–5, children aged 5–15, adults, and adults over 50.
You may notice that we use the term Microbiotics rather than Probiotics. This reflects the language we use across our range of products containing carefully selected human-adapted live bacterial cultures. Our focus is helping you support your gut microbiome through quality formulations, informed choices and everyday habits.
Prebiotic-rich foods such as oats, onions, garlic, bananas and asparagus can help nourish the beneficial bacteria already living in your gut. And if you’re looking to add more plant-based nutrition to your day, Udo’s Choice Beyond Greens can sit alongside your Microbiotics routine, providing fibre from a blend of grasses, seeds, greens and plant powders.
Together, Microbiotics and Beyond Greens can help you build a simple daily routine that supports digestive wellbeing from more than one angle: live cultures, fibre-rich plant foods and everyday consistency.
Explore the Udo’s Choice Microbiotics range to find the option best suited to your age, lifestyle and routine.
Final Thoughts
The probiotics and prebiotics difference comes down to this: probiotics and prebiotics aren't competing concepts - they're two halves of the same picture. Probiotics bring beneficial bacteria into the gut, while prebiotics help feed and support the bacteria already there. Together, they form a simple, practical foundation for everyday digestive wellbeing.
As with any change to your diet or supplement routine, if you have a medical condition, a compromised immune system, are pregnant, or are experiencing ongoing digestive symptoms, it's a good idea to speak to a healthcare professional before starting something new.
Explore the Udo's Choice Microbiotics range to find the option best suited to your routine.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main difference between probiotics and prebiotics?
Probiotics are live bacteria that can contribute to your gut microbiome, while prebiotics are fibres that feed the beneficial bacteria already living in your gut.
Are probiotics or prebiotics better?
Neither is inherently "better" - they serve different purposes. Probiotics add beneficial bacteria, while prebiotics support the bacteria already present. Most balanced diets benefit from including both.
Can I take probiotics and prebiotics together?
Yes. Many people include both in their diet or supplement routine, as prebiotics can help support the environment that probiotics need to thrive.
What foods contain probiotics and prebiotics?
Probiotic foods include live yoghurt, kefir, sauerkraut and kimchi. Prebiotic foods include onions, garlic, oats, bananas and pulses such as lentils and chickpeas.
Are microbiotics the same as probiotics?
In practical terms, yes. Udo's Choice Microbiotics products contain carefully selected live bacterial cultures, including human-adapted strains, that many consumers would recognise as probiotics.
The reason we use the term Microbiotics is not because the products are fundamentally different, but because current UK and European regulations do not permit the term "probiotic" to be used as a general marketing claim on food supplements unless an authorised health claim has been approved.
While the name is different, our focus remains the same: providing carefully formulated live bacterial cultures designed to support the gut microbiome at different life stages, from babies and toddlers through to adults and adults aged 50+.
This article is for general information only and is not a substitute for medical advice. If you have a medical condition, weakened immunity, are pregnant, or have ongoing digestive symptoms, please consult a healthcare professional before starting any new supplement.