So, What’s the Deal with Postbiotics?

There’s a huge piece of gut health knowledge that most of our farmers market friends are missing. If you’ve ever met me in person, you know I love chatting about digestion—and in those conversations, I’ve realized something pretty surprising. Sure, folks know about prebiotics and probiotics, but they’ve got no clue what postbiotics are or why they’re important! So let’s dive in: what in the world are postbiotics, why do they matter, and how do we get more of them in our diets?

What Exactly Are Postbiotics?

In the simplest terms, postbiotics are the beneficial byproducts that form when probiotics (the “good” gut bacteria) feast on prebiotics (fibers and other compounds). They can include short-chain fatty acids, functional proteins, vitamins, and more.

 Think of it this way:

Prebiotic → Probiotic → Postbiotic

They’re basically your probiotics’ handiwork—a gut-friendly “leftover” that can pack a serious punch when it comes to digestive health, immune support, and overall well-being.

Why Should We Care About Postbiotics?

1. Gut Barrier Reinforcement
   Certain postbiotics can help strengthen the lining of your digestive tract, acting like a protective wall against unwanted substances
   (Tsilingiri & Rescigno, 2013).

2. Immune System Support
   Because so much of our immune system lives in the gut, fostering a balanced environment down there can mean big benefits for your body’s defenses
   (Aguilar-Toalá et al., 2018).

3. Better Digestive Comfort
   By helping keep the gut microbiome balanced, postbiotics may contribute to less bloating, gas, and general tummy troubles
   

4. Overall Wellness
   A healthy gut influences everything from nutrient absorption to mood, so loading up on postbiotics can have far-reaching perks you might not even realize.

Where Can We Get Postbiotics?

You won’t typically see “postbiotics” on store shelves, but you can still work them into your daily routine:

1. Fermented Foods
   Yogurt, kefir, kimchi, sauerkraut, and kombucha are some classic probiotic-rich favorites. As these probiotics munch on prebiotic fibers in fermented foods, they naturally produce postbiotics.

2. Prebiotic-Rich Choices
   Think fibrous fruits (bananas, apples), veggies (onions, garlic), and whole grains. The more prebiotics you feed your gut, the more postbiotics those beneficial bacteria can produce!

3. Fermented-Then-Baked Products
   Fun fact: Our gut-friendly granola is gently fermented before baking. While the high heat may reduce live probiotics, the beneficial postbiotics formed during fermentation remain intact. That means a crunchy snack and postbiotic perks all in one.

Why Our Granola Is Your Postbiotic Pal

At Eat Purposefully, we’re all about crafting products that love your body as much as you do. By fermenting our granola’s ingredients first, we let the good bacteria work their magic. Then, we bake it so you can enjoy all the comfort of a toasty, crunchy snack—without losing out on the postbiotic goodness. It’s like getting the best of both worlds, no extra steps required on your end! Oh ya- and if you eat it with some probiotic rich kefir you will get prebiotics, probiotics and postbiotics all in one!

Ready to Get Your Crunch On?

If you’re looking to add postbiotics to your daily diet without overthinking it, our fermented-and-baked granola might just be your new best friend. It’s a simple, tasty way to help support your gut lining, immune health, and digestion—all while treating your taste buds. And if you love geeking out over gut health facts as much as I do, consider subscribing on our website for more wellness tips, exclusive deals, and updates on new products.

Because really, who wouldn’t want a happier belly that thanks you after every bite?

References

• Aguilar-Toalá, J. E., et al. (2018). Postbiotics: An evolving term within the functional foods field. Current Opinion in Food Science, 20, 66–75.
  
• Tsilingiri, K., & Rescigno, M. (2013). Postbiotics: what else? Beneficial Microbes, 4(1), 101–107.