10/10/2025
💡 Dead Probiotics That Still Work? Meet Postbiotics! 🦠👻
You’ve probably heard of probiotics — live bacteria that support gut and immune health. But here’s something you might not know… even when they’re no longer alive, they can still have beneficial effects.
These are called postbiotics — inactive microbial cells or their structural components that can positively influence health. 🧠🫁
Most probiotics don’t actually survive the journey through the digestive system — stomach acid, bile, and enzymes break them down before reaching the gut. When that happens, they release bioactive fragments such as peptidoglycans, glycoproteins, lipoteichoic acids, and polysaccharides.
These components interact with the gut lining and immune cells, helping to:
✅ Support intestinal barrier integrity
✅ Regulate immune responses
✅ Reduce gut inflammation
✅ Influence gut–brain communication
Research shows that even heat-treated strains of Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus can help ease IBS symptoms and reduce the risk of respiratory infections — comparable to their live counterparts.
So even when they don’t make it through digestion alive, their structural parts can still contribute to gut and immune health. Science in action!
I personally take a Yakult probiotic drink every morning. 🙂
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