What are bowel supplements?
Bowel supplements are nutritional supplements that support digestion. They contain ingredients that contribute to healthy gut flora, such as fiber, probiotics, and prebiotics.
Good, regular bowel movements are the foundation of overall health. This is primarily because most nutrients are absorbed in the intestines. When your intestines are healthy, they can do this effectively.
In addition, your intestinal system plays an important role in your immune system; well-functioning intestinal flora helps strengthen your natural defenses. (1)
Natural ingredients for intestinal flora
By far the most well-known and commonly used components in bowel supplements are fiber, probiotics, and prebiotics:
Probiotics
Probiotics are beneficial bacteria that are part of our microbiome and help break down fiber and protect against harmful bacteria. This microbiome, consisting of 100 to 200 different bacterial species, varies from person to person and is influenced by what we know and other factors, making each microbiome unique.
Common types are lactobacilli and bifidobacteria.
Good to know : For a supplement to be effective, probiotics must be live and present in sufficient quantities , and the health benefits depend on the specific type and strain of the microorganism. Determine your goal and find the right supplement for your needs.
Prebiotics
Prebiotics are nutrients for the gut bacteria in our bodies. When these bacteria have sufficient food, they can grow and multiply, which contributes to healthy gut flora.
Well-known prebiotics are inulin (in onion, banana, chicory), fructo-oligosaccharides (in the same foods), pectins (in apples and pears) and beta-glucans (in oats, wheat and mushrooms). (2)
Dietary fiber
Dietary fiber is a carbohydrate that isn't digested by our intestines and is essential for healthy bowel movements. When fiber is broken down by the beneficial bacteria in your intestines, it produces short-chain fatty acids like butyrate, which are essential for healthy intestinal lining cells.
In this way they contribute to good digestion, a feeling of satiety after eating and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes and colon cancer. (3)
Types of fibers
There are different types, each with unique health benefits.
They can be divided into soluble fiber , which helps lower cholesterol and blood sugar, and insoluble fiber , which contributes to healthy bowel movements.
Fermentable fiber , a type of soluble fiber, is broken down by gut bacteria, which supports gut health and provides extra energy.
Remember: It's important to get fiber from a variety of food sources to maximize these benefits.
Our bowel movement supplements
On this page we have created an overview of all our bowel movement supplements.
Like our natural probiotic supplement, Probiotics Premium supports healthy gut flora and proper bowel function by delivering 9.6 billion bacteria in 10 selected strains per dose.
- It contains prebiotics (Fructo-oligosaccharide) that promote the growth of good bacteria, enzymes (Digezyme®) that help with the digestion of food, and glutamine, an important amino acid for the intestinal wall.
- Vitamin C supports intestinal flora and strengthens the immune system.
- The enteric-coated capsule ensures that the probiotics reach the intestines alive for optimal functioning.
Sources used
- Qi, X., Li, Y., Fang, C., Jia, Y., Chen, M., Chen, X., & Jia, J. (2023). The associations between dietary fiber intake and systemic immune and inflammatory biomarkers, a multi-cycle study of NHANES 2015–2020. Frontiers in Nutrition , 10 . https://doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2023.1242115
- Markowiak, P., & Śliżewska, K. (2017). Effects of Probiotics, Prebiotics, and Synbiotics on Human Health. Nutrients , 9 (9), 1021. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu9091021
- Nutrition Center. (n.d.). Fiber . https://www.voedingscentrum.nl/encyclopedie/vezels.aspx
