Probiotics and their role in gut health and our overall well-being have completely transformed the health and wellness world. Over the past decade, we’ve not only seen a huge increase in probiotic supplements, but also probiotic-enriched foods, drinks, snacks, health products, skincare and body care products. 

This growth has been driven by a combination of factors – including category expansion, people becoming more health-conscious and aware of the health benefits, shifting dietary preferences, and probiotics being used in more areas of human health. The worldwide probiotics market grew at an impressive rate of 9.14% per year from 2021-2024. The market was worth $65.66 billion (USD) in 2024, and experts predict it will reach $140.34 billion (USD) by 2031.

What is a microbiome?
With all the excitement around probiotics, you've also probably heard the buzzword "microbiome" – but what exactly is it? Our microbiome is a complex internal ecosystem made up of trillions of bacteria, viruses and fungi. While most of our microbiome lives in our digestive system (also known as our gut), its influence reaches far beyond just gut-related issues.

This is a constantly evolving research area; however, we know our gut microbiome is responsible for absorbing nutrients from food, as well as fighting off pathogens (harmful germs or bacteria). Similarly, the good bacteria in our gut can also communicate with our body's cells to support our immune system and reduce oxidative stress on our body. When our microbiome is healthy and balanced, it works like an extra organ supporting our overall health. However, when the microbiome balance is disrupted, a state called dysbiosis, it can affect our digestion, immune health and wellbeing.

According to CSIRO, at least half of Australian adults experience uncomfortable gut symptoms such as bloating, gas and constipation. It’s surprisingly easy to disrupt this delicate balance, especially with our busy Western lifestyle. Common things that can disrupt our gut balance include dietary patterns that are low in fibre and high in heavily processed foods, high sugar and artificial sweetener intake (refined carbs), alcohol, stress, poor sleep, environmental toxins (oxidative stress), and antibiotic use.

What are probiotics?
Live microorganisms that, when consumed in adequate amounts, provide health benefits. Probiotics play an important role in maintaining the health of our Gastrointestinal Tract (GIT). A healthy digestive system is responsible for regulating multiple functions within our body. The effectiveness of probiotics can also be supported by formulating them with prebiotics. You can find probiotics in dairy foods such as yoghurt, cheese, milk and kefir; in fermented foods like kimchi, sauerkraut and kombucha; in miso and tempeh and in probiotic supplements.

What are prebiotics?
Non-digestible compounds that are utilised by the beneficial bacteria in your gut and provide a health benefit. Prebiotics are in abundance in nature, and our primary source of prebiotics can be obtained through our diet and the foods we eat. You can find prebiotics in garlic, onion and shallots; Jerusalem artichoke and leek; oats and barley; bananas and apples; and linseeds, chia seeds and almonds.

What are postbiotics?
Postbiotics are essentially a by-product of our gut – they are the beneficial compounds created by prebiotics and probiotics that provide health benefits to your body. In other words, our body produces postbiotics after digesting foods rich in prebiotic and probiotic foods. For example, when probiotics break down dietary fibre from foods such as fruits and vegetables, grains and legumes, they produce short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) in the colon. SCFAs are important for both gut and overall health. 
You can support postbiotics in your body by eating prebiotic and probiotic-rich foods (which produce SCFAs) and eating a varied and diverse range of high-fibre foods including butter (a source of butyric acid, a short-chain fatty acid).

The relationship between prebiotics, probiotics and postbiotics
Prebiotics, probiotics and postbiotics are part of a closely interlinked relationship and work together to contribute to a healthy and balanced gut microbiome. Each biotic plays a different role - probiotics are the friendly bacteria that live in your gut, prebiotics are the nutrients that help feed them, and postbiotics are the beneficial compounds they produce. It's all connected in one supportive system. 

Some practical tips for supporting a balanced microbiome include improving our sleep quality with simple bedtime routines to maximise rest and recovery; including stress-reducing activities like exercise, mindfulness, meditation and prioritising diverse, fibre- and prebiotic-rich foods. Alongside these habits, evidence-based supplements can also support our gut microbiome. When you're constantly on the go, you need simple support that covers multiple areas. TrioBiotic is a premium multi-biotic supplement - combining prebiotics, probiotics, postbiotics, with added nutrients in one daily capsule.

Life-Space TrioBiotic for Women supports gut health, digestion, immune function, energy levels plus skin, hair, and nail health. This formula also recognises the unique health requirements of women, including added support for vaginal and urogenital health.

Life-Space TrioBiotic for Men supports gut health, digestion, immune function, energy levels and hair health. This formula also recognises the unique health requirements of men, including added support for sperm health.



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