Since postbiotics aren’t alive, they work differently than probiotics. Researchers are still uncovering postbiotics’ full potential, but they’ve already discovered several promising benefits.
1) They can boost your immune health.
“Because so much of the immune system resides in the gut, postbiotics can also support the immune system,” explains Mitri.
Rountree adds that some forms of postbiotics have been studied extensively, especially yeast-derived beta-glucans. “The main clinically studied benefits of postbiotics are for immune support, which includes prevention of infection, improved tolerance — thus decreasing risk of allergy and autoimmunity — and possibly cancer prevention.”
2) They can improve digestive health.
Butyrate is one of the most studied postbiotics, and it plays a significant role in gut health and digestion. That’s because butyrate helps strengthen the intestinal lining, reduce inflammation, and support healthy gut motility.
Rountree says butyrate’s digestive health benefits extend beyond the colon. Butyrate can also support your nervous system, helping to regulate bowel habits and reduce gastrointestinal discomfort. Early findings suggest that postbiotics may offer relief from bloating, irregularity, and general sensitivity, especially for those with irritable bowel syndrome.
3) They may help with seasonal allergies and eczema.
Research suggests postbiotics could be useful for managing certain inflammatory conditions. Heat-killed probiotic strains, for instance, have shown potential for reducing seasonal-allergy symptoms. Other microbial metabolites may calm eczema by supporting the skin’s barrier and lowering inflammatory signals.
4) They’re potent and shelf-stable.
Unlike probiotics, which start losing strength the moment they’re packaged (and often require refrigeration), postbiotics are relatively stable.
“Since postbiotics are not viable organisms, they have a very stable shelf life at room temperature and maintain their potency over much longer time frames than probiotics,” Rountree explains. This also means that postbiotics travel well and are relatively easy to store and incorporate into your routine.
5) They might help anyone sensitive to probiotics.
Some people, especially those with sensitive digestive systems, small-intestinal bacterial overgrowth, or impaired gut motility, feel bloated or uncomfortable when taking probiotics. But because postbiotics don’t contain living organisms, they typically don’t produce the same symptoms — and so they could offer a path for sensitive individuals to improve their gut health.
Understanding Postbiotics
You’ve probably heard of prebiotics and probiotics. Learn more about another biotic that can influence your gut health at “What Are Postbiotics?,” from which this article was excerpted.
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