GLOWBEARS - The Glow-How
Prebiotics, Probiotics and Postbiotics - what is effective?
Pre, Pro, or Post: Meeting the Biotic Family
In the world of wellness, gut health is the ultimate VIP. But with so many terms floating around, it can feel like you are back in a school biology lesson. Between prebiotics, probiotics, and high-performance postbiotics, it is easy to get a bit confused.
Glowbears is here to do the the heavy lifting on the research so you don't have to. Here is the snackable science on the "Biotic" family and why one member of the team is the real secret to your daily glow.
The Gut Health Glossary
To understand how to support your microbiome, you need to know the players on the field. Think of your gut like a garden.
Prebiotics: The Fertilizer - These are specialized plant fibres that your body cannot digest. Instead, they act as high-quality fuel for the good bacteria already living in your system. Without prebiotics, your gut garden is essentially trying to grow in dry sand.
Probiotics: The Gardeners - These are the live, beneficial bacteria themselves. They are the workers that try to move in and set up shop.
Postbiotics: The Harvest - This is where the magic happens. Postbiotics are the "active goods" produced during the fermentation process. When good bacteria break down fibre, they create bio-available compounds like Short Chain Fatty Acids (SCFAs). These are the actual molecules that do the heavy lifting for your health.
The Survival Struggle: Why Probiotics Often Miss the Mark
We have all seen those "live culture" labels, but there is a catch. Traditional probiotics are incredibly fragile. Think of them like little explorers trying to cross a vast, bubbling ocean of stomach acid.
For a probiotic to actually help you, it has to stay alive through the manufacturing process, survive months on a shelf, and then make it past your stomach’s natural defenses. The reality? Many of those "billions" of bacteria are gone before they even reach your lower gut. Even if they do make it, they often arrive exhausted and unable to settle in. This is why many people take "probiotic only" products and feel absolutely no difference.
Why Postbiotics are the "Pro-You" Choice
This is where we take the clinical out of nutrition. Postbiotics are the high-performance choice because they do not need to be alive to work. They are the "end product" that your body is actually looking for.
In every Glowbear, we include a standardised dose of postbiotics (like butyrate and acetic acid). Because these are already in their final, bio-available form, your body can recognize and use them immediately. No survival drama, no waiting for bacteria to colonize, just pure results for your gut barrier and immune system.
The Glowbears Difference: Rooted in Science
We do not believe in dusty, old-school formulas. Our secret weapon is Fibriotics: a comprehensive blend of 36 different types of fermented fruits and vegetables.
Most brands just toss some raw fibre into a capsule and call it a day. We take it further with a 4-stage transformative fermentation process that lasts over eight weeks. This long, slow ritual breaks down the complex plant matrix to create a concentrated source of:
- Postbiotics and SCFAs: For gut barrier support and reduced inflammation.
- Polyphenols: These give an added prebiotic effect and act as powerful antioxidants.
- FODMAP-friendly fibres: This means you get all the benefits with none of the bloating, gas, or cramping common with other products.
Diversity is the Goal
A healthy microbiome is a diverse one. A "quiet" gut with only one or two types of bacteria can lead to you feeling sluggish and tired. Our fermented ritual is designed to invite more guests to the party.
Research shows that a diet rich in fermented foods leads to a significant rise in microbial diversity. By choosing a snackable ritual that is packed with postbiotics, you are giving your body a comprehensive hug from the inside out.
The Takeaway
Your gut is a brilliant ecosystem, not a project to be fixed. By moving beyond simple probiotics and embracing the power of fermented postbiotics, you are choosing a more effective way to fuel your ritual.
Stop settling for "maybe" and start supporting your microbiome with the nutrients it actually needs. Let us get your glow on.
Sources
"The International Scientific Association for Probiotics and Prebiotics (ISAPP) consensus statement on the definition and scope of postbiotics." Nature Reviews Gastroenterology & Hepatology, 18(9), 649-667 Paper
"Postbiotics—A Step Beyond Prebiotics and Probiotics." Nutrients, 12(8), 2189 https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/12/8/2189
Meet our expert
Cheat Sheet
- Prebiotics are high quality fuel Think of these plant fibres as the fertiliser that helps your existing good bacteria thrive and stay energized.
- Probiotics struggle to survive Most live bacteria are too fragile to make it past your stomach acid, which means they often fail to reach your gut alive.
- Postbiotics are the active goods These are the bio-available compounds created during fermentation that your body recognizes and uses immediately for high performance results.
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GLOWBEARS - The Glow-How
Fermention benefits: Polyphenols, the lowdown
Polyphenols: The Plant Power Your Gut Is Craving
In the world of wellness, we love a bright spark. If your microbiome is the engine, polyphenols are the high-performance fuel that helps keep everything running smoothly. But simply eating raw greens and hoping for the best may not unlock their full potential.
Here is the snackable science behind why fermented polyphenols are the real secret to your daily glow.
The Polyphenol Glossary
Before we dive in, let’s get clear on the basics.
Polyphenols
Naturally occurring compounds found in plants. They give fruits and vegetables their vibrant colours and act as powerful antioxidants that help the body manage everyday oxidative stress.
Bio-availability
A measure of how much of a nutrient your body can actually absorb and use.
The Plant Matrix
Plants have complex structures made of fibres and proteins. These can trap beneficial compounds, making them harder for your gut to access.
Why Fermentation Is a Game Changer
Many plant nutrients are locked inside the plant matrix. If your digestive system cannot fully break that structure down, a large portion of those polyphenols simply pass through unused. This is why people can eat “healthy” and still feel like something is missing.
At Glowbears, we use a four-stage fermentation process lasting over eight weeks. This slow, controlled ritual gently breaks down the plant matrix before it ever reaches your gummy. The result is polyphenols in a form your body can actually access and use.
Less work for your gut. More benefit for you.
The Prebiotic Secret
Polyphenols are not just antioxidants. They also act as prebiotics, meaning they help feed beneficial gut bacteria. This supports microbial diversity, which is a cornerstone of gut resilience.
By nourishing your microbiome, fermented polyphenols help support:
- A balanced gut environment
- The gut barrier
- Normal immune function
This is not a single-benefit approach. It is systems thinking, rooted in real science.
The Glowbears Difference
Most products rely on one or two plant extracts. Our Fibriotics™ blend features 36 different fermented fruits and vegetables, delivering the diversity your microbiome thrives on.
Because our fermentation process is so thorough, our gummies are:
- Standardised: Each serving delivers consistently high levels of total polyphenols
- FODMAP-friendly: Fermentation reduces compounds linked to bloating and discomfort
- High-performance: Designed to support your glow from the inside out
The Takeaway
The future of plant power is not raw, hard-to-digest greens. It is found in the synergy of fermented polyphenols, where bio-availability meets diversity.
When you stop guessing and start choosing science-led rituals, your body feels the difference.
It is time to start glowing.
GLOWBEARS - The Glow-How
Fermention benefits: SFCA's the lowdown
The Benefits of Fermented Foods: SCFAs – The Lowdown
In the world of gut health, there is a lot of talk about fiber and live cultures. But if you really want to understand why your daily ritual matters, you need to meet the real MVPs: Short Chain Fatty Acids (SCFAs).
Think of fermentation as a transformative eight week ritual that unlocks the hidden potential of plants. It is not just about preservation; it is about creating a high-performance "harvest" of bio-active compounds your body can actually use immediately.
The Bio-active MVP: What are SCFAs?
When good bacteria break down fiber, they produce SCFAs like acetate and butyrate. These are essentially "postbiotics" — the active goods that do the heavy lifting for your health.
- Butyrate is the preferred energy source for the cells lining your colon. It helps strengthen your gut barrier, acting like a protective hug for your digestive system.
- Acetate travels through your system to support metabolic health and help keep your internal ecosystem in balance.
Why Fermentation Beats "Standard" Fiber
Most traditional supplements just toss raw, "dusty" fiber into a pill. The problem? Your gut has to do all the work to break it down, which often leads to the "balloon" feeling of gas and bloating.
Glowbears uses a 4-stage transformative fermentation process to pre-digest a complex matrix of 36 different fruits and vegetables. This process:
- Increases Bio-availability: It breaks down large, bulky fibers into smaller, readily usable nutrients.
- Boosts Antioxidants: It significantly increases levels of polyphenols and vitamins.
- Is FODMAP Friendly: Because the "pre-digestion" has already happened in our lab, the final result is gentle on your system with no side effects.
The Diversity Bloom: Snackable Science
A groundbreaking study from the Stanford School of Medicine (published in Cell) showed that a diet rich in fermented foods leads to a stunning increase in microbiome diversity. This is vital because a "quiet" microbiome is often linked to feeling sluggish or stressed.
The researchers found that all participants who increased their fermented food intake showed:
- Significant rise in microbial diversity over 10 weeks.
- A reduction in 19 different inflammatory markers in the blood.
- Less activation of immune cells linked to chronic health problems.
The Glowbears Edge: Postbiotics in Every Gummy
We don't just hope your body makes postbiotics; we include them in every gummy. Every single Glowbear contains standardized amounts of postbiotics and SCFAs to ensure you get high-performance results from day one.
By choosing a ritual rooted in science, you are not just taking a supplement. You are giving your body a comprehensive, bio-active foundation to help you feel your best.
The Takeaway
The future of gut health isn't found in a single probiotic strain; it is found in the synergy of 36 fermented ingredients and the powerful SCFAs they produce. Stop thinking about your gut as a project and start treating it like the brilliant ecosystem it is.
GLOWBEARS - The Glow-How
Synbiotics - the future of good gut health?
Synbiotics: The Future of Good Gut Health?
In the world of wellness, we love a power couple. Think of synbiotics as the ultimate duo: like PB and J, or a great workout and a long nap. They simply work better together.
But if you are still stuck on the "probiotic only" trend, you might be missing the full picture. Here is the snackable science on why synbiotics are changing the game for your gut.
The Gut Health Glossary
To understand the future, we need to quickly define the team players:
- Prebiotics: These are types of plant fibre that your body cannot digest. Instead, they act as high-quality fuel for the good bacteria in your gut.
- Probiotics: These are the live, beneficial bacteria themselves.
- Postbiotics: These are the "active goods" produced during fermentation. They include things like Short Chain Fatty Acids (SCFAs) which do the actual heavy lifting for your health.
A Synbiotic is what happens when you put these together in one formula. It is a comprehensive approach that ensures the "good stuff" has the "fuel" it needs to actually make a difference.
Why Synbiotics Are the "Pro-You" Choice
The problem with traditional probiotics is that they are fragile. Many of them do not survive the trip through your stomach acid. Even if they do, they often arrive in your gut "hungry" and unable to settle in.
Synbiotics solve this. By providing the fibre (the prebiotic) alongside the beneficial elements, you are giving your microbiome a "packed lunch" for the journey. This increases the chances of the bacteria successfully colonising your gut and supporting your daily glow.
The Fermentation Revolution
At Glowbears, we take this science a step further. We do not just toss some random fibre and bacteria together. We use a 4-stage transformative fermentation process that takes over eight weeks.
This process uses 36 different types of fruits and vegetables to create our Fibriotics. Because these ingredients are already fermented, they are loaded with bio-available nutrients and postbiotics like butyrate.
This means you are getting a synbiotic effect that is:
- FODMAP-friendly: No more "standard" supplement bloating or gas.
- Bio-available: Your body can actually recognise and use these nutrients immediately.
- High-performance: It supports your gut barrier and immune system from day one.
Closing the Diversity Gap
The goal of any good gut ritual is diversity. A "quiet" microbiome with only a few types of bacteria is a recipe for feeling sluggish. Synbiotics are designed to invite more guests to the party.
A diet rich in fermented synbiotics has been shown to significantly increase microbial diversity and reduce inflammatory markers in the blood. It is about more than just "digestion." It is about how you feel, how you sleep, and how you handle stress.
The Takeaway
The future of gut health is not found in a dusty bottle of single-strain probiotics. It is found in the synergy of synbiotics. By choosing a ritual that combines fermented plant power with science-backed postbiotics, you are giving your body a comprehensive hug.
It is time to stop thinking about your gut as a project and start treating it like the brilliant ecosystem it is. Let us get your glow on.
