This PrebioThrive analysis looks at the pros and cons of this prebiotic supplement and how it works. We will detail the ingredients, side effects and buying info.
PrebioThrive is a health and wellness supplement available to buy online.
It’s produced in powder form and has to be mixed with water and consumed as a drink.
It’s a natural product that consists of five plant extracts.
The formulation is manufactured in the USA and there is no added sugar or artificial sweeteners.
There is some confusion over probiotics and prebiotics that will be unravelled in this review.
POSITIVES
It’s made by Gundry!
The ingredients profile is well studied
Some good customer reviews
NEGATIVES
Let down by insufficient ingredient information
Poor customer reviews outweigh the good
SUMMARY
Is taking PrebioThrive likely to be a good way to boost probiotic bacteria levels in your gut? Probably, but it’s an expensive way to do it. There are similar supplements that will do the same or more for a fraction of the price.
Recommended Alternative: One of my favorite products is SuperGreen Tonik. It contains all healthy stuff that is good for your gut. Read the write up here
OTHERS PREFERRED
Content Table
PrebioThrive Review
As the name suggests, PrebioThrive is a prebiotic supplement.
Some people often confuse prebiotics with probiotics.
That’s understandable. Apart from having different third letters, the two words are identical.
However, although they both support similar aims, prebiotics and probiotics are not the same.
Prebiotic Vs. Probiotic
Probiotic (that’s pro with an “o”) is a buzzword these days in health and fitness circles.
You’ve only got to look at the vast variety of probiotic yogurts and drinks available in the supermarket chillers to get an idea of the demand for probiotic products.
Probiotic products and supplements contain specific strains of live bacteria. These live probiotic bacteria are known to be “gut-friendly”.
They control levels of less desirable “bad” bacteria in the gut. In so doing, probiotic bacteria help support good health in many ways.
Although the intestinal tract already contains probiotic bacteria, many people feel there are advantages to increasing the amount present by topping-up with live bacteria.
Probiotic Bacteria
However, whether the probiotic bacteria is naturally-occurring or is introduced to the body via probiotic products, in order to thrive, it needs to feed.
Probiotic bacteria feed on a specific type of dietary fiber. Due to its relationship with probiotic bacteria, this type of fiber is known as prebiotic fiber.
Instead of introducing extra probiotic bacteria to their bodies, some people prefer to eat foods that provide prebiotic fiber or use prebiotic products.
The idea is that, by keeping the bacteria well-nourished, the fiber will help the bacteria to thrive and multiply.
Prebiotics
It could be argued that using prebiotics is a more natural way to boost good bacteria levels than using probiotics. However, there are people who use both types of supplement in unison. In fact, there are even products that provide both.
PrebioThrive does not contain probiotic bacteria. It contains natural plant-based fiber that helps probiotic bacteria to thrive.
It’s a well-named product. Unfortunately, it’s also a very expensive one. There are many cheaper options available and, let’s not forget, the most natural way to get prebiotic fiber is to eat foods that provide it.
What is PrebioThrive
PrebioThrive is part of a range of supplements marketed under the Gundry MD brand name.
Gundry MD takes its name from its founder, Dr Stephen Gundry MD.
He’s a former cardiac surgeon. He turned his back on the operating theater in favor of pursuing a mission to “dramatically improve human health, happiness, and longevity”.
Gundry is also the author of several books that aim to help people to live healthier, happier lives.
Many of them are Amazon Best Sellers and his book The Plant Paradox has been particularly well received.
Due to its founder’s training and reputation, Gundry MD is more credible than many competing brands.
That may explain why the company gets away with selling a simple product like PrebioThrive at such an inflated price.
PrebioThrive Benefits
Although it’s possible to get prebiotic fiber from many foods, including onions, oats, and apples; Gundry believes many people don’t eat enough of the right kinds of food.
PrebioThrive is his way of addressing the problem.
He promises four main benefits:
- More efficient digestion
- A better balanced gut microbiome
- Less stomach and bowel discomfort
- Greater feelings of energy and vitality
How Does it Work
There is no rocket science here. This is actually a very simple product. By providing the prebiotic fiber the probiotic bacteria needs, PrebioThrive helps it to multiply.
Any benefits users attain won’t be directly attributable to PrebioThrive. It will be due to the probiotic bacteria present in their guts. The role of PrebioThrive is supportive only.
PrebioThrive Dosage and Usage Guidelines
PrebioThrive is an easy product to use. It’s simply a case of mixing a scoop of the powder with some water and drinking it two to three times per day.
People who wish to improve the flavor can substitute the water for fruit juice or another beverage of their choice.
For best results, Gundry MD recommends blending the powder with probiotics to “create a symbiotic effect.”
Customer reviews suggest the product is lumpy and very difficult to mix, so using a blender could be the best way to go.
PrebioThrive Ingredient Profile
PrebioThrive contains five ingredients:
- Organic flaxseed
- Organic guar gum
- Organic acacia gum
- Organic agave inulin
- Galacto-oligosaccharides
Unfortunately, Grundy MD fails to provide any inclusion rates.
However, each 10 g scoop of powder apparently provides 30 calories, most of which will be from the 8 g of carbohydrate it contains.
As for dietary fiber, you’re looking at 7 g per scoop.
What the Ingredients Should Do
The formulation looks good. It should do what it’s meant to do, but it would still be nice to know the inclusion rates.
The formulation contains guar gum and high doses have the potential to block the bowel and cause other undesirable issues. (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1329494)
Organic Flaxseed
Flaxseed is a good source of dietary fiber. It also provides omega-3 fatty acids. The ingredient is an inclusion in many natural products that aim to improve digestive health.
Research involving obese women, suggests flaxseed boosts probiotic bacteria levels while also improving insulin sensitivity.
In fact, data from the study indicates flaxseed may increase gut health and reduce obesity.(https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/02/190205090541.htm)
Organic Guar Gum
Organic or otherwise, guar gum is is a good source of fiber. It also has appetite suppressing capabilities. This is due to its ability to absorb water, expand, and create a feeling of satiety.
When guar gum is partially hydrolyzed with water, it appears to offer value as a potential prebiotic source. (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29414731)
Organic Acacia Gum
Acacia gum also goes by the name gum Arabic. It’s a fiber-providing tree sap that comes from acacia trees.
Research proves acacia gum’s ability to functions as a prebiotic. Presuming an adequate dose, it feeds bifidobacteria and lactobacilli and increases their presence in the digestive system.
The optimum dose is 10 g. A full scoop of PrebioThrive provides 10 g of the formulation but acacia gum is but one of five ingredients it contains. This being the case, the inclusion rate is likely to be too low to offer much benefit.
Organic Agave Inulin
Inulin is a starchy substance that has naturally-occurring polysaccharides. It’s present in a variety of different plant species. However, most inulin used in supplements comes from chicory.
The human digestive organs cannot digest inulin but it’s an excellent food source for probiotic bacteria.
Inulin also has value as a natural remedy for constipation and may also support modest weight loss.
Many products that contain inulin provide between 10 and 30 grams per day. So, once again, the inclusion rate here can only be too low.
Galacto-Oligosaccharides
An ingredient that is naturally present in dairy products. You can also get if from beans and some root vegetables.
Galacto-oligosaccharides are known to be prebiotic, so this is a good inclusion.
PrebioThrive Reviews from Customers
Overall, the amount of good reviews outweigh the bad but one problem crops up again and again. People are complaining the texture is poor and the powder is hard to mix.
Some customers also mention the powder tends to clump even before the introduction of water.
PrebioThrive Side Effects
Gundry MD states there have been no reports of side effects. Unfortunately, customer reviews left on third-party websites suggest side effects may be an issue for some users.
This is not surprising. Although most people can take prebiotics without any problems, there can be tolerance issues for certain individuals.
Possible prebiotic side effects may include bloating, diarrhea, intestinal gas, cramps, and other digestive problems.
The good news is, should these reactions occur, they are normally short-lived and will, typically, disappear after a few days. It’s just a case of giving the body time to adjust.
Some customers mention less typical side effects, including nausea, dizziness, and hives. In all cases, these reactions were the result of lactose intolerance.
Although Gundry MD makes it clear PrebioThrive has milk in the formulation, the lactose intolerant customers did not notice and suffered accordingly.
There’s a take-home point here: Always read all the product details before ordering any brand of supplement.
Hit or Miss? Does PrebioThrive Work?
Is taking PrebioThrive likely to be a good way to boost probiotic bacteria levels in your gut? Probably, but it’s an expensive way to do it. There are similar supplements that will do the same or more for a fraction of the price.
However, anyone who is eating the government-recommended five pieces of fruit and vegetable per day will probably provide their natural probiotic bacteria with a more abundant source of food.
The same can be said for individuals following the USDA’s Choose My Plate guidelines. https://choosemyplate-prod.azureedge.net/start-simple-myplate
There is not and never will be any substitute for a healthy diet. Foods that provide prebiotic fiber are also good sources of vitamins, minerals, protein, and antioxidants.
Anyone who has a serious goal to dramatically improve their health, happiness, and longevity would be better off focusing on their diet and following the guidelines that are available free online. In this case, buying expensive supplements is not the smartest way to go.
Where to Buy PrebioThrive
If you buy PrebioThrive directly from Grundy MD, you are looking at paying $79 per tub.
Each tub contains 30 servings. If you want to get a month from a tub you will only be able to take one dose per day. Take three and your tub will run empty on day 10.
Returning customers only need to pay $50 per tub but, cut it any way you like, this is an expensive product to use and you aren’t really getting a lot for your money.
It’s also possible to purchase PrebioThrive via Amazon and from certain other third-party suppliers.
Doing so may get you a more favorable price, but you are still going to find it challenging to find a supplier that’s selling it for less than $50 per tub.
Guarantee
Customers who buy PrebioThrive are promised a 90-day money back guarantee. This is a standard offer with Gundry MD products.
As far as the duration goes, 90 days is very generous. However, the terms and conditions page on the Gundry MD website makes it clear the guarantee only covers customers who buy directly from the site.
So, if you buy PrebioThrive from Amazon or any other site, you can say goodbye to the offer of a money back guarantee.
