*Editor’s Note: Elephant is not your doctor or hospital. Our lawyers would say “this web site is not designed to, and should not be construed to provide medical advice, professional diagnosis, opinion, or treatment to you or any other individual, and is not intended as a substitute for medical or professional care and treatment. Always consult a health professional before trying out new home therapies or changing your diet.” But we can’t afford lawyers, and you knew all that. ~ Ed.

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New to Ayurveda? Start here to find your Ayurvedic body type (dosha).

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Choosing the right foods is integral to strong health.

It is important to examine both your internal and external environment when planning your meals, which is why the following guide categorizes prebiotics based on season and ayurvedic body type.

I’m sure you know about probiotics. But do you know about the importance of prebiotic foods?

Prebiotics are a class of food not broken down in the stomach or small intestine. Instead they find their way, undigested, into the colon, where they are gobbled up by trillions of beneficial gut bacteria. Essentially, they are fine dining for your probiotics.

Due to their support of healthy gut bacteria, prebiotics have been found to support: healthy digestion and assimilation of nutrients, better elimination, immunity, mood, and a healthy inflammation response.

Once they arrive in the colon, they are fermented by the gut microbiome, promoting production of short-chain fatty acids, including acetate, butyric acid, and propionic acid. These three primary short-chain fatty acids have been shown to support: immunity, gut epithelial health, and metabolic health. This means prebiotics support healthy blood pressure, blood sugar, fat metabolism, and liver function.

Ninety-five percent of these short-chain fatty acids are absorbed by the colon, where they support gut immunity (70 percent of the body’s total immune system). Fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS), galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS), and trans-galacto-oligosaccharides (TOS) are the most common prebiotics, but other sources of fiber can act as prebiotics as well.

Fiber, like all foods, should be consumed in a seasonal fashion. Soluble fibers, which dissolve in water and become slimy, are generally harvested in fall to balance vata and resolve the dryness of winter. Insoluble fiber is generally harvested in spring and summer, and helps sweep excess kapha, or mucus, off the intestines.

How to choose fiber-based prebiotics by season:

Below, you will find a list of the most common prebiotics, alongside their season of harvest and the dosha they are best suited to balance.

Some people cannot tolerate certain prebiotics and should avoid them while troubleshooting the underlying digestive weak link, thus fixing the cause rather than only the symptom.

Prebiotic Foods that Balance Vata 

Chicory Root | Harvested Fall

Chicory root, known for its coffee-like flavor, is commonly used as a coffee substitute. Forty-seven percent of chicory root is inulin, a powerful prebiotic. Inulin is known to support healthy digestion, elimination, and microbiome. Because it supports proliferation of beneficial bacteria and these bacteria make gas, be prepared to experience slight bloating when you start consuming chicory. With prebiotic foods, start with a small dose and build up slowly based on your tolerance as your gut bugs change.

Yacon Root | Harvested Fall

Yacon roots are very similar to sweet potatoes and are rich in fiber. They grow in the Andean region of South America. Yacon roots are an abundant source of fructooligosaccharides (FOS) and inulin. Studies have found that yacon root supports healthy regulation of the immune response, glucose balance, mineral absorption, and lipid metabolism. As a result, glycemic levels, body weight, and colon challenges can be reduced.

Flaxseeds | Harvested Fall 

Flaxseeds are 20 to 40 percent soluble fiber from mucilage gums and 60 to 80 percent insoluble fiber from cellulose and lignin. Fiber-rich flaxseeds also contain powerful antioxidant compounds that promote healthy gut bacteria, regular bowel movements, and healthy weight loss.

Prebiotics that Balance Pitta

Apples | Harvested Fall

Pectin, an active prebiotic, accounts for approximately 50 percent of an apple’s total fiber content. Pectin increases butyrate, the short-chain fatty acid that feeds the beneficial gut bacteria and decreases the population of harmful bacteria. It also supports a healthy lining of the intestinal wall.

Apples are high in polyphenol antioxidants that support healthy fat metabolism and LDL cholesterol levels.

Asparagus | Harvested Summer

Asparagus is rich in inulin, one of the more potent prebiotics. Asparagus, due to its high inulin levels and natural antioxidants, has been shown to promote friendly bacteria in the gut and support a healthy epithelial lining of the gut.

Jicama Root | Harvested Fall

Jicama root is low in calories and high in fiber, including the prebiotic fiber inulin. Jicama root helps improve digestive health, blood sugar, and immunity, due to its high vitamin C content.

Prebiotics that Balance Kapha

Garlic | Harvested Spring or Fall

Garlic is high in the prebiotics inulin and fructooligosaccharide (FOS). Garlic has been found to increase proliferation of bifidobacteria in the gut, which supports gut health immunity.

Onions | Harvested Spring or Fall

Like garlic, onions are high in inulin and FOS, which support healthy gut bacteria, break down fats, and boost the immune system by increasing nitric oxide production in cells.

Leeks | Harvested Spring or Fall

Leeks, onions, and garlic all come from the same family and deliver inulin and FOS as their source of prebiotics. Like onions and garlic, they also support proliferation of good gut bacteria and gut immunity.

Seaweed | Harvested Spring

Seaweed is a powerful prebiotic. However, it is rarely consumed outside of Japan and other Asian countries. It is a natural prebiotic soluble fiber, rich in minerals like iodine. Seaweed has been proven to support growth of beneficial bacteria in the gut.

Prebiotics that Balance Kapha & Pitta

Dandelion Greens | Harvested Spring or Fall

Dandelion greens were once thought of as a nuisance, but are now recognized as a superfood, fiber source, and prebiotic. They are high in inulin and have been found to support liver and urinary tract health, immunity, regular elimination, and increased beneficial bacteria.

Burdock Root | Harvested Spring or Fall

Burdock root is high in inulin and FOS, promoting beneficial gut bacteria, liver function, regular bowel function, and immunity.

Prebiotics that Balance Pitta and Vata

Combination of Slippery Elm, Licorice, and Marshmallow Root

This LifeSpa formula is my go-to combination of prebiotic soluble fiber support to boost the short-chain fatty acid butyrate and reset healthy epithelial function of the intestinal lining.

>> Slippery Elm Bark (Ulmus rubra) has long been used for digestive and intestinal concerns because of its lubricating and gut-protective properties. Along with its protective properties for the intestinal wall, it has been shown to support healthy antioxidant activity in the intestinal tract.

Like licorice, it has a sweet taste and cooling action. It balances vata and pitta in the same way licorice does, but will increase kapha as a result of its more mucilaginous properties. Providing a thick layer of protective mucilaginous herb that can cover the entire intestinal tract is the key to its success.

>> Marshmallow Root (Althaea officinalis) is perhaps the most demulcent of the three herbs in this formula. It protects the stomach lining from excess acid, and protects the intestinal tract from intestinal irritants such as the toxic form of carrageenan. Medicinally, it has been approved by the German Commission E in supporting inflammation of the gastric mucosa, and for irritation of the oral and pharyngeal mucosa. 

Like both licorice and slippery elm, marshmallow is an insoluble fiber, which means it will not be broken down as it passes through the stomach and small intestine. This allows it to offer the gut, where most of the microbes reside, a handsome feast of fibers and nutrients. Marshmallow is cooling for pitta, soothing and calming for vata, and, as it is mucus-producing, will increase kapha. Increased kapha is a good thing in this case, as we are trying to coat and protect the intestines over the course of a month.

>> Licorice Root (Glycyrrhiza glabra) is a classic Ayurvedic herb used worldwide as a natural lubricant for the intestinal and respiratory airways. Licorice naturally lubricates and soothes mucus membranes and, as an adaptogen, also helps protect membranes from stress, environmental irritants, and pollens. Licorice may also potentially quell production of reactive mucus and support the function of other herbs when taken in combination. Licorice is calming for vata, cooling for pitta, and can liquify the mucus of kapha.

Jerusalem Artichoke | Harvested Fall

The Jerusalem artichoke is an inulin-rich tuber and nothing like the common artichoke. It acts as a powerful beneficial bacteria-promoting prebiotic, immune booster, and blood sugar metabolic balancer.

Barley | Harvested Fall

Barley is a popular cereal grain used to make beer. It is rich in beta-glucan, a prebiotic fiber that promotes growth of friendly bacteria in the digestive tract, stable blood sugar, and healthy cholesterol.

Oats | Harvested Fall

Oats are rich in soluble fiber and act as potent prebiotics. They contain large amounts of beta-glucan fiber, as well as some resistant starch. Like barley, they promote growth of friendly bacteria in the digestive tract, stable blood sugar, and healthy cholesterol.

Konjac Root | Harvested Fall

Konjac root is a tuber rich in glucomannan fiber. It is also known as elephant yam. Glucomannan promotes growth of friendly bacteria in the colon, relieves constipation, and boosts your immune system.

Wheat Bran | Harvested Fall

Wheat bran is rich in arabinoxylan oligosaccharides (AXOS) and has been found to increase butyrate levels by 70 percent. It increases stool frequency while decreasing gas and bloat.

Prebiotics that Balance Vata and Kapha

Cocoa | Harvested Spring and Fall

Cocoa beans are flavanol-rich prebiotics that promote the growth of healthy gut bacteria. Cocoa also supports the heart and circulation. Cocoa beans are reported to produce the “panacea molecule,” nitric oxide, in the colon, adding more cardiovascular benefits.

Bananas (Ripe balanced Vata, Unripe balances Pitta and Kapha)| Harvested Year-Round

Unripe (green) bananas are also high in resistant starch, and sugars that do not break down in the stomach or small intestine. They feed the gut microbiome with these resistant starches. They have small amounts of inulin, but as prebiotics, they are most effective when unripe or green. They promote the growth of beneficial bifidobacteria in the gut.

Are you eating enough prebiotic foods? What is your favorite source?

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