E or O? Ohhhh.

Has this ever happened to you? You’re standing in the grocery aisle, holding two products. One shouts “Packed with PROBIOTICS!” The other brags “PREBIOTIC Fiber for Gut Health!”

They sound almost identical. One vowel apart. Both claim to be essential for your digestive system.

But here’s the thing: You have no idea which one you actually need. Or if you need either. Or what the difference even is. Sigh.

Let’s break it down.

The Simple Trick: O = Organism, E = Eat

• Probiotics (O = Organism): the living bacteria that help break down food, produce vitamins, and keep harmful bugs in check.
• Prebiotics (E = Eat): the food those bacteria live on—fibers and compounds you can’t digest, but your gut bugs love.

That’s it. Remember the two vowels and you’ve got it.

Where They Come From

Probiotics (organisms):

• Yogurt with live cultures
• Sauerkraut, kimchi, miso, tempeh
• Kefir, kombucha

Prebiotics (their food):

• Garlic, onions, asparagus
• Oats, bananas (slightly green)
• Apples

How They Work Together

Think of your gut as a workplace:

• Probiotics = workers
• Prebiotics = fuel

You can add more workers (probiotics) without feeding them, or provide fuel (prebiotics) for the crew already there. But ideally, you do both: stock the team and feed them what they need.

Here’s what actually happens:

When you eat probiotics without prebiotics, you’re bringing in new bacterial workers, but they arrive to find no food supply. Think temporary staff, not permanent employees.

When you eat prebiotics without probiotics, you’re feeding the bacteria already living in your system. This can work well if you already have a diverse bacterial workforce, but you’re not introducing any new beneficial strains.

The sweet spot? Fermented foods (probiotics) paired with fiber-rich vegetables (prebiotics). The new workers arrive with fuel waiting for them, and your existing bacterial crew gets fed too.

Don’t Buy the Hype (literally)

Here’s the part the food industry won’t say out loud: you don’t need pricey supplements or gimmicky products.

The confusion between PRE and PRO isn’t accidental—it’s profitable. Food companies can sell you products with either label and make both seem like must-haves for gut health.

“Probiotic yogurt!” sounds sciencey and beneficial.

“Prebiotic fiber bars!” sounds equally important.

But plain yogurt with live cultures does the same thing, and fiber from vegetables and oats works just as well.

The single-vowel difference creates the perfect marketing opportunity. You see both terms on packaging, feel confused about which one you need, and end up buying both. Mission accomplished for their bottom line.

Real food does the job better (and cheaper).

The Bottom Line

• PRO = the bacteria
• PRE = their food
• Both matter, but neither requires special packaging or buzzwords.

So next time you’re in the aisle, skip the hype. Grab fermented foods, pile on vegetables, and you’ll give your gut everything those flashy labels promise.

The remix is simple: Fermented foods and vegetables beat any product claiming to boost your gut.

What gut health terms confuse you most? Share your questions on IG @remixology and let’s decode the marketing together.