Prebiotics, Probiotics and Synbiotics: What Is the Difference?

If you spend any time reading gut health supplement labels, you will encounter three terms that are often used interchangeably: prebiotic, probiotic, and synbiotic. They are related, but they describe different things, and understanding the distinction helps you make sense of what you are actually buying.

This article explains what each term means, what to look for on a label, and how these ingredients appear in the BLAST™ Daily Greens and Daily Reds formulas. No outcome claims are made. Gut health is individual, and if you have a medical condition or digestive concern, a registered healthcare professional is the right person to guide your choices.

Key terms at a glance: A prebiotic is fibre that feeds gut bacteria. A probiotic is a live bacterial culture. A synbiotic is a product that combines both. Each plays a different role in gut nutrition.

What Is a Prebiotic?

A prebiotic is a type of dietary fibre that the human body cannot digest. Rather than being absorbed in the small intestine, it passes through to the large intestine, where it is fermented by bacteria already living there. The NIH Office of Dietary Supplements describes prebiotics as "typically complex carbohydrates (such as inulin and other fructo-oligosaccharides) that microorganisms in the gastrointestinal tract use as metabolic fuel." In plain terms, a prebiotic is food for gut bacteria, not bacteria itself.

Common prebiotic fibre types

Not all dietary fibre qualifies as a prebiotic. The key distinction is selectivity: prebiotics are fermented specifically by defined groups of gut microorganisms, whereas general dietary fibre is used more broadly. This matters when you are comparing products.

How BLAST™ uses prebiotic fibre

Both BLAST™ Daily Greens and BLAST™ Daily Reds contain Fibregum™, a certified organic acacia fibre. Each 10 g serving provides 5 g of prebiotic acacia fibre, which represents 17% of the daily fibre reference intake. Fibregum is listed as the first ingredient in both formulas, meaning it is present in the largest amount by weight. The full ingredient list, allergen information, and nutritional panel for each product are available on the respective product pages.

BLAST™ Daily Greens and Daily Reds are food supplements, not medicines. Always read the label before use.

What Is a Probiotic?

A probiotic is a live microorganism, most commonly a bacterium or yeast, that is present in certain foods and supplements. The World Health Organization defines probiotics as "live microorganisms that, when administered in adequate amounts, confer a health benefit on the host."

The critical word is "live." Unlike prebiotics, which are fibres, probiotics are living organisms that must survive processing, storage, and passage through the digestive tract to reach the large intestine in viable form. This is why probiotic labels should always state the strain name, the colony-forming unit (CFU) count, an expiry date, and storage requirements.

What to look for on a probiotic label

• Full strain name: A complete name includes genus, species, and strain designation, for example Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM. Different strains of the same species can behave differently.

• CFU count: Colony-forming units indicate the number of viable organisms per serving. This figure should reflect viability at the end of shelf life, not only at manufacture.

• Expiry date: Live cultures decline over time. An expiry date is a minimum standard.

• Storage conditions: Some strains require refrigeration; others are shelf-stable. The label should state clearly which applies.

The NIH Office of Dietary Supplements notes that "not all foods and dietary supplements that are labeled as probiotics have proven health benefits." Strain specificity and viability matter more than a high CFU number alone.

How BLAST™ includes probiotics

Both BLAST™ Daily Greens and Daily Reds contain a probiotic culture blend of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium strains at 67 million CFU per 10 g serving. The strains are listed on the product label. Both products are shelf-stable and should be stored in a cool, dry place, with refrigeration recommended after opening to maintain freshness.

Full CFU information, strain detail, and storage guidance are on each product page.

What Is a Synbiotic?

A synbiotic is a product that contains both a prebiotic and a probiotic in a single formulation. The term was introduced in 1995 by researchers Gibson and Roberfroid to describe combinations where the prebiotic component selectively supports the probiotic strains in the same product, as documented in research published via the NIH. The rationale is that providing the probiotic's preferred food source alongside the live culture may support its survival through the digestive tract.

Synbiotic vs. taking prebiotics and probiotics separately

Neither approach is universally superior. The right choice depends on the specific ingredients, your dietary habits, and your routine.

Are BLAST™ Daily Greens and Daily Reds synbiotic products?

Both BLAST™ Daily Greens and Daily Reds contain prebiotic fibre (Fibregum acacia) and probiotic cultures (Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium strains) in a single formula. By the standard definition of a synbiotic, both products combine these two ingredient categories in one serving.

Each product also contains DigeZyme®, a blend of five digestive enzymes: amylase, protease, cellulase, lactase, and lipase. Digestive enzymes are distinct from prebiotics and probiotics. They are proteins that assist in breaking down food components, and their inclusion is stated on the label as a separate ingredient from the fibre and culture components.

The full ingredient list, nutritional panel, allergen declaration, and serving instructions for BLAST™ Daily Greens and Daily Reds are available on each product page at blastvitality.com.

Quick-Reference Comparison

A note on digestive enzymes

BLAST™ Daily Greens and Daily Reds also contain DigeZyme®, a five-enzyme blend (amylase, protease, cellulase, lactase, lipase) at 50 mg per serving. Digestive enzymes are a fourth ingredient category, separate from prebiotics, probiotics, and synbiotics. They are not bacteria or fibre; they are proteins that assist in the breakdown of carbohydrates, proteins, fats, cellulose, and lactose. Their presence on a label is worth noting as a distinct component.

What the science says about synbiotics

Research into synbiotics is ongoing. The Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health notes that "at this time there is little quality scientific evidence supporting the use of prebiotic, synbiotic, and postbiotic supplements to improve health" in otherwise healthy individuals. This does not mean these ingredients have no value; it reflects the current state of clinical evidence and the difficulty of conducting large-scale trials in this area. Nutrition science continues to evolve, and formulation transparency, ingredient quality, and label accuracy remain the most reliable indicators of product quality.

About BLAST™ Daily Greens and Daily Reds

BLAST™ Daily Greens and Daily Reds are plant-based superfood powders formulated for daily use. Both products share the same gut-nutrition backbone:

• Fibregum acacia fibre: 5 g (5000 mg) per serving

• Probiotic culture blend: Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium strains at 67 million CFU per serving

• DigeZyme® enzyme blend: Amylase, protease, cellulase, lactase, lipase at 50 mg per serving

• Buffered Vitamin C: 900 mg per serving as calcium ascorbate

• Organic superfood blend: 2500 mg per serving

The formulas differ in their superfood blend. Daily Greens features wheatgrass, spirulina, chlorella, barley grass, alfalfa, and adaptogenic mushrooms. Daily Reds features beetroot, pomegranate, acai, goji berry, cranberry, and a range of botanical extracts.

Both products are dairy-free, gluten-free, soy-free, and preservative-free, and are covered by Halaal certification. They contain no declared allergens but are produced in a facility that handles nuts, wheat (gluten), eggs, dairy, and soy. Always check the product label for full dietary suitability information before use.

Serving instructions: Stir one 10 g scoop into 250 ml of water, or blend into a smoothie.

View BLAST™ Daily Greens | View BLAST™ Daily Reds

Last reviewed: November 2026 | Author: Blast Vitality Editorial Team | Reviewed by: Wayne Collin, Founder

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical or nutritional advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making changes to your diet or supplement routine. BLAST™ Daily Greens and Daily Reds are food supplements, not medicines.