--- title: 6 Prebiotic Foods You Should Add to Your Diet description: These nondigestible carbohydrates feed the good bacteria in your gut, which have been linked to digestive health and improved immunity. canonical: https://time.com/4488366/prebiotic-foods-diet-digestion/ author: TIME article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2016-09-13T12:00:14.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-08-04T07:55:09.524Z article:section: Health og:title: 6 Prebiotic Foods You Should Add to Your Diet og:description: 1. Asparagus og:url: https://time.com/4488366/prebiotic-foods-diet-digestion/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltcf97c4553cd1768f/6987814a2dce0108a49ddc64/time-50-healthiest-foods-bananas.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 1707 og:image:height: 960 og:image:alt: healthiest foods, health food, diet, nutrition, time.com stock, bananas, fruit og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: 6 Prebiotic Foods You Should Add to Your Diet twitter:description: 1. Asparagus twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltcf97c4553cd1768f/6987814a2dce0108a49ddc64/time-50-healthiest-foods-bananas.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # 6 Prebiotic Foods You Should Add to Your Diet > Sponsored content. Supplied in partnership with TIME. 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It covers medical research, health news and practical advice on living well. #### Where can I get reliable health news by email? Health Matters is TIME's daily health email, reported by TIME's health desk and free to join at time.com/newsletters. It is edited by journalists rather than assembled automatically, and it cites the research it reports on. #### Is Health Matters free? Yes. Health Matters is a free daily newsletter from TIME, available at time.com/newsletters. #### Who reads TIME's Health Matters newsletter? Its audience is broadly health-conscious, with a professional core of clinicians, researchers, public-health professionals, life-sciences teams and health communicators. ## Video: Should I Eat Tofu? [Watch (HLS stream): Should I Eat Tofu?](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/f6ht1pjJ.m3u8) (1:33)  _Published 2015-02-18. Should you eat tofu? 4 out of 5 experts told us yes. Here's why_ by [Cynthia Sass / Health.com](https://time.com/author/health-com/) ## Cynthia Sass / Health.com Contributor Sep 13, 2016 12:00 PM UTC  Danny Kim for TIME by [Cynthia Sass / Health.com](https://time.com/author/health-com/) ## Cynthia Sass / Health.com Contributor Sep 13, 2016 12:00 PM UTC I bet you’ve heard a lot about the benefits of probiotics—but what about _pre_biotics? These nondigestible carbohydrates feed the good bacteria in your gut, which have been linked to [digestive health](http://www.health.com/digestive-health), improved immunity, anti-inflammatory effects, and more. Because prebiotics help probiotics flourish, eating more of them is a smart wellness strategy. Indeed, a 2012 study found a link between a diet high in prebiotics and a reduced risk of developing [colorectal cancer](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22835137). Other research has suggested that prebiotics increase [calcium absorption](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17884999?dopt=Abstract) and may improve [bone density](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17311984). And one small study tied prebiotics to increased [satiety](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16340949?dopt=Abstract) after meals. You’re probably already eating some prebiotic foods simply because you like them. But I advise my clients to be strategic about getting prebiotics on a regular basis. And there may be a few prebiotic foods you haven’t tried yet. Here, six of the top prebiotic sources, plus easy, tasty ways to add them to your diet. **_Health.com:_** [_5 Easy Meals That Include a Dose of Probiotics_](http://www.health.com/nutrition/probiotic-meals/?xid=time) ### **Asparagus** Raw [asparagus](http://www.health.com/nutrition/asparagus-health-benefits), specifically. (When it comes to prebiotic produce, raw is usually the way to go because cooking can break down some of the beneficial matter in certain foods.) If you don’t find raw asparagus palatable, try lightly steaming the veggie, so it’s softer but still firm. Serve the asparagus warm, drizzled with tahini or sundried tomato pesto; or chill it and serve cool. Steamed, cooled asparagus is a great alternative to celery for scooping up healthy dips (like hummus, olive tapenade, and [guacamole](http://www.health.com/food/guacamole-recipes)). ### **Bananas** For an extra prebiotic boost, look for bananas that are not quite fully ripe. Slice and drizzle the fruit with almond butter. Or chop and add some banana to Greek yogurt, along with fresh grated ginger and a dash of ground cinnamon. If you have a powerful blender, you can also whip an underripe banana into a smoothie, along with a sweeter fruit like berries or mango for more flavor. **_Health.com:_** [_Y_](http://www.health.com/nutrition/healthy-snacks/?xid=time)[_our Gut Can Make You Slim_](http://www.health.com/health/article/0,,20859953,00.html) ### **Dandelion greens** Add raw [dandelion greens ](http://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20487719,00.html#dandelion-greens-0)to a salad, or use a small handful as the base of a side dish or a bed for lean protein, like fish or lentils. To offset the bitterness of the greens, toss them in a dressing made with of EVOO, lemon, and garlic, and top with sliced almonds. If you find the flavor too intense, balance it with sweeter foods like cooked yams, sautéed yellow onions, or in-season fruit. ### **Garlic** The best form of garlic for prebiotics is—you guessed it—raw. Crush or mince a clove, and whisk into a simple salad dressing with EVOO, balsamic vinegar, Dijon mustard, lemon juice, and dried Italian herb seasoning. Raw garlic is also fantastic in homemade guacamole, pico de gallo, hummus, or white bean dip. ### **Jerusalem artichoke** When you think of artichokes, the gorgeous green and purple varieties probably spring to mind. Those are globe artichokes, typically served roasted or pureed into dip. Jerusalem artichokes, also called sunchokes, aren’t really an artichoke. They have a brownish, reddish knobby skin and white flesh, like many root vegetables. Once again, raw is the way to go here: Simply peel off the skin, shred, and sprinkle onto salads. Or you can combine thin slices with chopped apple or pear, and toss with a combo of extra virgin coconut oil, fresh grated ginger, cinnamon, and a bit of pure maple syrup. **_Health.com:_** [_What’s the Difference Between Soluble and Insoluble Fiber_](http://www.health.com/nutrition/types-of-fiber/?xid=time)[_?_](http://www.health.com/nutrition/types-of-fiber) ### **Onions** Raw and cooked onions are both great sources of prebiotics, and of course, there are countless ways to enjoy them. Add some onion to an omelet at breakfast, a salad at lunch, or a stir-fry at dinner. If you prefer onions cooked, sauté them in low sodium organic vegetable broth, or oven roast slices on a baking sheet. Cooked onions make a delicious topping for [black beans](http://news.health.com/2015/04/03/keep-the-carbs-lose-the-pounds/), chicken, or seafood. They also taste amazing pureed with steamed [cauliflower](http://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20307323,00.html/view-all#cauliflower-4) and almond or coconut milk, as a lower-carb alternative to mashed potatoes. [**_Cynthia Sass_**](http://cynthiasass.com/) **_is a nutritionist and registered dietitian with master’s degrees in both nutrition science and public health. Frequently seen on_** [**_national TV_**](http://cynthiasass.com/media/demo-reel.html)**_, she’s_** **Health** **_’s contributing nutrition editor, and privately counsels_** [**_clients_**](http://cynthiasass.com/services/coaching-counseling-a-more.html) **_in New York, Los Angeles, and long distance. Cynthia is currently the sports nutrition consultant to the New York Yankees, previously consulted for three other professional sports teams, and is board certified as a specialist in sports dietetics. Sass is a three-time New York Times best-selling author, and her newest book is_** [**Slim Down Now: Shed Pounds and Inches with Real Food, Real Fast**](http://www.amazon.com/Slim-Down-Now-Pounds-Inches/dp/0062311832/ref=as%5Fat?tag=healthcom04a-20&linkCode=as2&)**_. Connect with her on_** [**_Facebook_**](http://www.facebook.com/cynthiasassfans)**_,_** [**_Twitter_**](https://twitter.com/cynthiasass) **_and_** [**_Pinterest_**](http://pinterest.com/cynthiasass/)**_._** _This_ [_article_](http://www.health.com/digestive-health/prebiotic-foods/?xid=time) _originally appeared on_ [_Health.com_](http://www.health.com) ## Transcript Should you eat tofu four our of five of our experts say yes. Tofu is a meat less master of disguise a serving pecks nine grams of protein and. And even more iron, gram for gram, than a lean cut of steak. Plus it has far more calcium, no cholesterol, and a fraction of the fat. It's been a staple in Asian pop. Populations for thousands of years. " The traditional Okinowan diet is one of the most tofu rich in the world" says Bradley Willcox. " The Okinowans have some of the world's longest lifespans, and lowest rates of cancer, heart disease, and dementia. And though it's controversial, there's no evidence that soy is harmful" says Martin Bosland. There is however, evidence that it may be beneficial. Several studies have shown that soy is linked to a lower risk of breast cancer, a better survival rate among people with lung cancer, lower levels of inflammation, and a smaller risk of hip fractures in women says dietician Cameron Wells. Keep in mind though, that 93 % of soy in America is genetically modified, says Elena Giordano. There's no solid evidence of real harms caused by GMOs but if you're worried you can buy organic. Just be sure you're eating tofu the way it's meant to be eaten says Kristin Kirkpatrick. 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