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Synbiotics explained: why your gut bugs need dinner and a show
So here’s a weird word for you: synbiotic.
Tim Spector uses it in his new book Ferment, and we’ve been using it here at CG for a long time.
Basically, “synbiotic” just means the combination of probiotics (live bacteria, like the ones in our kefir) and prebiotics (the food those good bacteria need to thrive, like the plant fibres in our Complete Prebiotic).
Think of it as dinner and a show for your gut bugs. The probiotics arrive, looking slightly frazzled from their long journey through your digestive system, and the prebiotics sweep in with a tray of snacks. “Welcome! Sit down, make yourselves at home, tuck in”. Everyone’s happy.
Probiotics: the guests
Probiotics are the live microbes that move into your gut and get to work. Ours come from traditional kefir grains, which we hand-ferment in small batches of goat’s milk, just like they’ve been doing for thousands of years. Kefir is old-school, farmhouse magic — with modern lab testing to keep it safe and pure.
But here’s the catch: probiotics can’t do it alone. They’re like houseguests who turn up without knowing where the fridge is. They need a little help finding the good stuff.
Prebiotics: the food
This is where prebiotics come in. Prebiotics are special fibres from plants that your human body can’t digest — but your gut bugs can. They act like the secret stash in the fridge, fueling the good bacteria so they can multiply, balance your microbiome, and out-compete the nasties.
Our Complete Prebiotic contains 18 different natural sources of plant fibre, which makes it one of the most diverse prebiotic formulations available on the market today. I designed it to make your life simpler – adding a daily scoop of CP to a beverage of your choice is waaaaaay easier than trying to research, buy, prepare and stuff yourself with all the fibres that you need for good gut health! (Unless…you know… you’ve got a LOT of spare time to burn….)
Why together is better
Probiotics without prebiotics are like planting flowers and then failing to water them. They might look promising at first, but without the right nourishment they’ll quickly wither. It’s the same for probiotics: they need prebiotics to flourish.
That’s why we always recommend pairing our kefir with our Complete Prebiotic. Science calls it “synbiotic”. We just call it common sense. When the bugs get both shelter and supper, they can get on with the important job of supporting your skin, immunity, mood, and overall health.
If you’re not taking prebiotics along with your kefir, you’re leaving a lot of that value on the table. The good bugs arrive, but without the right food they can’t really get to work. Pair the two together and you unlock the full benefit — that’s the power of a synbiotic.
The science bit (that makes us do a little happy dance)
And here’s where it gets really exciting. Our lead scientific advisor, Dr. Amrita Vijay, recently ran a trial at Nottingham University comparing our kefir + Complete Prebiotic synbiotic with inulin (a well-known prebiotic) and omega-3 (a popular anti-inflammatory supplement).
Her results? Our synbiotic outperformed both in terms of reducing inflammation. Yes, you read that right — the combo of our kefir and Complete Prebiotic did better than inulin and even omega-3.
You can watch Dr. Vijay explain the study herself in this quick ( and award-winning) five-minute presentation: Click HERE
And spoiler alert: the full paper has just been accepted for publication in the Journal of Translational Medicine. Watch this space — we’ll share it the moment it goes live!
So next time you hear “synbiotic”, don’t panic. It’s not a scary lab word. It’s simply what happens when good bugs meet good food — and, as the science now shows, the results can be pretty powerful. Your gut (and the rest of your body) really will thank you.
Hugs,
Shann.x
Founder/Director Chuckling Goat LTD
UK’s Visionary and Innovative Female Entrepreneur of the Year, 2025, Aspioneer
ps Don’t forget – any questions about synbiotics, probiotics, prebiotics, gut issues or just the general meaning of life, our gorgeous Nutritional Therapists are standing by 8 am to 8 pm weekdays, just longing for a chat! Their advice is expert, personal, confidential and free, so what are you waiting for?
