Walk down any “gut health” aisle and you’ll see all three words on labels - often on the same product. They sound related, and they are, but they refer to three completely different things. Confusing them means you might be reaching for the wrong solution.

Here’s what each one actually is.

Probiotics: live bacteria you add to your gut

Probiotics are live microorganisms - usually specific strains of Lactobacillus or Bifidobacterium - that, when consumed in adequate amounts, can add to the population of beneficial bacteria already living in your gut. You’ll find them in fermented foods like yoghurt, curd, kimchi, and unpasteurised kombucha, as well as in supplement capsules.

Think of probiotics as new residents moving into your gut’s ecosystem.

Prebiotics: food for the bacteria you already have

Prebiotics are a type of dietary fibre that your body can’t fully digest on its own. Instead, they travel to the colon, where they’re fermented by the beneficial bacteria already living there - feeding them and helping them thrive.

The most studied prebiotic fibres are inulin and FOS (fructooligosaccharides), found naturally in chicory root, garlic, onions, and bananas. Hadō uses both, at 10g combined per can.

Think of prebiotics as groceries for the residents already in your gut, rather than new residents themselves.

Postbiotics: what’s left over after the process

Postbiotics are the newest term of the three, and the least understood by most consumers. They’re the beneficial compounds produced when gut bacteria ferment prebiotic fibre — things like short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), which help maintain the gut lining, support immune function, and play a role in regulating inflammation.

In other words: prebiotics feed the bacteria, and postbiotics are the useful byproducts of that feeding process. You don’t consume postbiotics directly in most everyday foods (though some supplements now isolate specific postbiotic compounds) - they’re generated inside your body as a downstream result of prebiotic fermentation.

When the three work together, the sequence matters:

• You consume a prebiotic fibre (inulin, FOS)
• Beneficial bacteria in your colon - probiotics, whether from food or naturally resident - ferment that fibre
• This fermentation produces postbiotics (SCFAs and other compounds), which is where a meaningful share of the actual health benefit comes from

This is also why “synbiotic” products exist - formulations that combine a probiotic strain with the prebiotic fibre that specifically feeds it, aiming to support both steps of the process at once.

Which one do you actually need more of?

For most people eating a typical modern diet - Indian diets included - the biggest gap isn’t probiotics. Curd, pickles, and other fermented foods are already common. The bigger shortfall is prebiotic fibre: most adults consume well below the recommended daily fibre intake, and prebiotic fibre specifically is even more overlooked.

That’s the gap Hadō is built to close - not by adding live bacteria, but by giving the bacteria you already have something meaningful to work with.

Frequently Asked Questions  

Is Hadō a prebiotic or probiotic drink?

Hadō is a prebiotic soda. It contains 10g of inulin and FOS per can - fibres that feed existing gut bacteria - rather than live bacterial cultures.

Can I take prebiotics and probiotics together?

Yes. In fact, this combination - sometimes marketed as “synbiotic” - is generally considered complementary, since the prebiotic fibre can help support the probiotic bacteria you’re introducing.

Do I need a supplement to get prebiotics and probiotics?

No. Both can come from whole foods - probiotics from curd, kimchi, or fermented foods, and prebiotics from foods like garlic, onion, banana, and chicory root, or from a beverage formulated with them like Hadō.

What are postbiotics used for?

Postbiotics, like short-chain fatty acids, support the gut lining, play a role in immune regulation, and are increasingly studied for their downstream effects on metabolic and even mental health via the gut-brain axis.

Which is more important - prebiotics or probiotics?

Neither replaces the other; they serve different functions. But most people’s diets are more deficient in prebiotic fibre than in probiotic-rich foods, making fibre intake the more common gap to close.