Unveiling the role of functional foods with emphasis on prebiotics and probiotics in human health: A review

Functional foods particularly prebiotics and probiotics have attracted a lot of attention due to their ability to alter gut microbiota and have an impact on a number of health and disease-related factors, in relation to human health in recent years. Functional foods are foods that provide benefits to health beyond simple sustenance. They contain biologically active ingredients that offer additional health benefits when consumed on a regular basis as part of a balanced diet. Prebiotics, which are indigestible fibers that specifically promote the growth and activity of beneficial bacteria, and probiotics, which are live microorganisms that offer health benefits upon consumption of sufficient amount, have shown great promise in modifying the composition and function of the gut microbiota. The identified review problem involves clarifying the precise impacts of prebiotics and probiotics on immune system function, gut microbiota composition, metabolic health, and disease prevention. This review emphasizes the numerous advantages of probiotics and prebiotics in preserving the balance of gut microbiota, boosting immunity, enhancing metabolic parameters, and reducing the risk of a number of diseases. The review also insight to recent advances in the formulation of functional foods in mitigating health conditions and synergy between probiotics and prebiotics.