Chicory root comes from a flowering plant in the dandelion family. It’s popular for its coffee-like flavor and has historically been used in cooking and medicine.

It’s also a great source of prebiotics.

Approximately 68% of chicory root fiber comes from the prebiotic fiber inulin (4Trusted Source). Inulin in chicory root improves digestion and bowel function, and helps relieve constipation (5Trusted Source, 6, 7Trusted Source).

It may also help prevent diabetes by raising levels of adiponectin, a protein that helps control blood glucose levels (8Trusted Source).

Additionally, chicory root is high in antioxidant compounds that may protect your liver from oxidative damage (9).

SUMMARYChicory root is often used as a caffeine-free coffee replacement. Its inulin fiber promotes friendly gut bacteria, reduces constipation, and can help control glucose levels.

Dandelions are a family of flowering plants, and their greens can be cooked or consumed raw. They’re a great source of fiber.

They contain 1.92 grams of fiber per 1 cup (55 grams) (10Trusted Source). A high portion of this fiber comes from inulin (11Trusted Source).

The inulin fiber in dandelion greens reduces constipation, increases friendly bacteria in your gut, and boosts your immune system (11Trusted Source).

Dandelion greens are also known for their anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anticancer effects (12, 13, 14).

SUMMARYDandelion greens are a fiber-rich substitute for greens in your salad. They increase the friendly bacteria in your gut, reduce constipation, and boost your immune system.

The Jerusalem artichoke — also known as the sunroot, sunchoke, or earth apple — is part of the sunflower family and has great health benefits.

Known for its sunflower-like appearance, the vegetable provides about 2 grams of inulin-rich dietary fiber per 100 grams (13Trusted Source).

Inulin helps increase the friendly bacteria in your colon, promoting greater digestive health (16). It can also aid in the absorption of minerals in your large intestine.

Adding Jerusalem artichokes to your diet may help strengthen your immune system, lower cholesterol, and even prevent certain metabolic disorders (16Trusted Source).

The Jerusalem artichoke is also high in thiamin, or vitamin B1. Thiamin deficiency can lead to fatigue and abnormal muscle function (18Trusted Source).

SUMMARYJerusalem artichoke, or sunroot, can be eaten cooked or raw. It helps boost your immune system and prevent metabolic disease.

Garlic is a flavorful herb linked to various health benefits due to its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and lipid-lowering properties (19Trusted Source).

Garlic acts as a prebiotic by promoting the growth of beneficial Bifidobacteria in the gut. It also helps prevent disease-promoting bacteria from growing (20).

Research shows that different compounds in garlic reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases, have anti-tumor effects, and lower blood glucose levels (19Trusted Source).

According to an animal study, garlic’s anti-inflammatory properties may even protect against the effects of asthma (21Trusted Source). More research is needed to confirm this.

SUMMARYGarlic is a tasty herb with prebiotic benefits. It is proven to help promote good bacteria and prevent harmful bacteria from growing.

Onions are a tasty and versatile vegetable linked to various health benefits. Similar to garlic, onions are rich in inulin and FOS (22Trusted Source, 23Trusted Source).

FOS strengthens gut flora, helps with fat breakdown, and boosts your immune system by increasing nitric oxide production in cells (22Trusted Source, 24).

Onions are also rich in the flavonoid quercetin, which gives onions antioxidant and anticancer properties (24Trusted Source).

Additionally, onions have antibiotic properties and may provide benefits for your cardiovascular system (26Trusted Source, 27).Trusted Source

SUMMARYOnions are rich in inulin and FOS, which can help boost your immune system, provide fuel for your gut bacteria, and improve digestion.

Leeks come from the same family as onions and garlic, and they offer similar health benefits.

Leeks are nutrient dense, which means they’re low in calories but high in vitamins and minerals. Thanks to their inulin content, leeks promote healthy gut bacteria and help break down fat (28).

Leeks contain a high amount of vitamin K, which promotes blood clotting (29Trusted Source, 30). In fact, 1 leek (89 grams) contains 42 mcg (35% of the daily valueTrusted Source) (31Trusted Source, 32Trusted Source).

SUMMARYLeeks are a nutrient-dense vegetable often used in cooking for their distinct flavor. They are high in prebiotic inulin fiber and vitamin K.

Asparagus is a popular vegetable and another great source of prebiotics.

The nutritious vegetable naturally contains inulin, which can improve your digestive health and help your body maintain optimum levels of glucose and insulin (33).

Inulin is also a soluble fiber, which feeds the friendly bacteria in the gut, such as Bifidobacteria and Lactobacillus (34Trusted Source).

Asparagus has been linked to the prevention of certain cancers (35Trusted Source), and in vitro and animal studies show its combination of fiber and antioxidants also provides anti-inflammatory benefits (36Trusted Source).

SUMMARYAsparagus is a popular vegetable rich in prebiotic fiber and antioxidants. It promotes healthy gut bacteria and may help prevent certain cancers.

Bananas are more than a delicious fruit: They’re rich in vitamins, minerals, and fiber, and they contain small amounts of inulin.

Unripe (green) bananas are high in resistant starch, which has prebiotic effects (37Trusted Source).

Plus, one medium-sized banana (about 7 to 8 inches long) is only 105 calories and contains approximately 3 grams of fiber and 422 mg of potassium (38Trusted Source).

SUMMARYBananas are rich in fiber. They also contain vitamins, minerals, and small amounts of inulin.

Barley is a popular cereal grain and is used to make beer. It contains 2–20 grams of beta-glucan per 100 grams (39).

Beta-glucan is a prebiotic fiber that promotes the growth of friendly bacteria in your digestive tract (40Trusted Source, 41, 42Trusted Source).

The beta-glucan in barley has also been shown to lower total and LDL (bad) cholesterol and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. It may also help lower blood sugar levels (43Trusted Source).

One study found that barley beta-glucan improved metabolism in mice through both suppression of appetite and improvement of insulin sensitivity (44Trusted Source).

Plus, barley is rich in selenium. This helps with thyroid function, provides antioxidant benefits, and boosts your immune system (45Trusted Source 46, 47Trusted Source).

SUMMARYBarley is high in beta-glucan fiber, which promotes healthy bacteria in the gut. It can also lower cholesterol and blood sugar levels.

Whole oats are a healthy grain with prebiotic benefits. They contain large amounts of beta-glucan fiber, as well as some resistant starch.

Beta-glucan from oats has been linked to (47Trusted Source, 48Trusted Source, 49Trusted Source):

• healthy gut bacteria
• lower LDL (bad) cholesterol
• better blood sugar control
• reduced cancer risk

Furthermore, it has been shown to slow digestion and help control appetite (50Trusted Source, 51Trusted Source).

SUMMARYWhole oats are a grain rich in beta-glucan fiber. They increase healthy gut bacteria, improve blood sugar control, and may reduce cancer risk.

Apples are a delicious fruit with fiber. Pectin, a type of soluble fiber, accounts for much an apple’s total fiber content. The pectin in apples has prebiotic benefits.

A 2016 study found that pectin from apples could promote healthy gut microbiota, decrease inflammation, and suppress weight gain and fat accumulation in rats with obesity (52Trusted Source).

Pectin increases butyrate, a short-chain fatty acid that feeds beneficial gut bacteria and decreases the population of harmful bacteria (53Trusted Source, 54).

More research is needed to fully explore the benefits of pectin in humans.

Research shows that in addition to their prebiotic benefits, apples can improve heart health and may even reduce your risk of asthma and other pulmonary disorders (55Trusted Source, 56Trusted Source).

SUMMARYApples are rich in pectin fiber. Pectin promotes healthy gut bacteria and helps decrease harmful bacteria.

Konjac root, also known as elephant yam, is a tuber — or a vegetable grown underground, like the potato.

The plant has been used for centuries in Asia as food and medicine, and it’s often used as a dietary supplement for its health benefits.

Flour made from this tuber contains 70-90% glucomannan fiber, a highly viscous dietary fiber (57Trusted Source).

Konjac glucomannan promotes the growth of friendly bacteria in your colon and may help relieve constipation (58).Trusted Source

Glucomannan has also been shown to lower blood cholesterol and help with weight loss — all while improving carbohydrate metabolism (59, 60Trusted Source).

You can consume it in the form of foods made with the konjac root, such as shirataki noodles. You can also take glucomannan supplements.

SUMMARYThe glucomannan fiber found in konjac root helps promote friendly gut bacteria, reduces constipation, and helps with weight loss. It can be consumed in foods made with the konjac root, like shirataki noodles.

Cocoa beans are actually seeds from the Theobrama cacao tree. Not only are they used to make chocolate, but they’re delicious and healthy.

Cocoa powder, created by crushing cocoa beans and removing the fat or coca butter, makes it easy to add cocoa to oatmeal, smoothies, yogurt, and other recipes.

Cocoa and its products are rich sources of polyphenols such as flavanols, which exert antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects (61Trusted Source).

These compounds also help grow beneficial gut bacteria while reducing the growth of harmful bacteria (61Trusted Source).

While research shows that cocoa products can reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes, it’s important to take this information with a grain of salt — most chocolate products still contain large amounts of sugar (62Trusted Source).

SUMMARYCocoa is a tasty prebiotic food. It contains flavanols that increase healthy gut bacteria while reducing harmful bacteria.

Burdock root is a vegetable commonly used in Japan and has proven health benefits.

It contains about 1.8 grams of fiber per 100 grams (3.5 ounces) (63Trusted Source).

Burdock root is rich in inulin and FOS, which support the growth of healthy bacteria in the digestive tract.

Burdock root also contains phenolic compounds, which gives them their antioxidant properties (64).

SUMMARYBurdock root is widely consumed in Japan. It contains fiber and inulin, which supports the growth of healthy bacteria in the gut.

Flaxseeds are incredibly healthy. They’re also a great source of prebiotics.

The fiber in flaxseeds promotes healthy gut bacteria, encourages regular bowel movements, and reduces the amount of dietary fat you digest and absorb (65Trusted Source, 66Trusted Source).

Because they contain phenolic antioxidants, flaxseeds also have anticancer and antioxidant properties and help regulate blood sugar levels (67Trusted Source).

SUMMARYThe fiber in flaxseeds promotes regular bowel movements, lowers LDL (bad) cholesterol, and reduces the amount of fat you digest and absorb.

Yacon root is a vegetable very similar to sweet potatoes that is rich in fiber.

It is particularly rich in prebiotic FOS and inulin.

The inulin in yacon has been shown to (69Trusted Source, 70Trusted Source, 71Trusted Source):

• improve gut bacteria
• reduce constipation
• enhance the immune system
• improve mineral absorption
• regulate blood fats

Yacon also contains phenolic compounds that give it antioxidant properties (71Trusted Source, 72Trusted Source).

SUMMARYYacon root is rich in inulin and FOS, which makes it great at promoting digestive health, improving mineral absorption, and enhancing your immune system.

Jicama root is low in calories and high in fiber, including the prebiotic fiber inulin.

In animal studies, jicama root was shown to help improve digestive health, enhance insulin sensitivity, and lower blood sugar levels (73Trusted Source, 74Trusted Source).

Additionally, it is high in vitamin C, which helps your immune system fight illnesses (75Trusted Source, 76Trusted Source).

SUMMARYJicama root is low in calories but rich in inulin. It can improve your digestive health, help control blood sugar levels, and strengthen your immune system.

Wheat bran is the outer layer of the whole wheat grain. It’s an excellent source of prebiotics. It also contains a special type of fiber made of arabinoxylan oligosaccharides (AXOS).

AXOS fiber from wheat bran has been shown to boost healthy Bifidobacteria in the gut (77Trusted Source, 78Trusted Source, 79Trusted Source).

One study in healthy adults found that increased wheat bran consumption over 3 weeks led to an increase in Bifidobacteria counts, compared with a control group (80).

Wheat bran has also been shown to reduce digestive problems such as gas, cramping, and abdominal pain (81Trusted Source, 82Trusted Source).

Grains rich in AXOS also have antioxidant and anticancer effects (83Trusted Source, 84Trusted Source).

SUMMARYWheat bran is rich in AXOS, a type of fiber that has been shown to increase healthy gut bacteria and reduce digestive problems.

Seaweed is a form of marine algae with surprising health benefits.

The versatile food is rich in prebiotics and can be used in dishes like sushi rolls, soups and stews, salads, supplements, and smoothies.

Seaweed is rich in vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and polysaccharides, which play a role in benefitting the immune system (85Trusted Source).

Approximately 50–85% of seaweed’s fiber content comes from soluble fiber (86Trusted Source, 87Trusted Source, 85Trusted Source).

Lab studies have shown that polysaccharides found in seaweed can increase the production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFA), which nourish the cells lining your gut (88Trusted Source).

More human research is needed to explore the full benefits of seaweed.

SUMMARYSeaweed is a great source of prebiotic fiber. It can increase the population of friendly bacteria, block the growth of harmful bacteria, and enhance immune function.

Prebiotic foods are high in special types of fiber that support digestive health.

They promote the increase of friendly bacteria in the gut, help with various digestive problems, and even boost your immune system.

Prebiotic foods have also been shown to improve metabolic health and even help prevent certain diseases.

Since fiber content of these foods may be altered during cooking, try to consume them raw rather than cooked to gain the full health benefits.

With a variety of options available, you can take your time to find the best prebiotic foods for yourself and your gut.