What Are Postbiotics?
Postbiotics are the newer term in gut health — and unlike probiotics, they don't need to be kept alive.
The basic definition
Postbiotics are beneficial compounds that are either produced during bacterial fermentation or derived from inactivated ("dead") beneficial bacteria and their components. Because the bacteria don't need to survive digestion or stay alive in the product, postbiotics tend to be more stable to manufacture, store, and ship than live probiotic strains — no refrigeration required.
This is a meaningful practical difference: probiotic supplements can lose potency over time or in heat, since they rely on live organisms surviving until you take them. Postbiotic ingredients sidestep that problem entirely.
The postbiotic in Gutshot
Gutshot uses heat-inactivated L. plantarum, a postbiotic ingredient studied for its role in immune enhancement and hyaluronic acid production, alongside research into reduced inflammation markers and upper respiratory tract infection (URTI) rates — relevant for athletes in heavy training blocks, when immune suppression is common.
It's one of three pillars in Gutshot's formula, paired with prebiotics and collagen peptides. Full ingredient and research detail is on the science page.
How postbiotics differ from prebiotics and probiotics
Probiotics are live bacteria you consume directly. Prebiotics are the fiber that feeds bacteria already in your gut. Postbiotics are compounds produced by or derived from bacteria — you get the downstream benefit without needing live organisms to survive the trip. See the full comparison for a side-by-side breakdown.