The food we eat should not only be enjoyable, but also nourishing as well. With the recent surge of research on digestive health, the promotion of probiotics has become common. But without the right "food," those healthy bacteria won't last long --  much like a seed can't grow without water. Enter prebiotics!

While not digestible by humans, prebiotics are the "food" that probiotics need in order to flourish and provide us with their immune-boosting and health-promoting effects. Some common ingredients with prebiotic nutrients are:

• Jerusalem artichoke (different from the familiar artichoke)

Through his book and blog, Death of the Diet , Jason Machowsky, MS, RD, CSCS, empowers people to live the life they want by integrating healthy eating and physical activity habits into their daily routines. You can follow him on Twitter @JMachowskyRDFit .