Probiotics Soda- How Healthy are They?

There is a claim that functional drinks can boost energy, and enhance immunity and mood which means they can ease stress and help your body fight off many diseases. These functional beverages are known to contain ingredients mostly found in herbal substances and supplements and they include prebiotics, probiotics, medicinal mushrooms, Ashwagandha, and hibiscus, to name a few.

Probiotic Beverages Promise Healthier Guts

Probiotic sodas and other wellness drinks are quite popular these days with roughly 40% of adults going for them to enhance their wellbeing. According to market research, one reason more consumers are seeking these beverages is that they are tired of pills while beverages seem to be a lot easier and more enjoyable. While some of these drinks may be truly healthier, though pricier, not all of them live up to their hype.

Prebiotics and probiotics are quite popular because they come with the claim that they keep the digestive system working in good order. You may also have heard about fermented tea and other beverages like Kombucha and Kefir, these days, probiotics and prebiotics are being added to different drinks to lower inflammation and aid digestion. Poor digestion and inflammation tend to be the root cause of many illnesses, including cardiovascular diseases.

It is important to note that drinks containing probiotics may not offer the same benefits as foods with probiotics. The reason is that those drinks don’t have the diverse bacteria in probiotic foods. Probiotic sodas for instance are not fermented whereas raw Kombucha from left-over Yoghurt are fermented, hence they retain natural bacteria that offer greater benefits than probiotic drinks. Some prebiotic drinks contain fiber, especially those made from Inulin and chicory root extracts making them as beneficial as probiotic foods.

Probiotic drinks are lower in added sugar and calories when compared to traditional sodas, hence they are healthier alternatives for those looking to lower their sugar consumption. Remember that there are recent concerns over the addition of sugar alternatives like Stevia.

Probiotic Drinks Promise Stronger Immunity and Boost Overall Wellness

The container labels and ingredient lists on probiotic drinks give positive vibes about how healthy they are to the body. You will likely see some of the drinks displaying captions like “Earthly Taste with Heavenly Feeling”. It is quite common to see some products display images of probiotic foods like Broccoli, Kiwis, Green Apples, and Spinach leaves. Some manufacturers have gone further to provide even more enticing information on their websites, claiming their products are the easiest ways to add Vitamins and Minerals to your diet.

Remember, green drinks should not replace vegetables in your diet and the reason is that they offer little to no fiber found in the whole produce. Also, many of these probiotic drinks are made mostly made from fruit juice and not vegetable juice- the sugar in these juices can cause sugar and calorie spikes. So, if you want to consume green drinks, it is better to opt for those with many vegetables on their ingredient lists.

Probiotic Drinks Promise Less Stress

Many cocktails you see today promise to boost mood, and it appears these mood-boosting drinks get their relaxing effects from apoptogenic substances like Ashwagandha, and mushrooms. They also contain lots of magnesium that helps the brain cope effectively with stress.

Probiotic drinks are flavorful and in most cases, they are alcohol-free. Most researches conducted on adaptogens are limited to animals, hence there is no clear information on their long-term effects on humans. Ashwagandha for instance can lower stress in people who take between 250 to 600mg daily for about 8 weeks. Also, the efficacy of plant-based ingredients will largely depend on where they are grown. While brands often include the dose of adaptogens included in their products, there appears to be no clarity on what an effective dose may be.

In conclusion, researchers have also found out that adaptogens in many probiotic drinks may interact with certain medications, including those taken for blood pressure management, auto-immune disorders, and depression, hence you should talk to your health care service provider before you start taking probiotic drinks.