It’s no secret that social media platform Tik Tok has skyrocketed in popularity and is a new source of quick videos on diet trends, nutrition information, recipes (who remembers the sliced cucumber trend??) and a place for new food and beverage brands to showcase how they can help. The newest rise to fame on social media are pre and probiotic drink companies such as Olipop and Poppi, claiming to be a “new kind of soda” as a healthier substitute to drinking sodas while also being low in sugar, high in fiber, and containing pre and probiotics! Sounds great right? Read more for a dietitian’s take on the popular drink trends.
What Even Are Prebiotics and Probiotics?
Although they can sound fairly similar and are common buzz words surrounding gut health, prebiotics are not the same as probiotics! Probiotics are live microorganisms that contain tons of helpful bacteria and help repair and build our flourishing gut flora. Prebiotics actually feed our probiotics! Cool right?!
While both are important for human health, they have different roles:
- Probiotics: Live bacteria found in certain foods or supplements
- Prebiotics: Come from types of carbs (mostly fiber) that humans can’t digest. The beneficial bacteria in our gut eat this fiber! Vital for gut and digestive health, supporting your immune system and maintaining bone health
There isn’t an official recommended guideline on how much prebiotics or probiotics we need each day, but some studies suggest that eating 3-6 grams of prebiotics a day can benefit the
So, what are these prebiotic sodas claiming?
Beverage brands such as Olipop and Poppi are prebiotic sodas that use alternative plant-based ingredients in an attempt to replicate or replace the taste of traditional sodas.
Each can has about 32% of your daily recommended fiber, no artificial sweeteners and “supports digestive health through the use of prebiotics.” They are designed to stimulate the growth of gut bacteria. Sounds healthy and great right?
While they can be a great alternative to drinking sodas each day, or made into a fun mocktail if you’re limiting alcohol or pregnant, these prebiotic drinks should not be consumed in replacement of eating enough dietary fiber in your diet!
The best forms of probiotics
These yummy fizzy drinks may help you reach your probiotic intake, but should never be consumed as the sole component of fiber in your day! Below are my favorite high-fiber/high probiotic snacks you could eat on a daily basis!
- Strawberry Greek yogurt bars
- Peanut Butter and Pomegranate Toast
- Coconut Almond Energy Balls (so delicious!)
- Lemony Garlic Hummus
- Homemade Popcorn
- Chia Pudding
To learn more about how you can increase your daily fiber and probiotic intake, check out our free healthy snacking guide! In this guide, you’ll learn the top mistakes to avoid when snacking, the best combinations of foods to eat, and our go-to snacking products.
Check it out here!
