The Future of Soda is Now
A Different Look at Soda
I am sure we have all heard that commercial
“the future of soda is now”
“the soda your kids and grandkids will think of when they hear soda'“
Or the tagline - '“a new kind of soda”
Yes, there is a new ‘soda’ on the scene. One with the flavour of soda but will low sugar, health benefits, still fizzy and no fake stuff. Well that is what is being marketed to you anyways.
Great Product or Great Marketing?
So for purposes of this post, we will focus on the 2 most popular new ‘sodas’. Olipop and Poppi. I know there are others out there but these 2 seems to be the most popular.
Are these products worth it or just more marketing deception. Both these products claim that their ingredients are better for us. Low in sugar, natural ingredients, and both contain gut healthy fiber and prebiotics.
Prebiotics are fiber that feeds beneficial bacteria in your gut and improve overall health.
Mainstream soda’s which are high in sugar, chemical additives, colours, etc can disrupt the community of micro organisms in our digestive system. So why not create a healthier option for those who still want to drink their soda.
Gut health is the new trend in health and nutrition. Maintaining and re-building gut health is very important and is gaining momentum in the health and wellness realm. Why? Well many studies have now shown that our digestive health is very crucial to our overall health. (Something that the holistic health field has been saying for years). Our gut is where we have 70% of our immune system and a microbiome of organisms (bacteria, viruses and fungi) that work together to create a healthy environment that creates a healthy body.
Creating a healthy gut, means providing it with the foods and nutrients that it requires. And certain foods that contain fiber (prebiotics) and probiotics will keep your gut working optimally.
Probiotics are supplements consisting of various strains of bacteria to help maintain and populate your gut biome.
But do we get these health benefits from these new “sodas”?
Well, that is what these products claim.
Olipop’s label indicates each can contains 9 grams of fiber - 32% of your RDA (recommended daily allowance). Poppi’s label indicates that each can contains 2 grams of fiber - only 7% RDA.
The Recommended RDA of fiber is 14 grams/day. And the RDA is the minimum amount of fiber required that someone decided we needed in our diets. The minimum is usually, just that, the minimum and does not really provide any real health benefit.
So what is the concensus? Are these a healthy ‘treat’ with benefits or just an expensive can of sparkling water?
While they may offer some gut health benefit, should we be getting our fiber and prebiotics from a processed carbonated drink?
NO. Although there is no harm in having these drinks. They are not going to magically improve your health. There is no strong evidence of a major benefit to your gut. BUT are they a healthier option to every other soda out there?
Most definitely, YES!
But if you are looking for a low sugar option to a carbonated drink, opt for a plain sparkling water and add our own flavor with a squeeze of lemon/lime and some muddled mint leaves.
If you are looking for upping your gut health, reach for fermented foods like kefir, sauerkraut, kimchi, and get your fiber form whole foods like low carb vegetables and fruit.
Danni
Thank you for sharing! My husband loves to experiment with cocktails and he used to use regular soda, but over the past year or so made the switch to Olipop. He enjoys it, and has also started enjoying no sugar added kombucha.
My son loves the poppi cranberry, and I can say I was thrilled he chose to buy this over a can of coke or cranberry ginger ale or Fanta!
Another popular one around here - at least based on the positioning in the store!!! - is zevia. The ginger ale is the flavour I have bought periodically. I actually enjoy the zevia… this said my other son feels sick after drinking zevia, he just drinks water or plain san Pelegrino.