Rejoice, irritated bowels! We’re living the halcyon days of gut health drinks. No longer the exclusive domain of the Danone/Yakult space race, gut health is serious business for a major range of megacorporations and smaller producers all looking for a slice of the probiotic pie.
Most people now know that gut health is one of the most important things to get right for a healthy, happy life. But why is your gut so central to health, and do gut health drinks help or hinder the process?
The importance of a healthy gut
To put it bluntly, a healthy gut helps you live better and look younger for longer. According to epidemiologist and ZOE founder Tim Spector‘s landmark PREDICT study, our diet, the microbes in our guts and our general health are inextricably linked: what happens in our guts supplies a more accurate picture of our risk of heart disease, obesity and diabetes than even genetic predisposition. A 2019 study also demonstrated “profound implications” in the link between diet and disease.
“Gut health has become a hot topic in recent years and for good reason,” Sas Parsad, founder of The Gut Co, told GQ for our comprehensive piece on why gut health is responsible for your happiness. “Our gut is home to trillions of microbes that are crucial to our overall well-being. Good gut health is about maintaining a diverse and harmonious ecosystem in our gut.
“Our gut is not just responsible for digestion, but it also influences our immune system, metabolism, brain function, and even our mental well-being. Caring for our gut health is like nurturing a secret powerhouse within us.”
Dr Mark Hyman puts it rather neatly: “If you have a million-dollar racehorse, you’re going to make sure you know how to train it and feed it and take care of it so it’s fully optimised, right?” Think of yourself as the new Red Rum, and get your gut in order.
How gut health drinks support your microbiome
The best way to keep your gut happy is by focussing on a diet rich in a variety of plant-based foods, encouraging healthy bacteria to flourish. However, if you find yourself struggling to get enough of the good stuff, pre- and probiotic drinks and supplements can help boost your gut flora without much effort.
“The effectiveness of gut-health drinks largely depends on their ingredients and the individual’s gut health,” says James Cunningham, coach at Total Shape. “Many gut health drinks contain probiotics, which are beneficial bacteria that can help balance the gut microbiome. These bacteria aid in digestion, support the immune system, and can even impact mental health.”
‘Good bacteria’ was first ‘discovered’ in the early 1900s in a drink favoured by centenarian Bulgarian villagers – the aptly-named lactobacillus bulgaricus was present in the yoghurt they consumed every day. Fast forward a hundred years, and that Actimel lost at the back of the fridge is a proud descendant. As you’d expect, much of the food and drink you’d associate with gut health – yoghurt, kefir, sauerkraut, kimchi and more – has been around for centuries, and is usually linked to the fermentation process.
It’s not just about probiotics, either. It’s all well and good topping up your good bacteria, but they’ll need something to eat, and that’s where prebiotic fibre comes in. “Prebiotics are important always – they’re the bedrock of gut health because they’re feeding and nourishing bacteria that are part of your gut flora,” says Rory Paterson, co-founder of XOXO Soda. “Prebiotics create the setting for a healthy microbiome to flourish.”