Olipop is a soda replacement that offers “hardworking ingredients instead of spoonfuls of sugar.” Over the years, there have been many products made to be a healthier replacement for soda. Although soda has been approved by the FDA as a safe product, there are concerns about the amount of sugar in soda as well as benzene, an ingredient known to cause cancer. Olipop is a prebiotic soda that is a healthy alternative to soda that can offer a handful of benefits. Let's take a look at its nutritional value, how it can benefit you, and any risks you should be aware of.
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What Is Olipop?
Olipop is a brand of prebiotic soda made by studying our gut microbiome to create a drink that aids in digestive health. They believe it's important that we nourish our bodies and microbiomes. They are consistently working and learning more about our microbiome every day. Olipop continually adjusts its products to match its findings.
Olipop was created so that people could have a sweet drink that improved their health, not harm it. With 16 flavors, each can of soda contains about 2-5 grams of sugar and 9 grams of fiber. It is meant to be loved enough that people will switch over from their traditional sodas so that they can still indulge but also benefit themselves.
Nutritional Value
A single can of Olipop contains less than 50 calories, has 2-5 grams of sugar, 9 grams of fiber, and 0 artificial sweeteners or ingredients. It also contains prebiotics and botanicals that are plant-based. The FDA says that a product with five grams or higher is an excellent source of fiber. Therefore, Olipop's nine grams of fiber make this a great daily source of fiber. A traditional can of soda has around 40 grams of sugar or more as well and no other nutritional value.
If the largest concern with regular soda is sugar intake, then why not just switch to diet soda? Well, you can avoid increasing your blood sugar levels by switching to a diet soda. What makes Olipop different than regular soda is that it offers some other health benefits.
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Health Benefits
Because of its fiber content, Olipop can improve digestion, especially if you're struggling to get the amount of fiber you need. Although it doesn't contain any live probiotic bacteria, it is a prebiotic that feeds the existing probiotic in your gut. Studies show that increasing probiotics can improve inflammatory bowel disease and gastrointestinal infections.
Since Olipop has a lower sugar content, it can help decrease blood sugar levels. This is important to avoid weight gain, diabetes, and heart disease. High blood sugar can damage the nerves that control your heart and blood vessels. Ultimately, this increases the risk of heart disease or even a stroke.
Health Risks
Although introducing prebiotics and probiotics to your diet can be very helpful, it can also cause some harm if done incorrectly. When consuming these products, make sure to check for the allotted amount you can have per day. Taking too much prebiotic or probiotic can cause an overgrowth of probiotic bacteria, and you can experience nausea, gas, and bloating.
Often, the prebiotic fiber used in sodas like Olipop is inulin. Inulin is known to be a trigger for gas and bloating, especially for those with sensitive digestive systems. Although these sodas claim to help with bloating, it really does vary based on the individual.
It's also important that if you are immunocompromised, you speak with a doctor before taking prebiotics or probiotics. In a few studies, individuals who were immunocompromised or severely ill and took probiotics developed serious illnesses or infections, such as fungemia (blood contaminated with fungi).
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Summary
Olipop is a great soda alternative if you're looking to have a delicious sweet drink but not at the cost of increasing your blood sugar. It is a better alternative for people who don't like diet soda because of the artificial sweetener taste. Olipop is a prebiotic soda that feeds the probiotic bacteria living in your gut. It has a high content of fiber which can be helpful for your digestive system. It is important to make sure you're not drinking too much Ollipop as it could disrupt digestion and cause gas, bloating, and nausea. It's also important that if you're immunocomprised, you should consult your doctor before consuming prebiotics or probiotics. Studies have shown that these products could cause illness in immunocompromised people.
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