Hello and welcome to the Nutrition Diva Podcast, a show where we take a closer look at

nutrition research, news, and trends,

so that you can feel more confident

about your food and your nutrition choices.

I'm your host, Monica Reinagle,

and this week's episode was suggested by Sarah,

who wrote,

can you do an episode on prebiotic sodas like oly pop and poppy?

Why do these sodas have so much fiber and where is it coming from?

Are they a healthy choice? How might they compare with

kambuja? Well perhaps you've seen these products in the grocery store and you

wondered about them yourself. As Sarah mentioned, these sodas contain something that most

soft drinks do not, fiber. And not just any fiber, but specific types of fiber known as prebiotics and these include inulin

chickory root fiber and fructose oligosaccharides or FOS.

Olipop contains nine grams of fiber per serving, which is like a third of your daily recommended intake,

and Poppy contains just 2 grams per serving.

Now first, let's distinguish between prebiotic fibers and other sources of

fiber. While all dietary fiber contributes to overall digestive health, prebiotic fibers are the ones that have been shown to specifically

support the beneficial bacteria that make up a healthy gut microbiome.

We also don't want to confuse prebiotics with probiotics.

Probiotic foods like yogurt or kafir contain beneficial bacteria, while prebiotic foods, or in this case beverages

contain fibers that provide a food source for our bacteria. Prebiotic fibers like inulin and FOS are also available from foods, of course.

...