Kombucha Vs. Probiotic Drinks: What’s The Difference
‘Kombucha vs. Probiotic Drinks - what’s the difference between these two beverages?’ It’s a common topic of discussion and debate amongst the health and wellness community.
As these products continue to trend, you may be wondering how they stack up against each other. What beverage packs the most punch, from probiotic count to stomach survival? In the following article, we cover everything you need to know about choosing between these two products - check it out!
What Are Probiotic Drinks?
First off, let’s cover the basics - what are Probiotic Drinks, exactly? Probiotic Drinks are chilled beverages that combine water, natural juice and a variety of good bacteria. They tend to be bottled with a level of probiotics that meets the daily CFU requirements of the particular strain inside.
These drinks are specifically designed to create the optimal environment for the probiotics inside to survive the journey from production to your gut. Key to this is nutrients for the probiotics to feed on, but not too much (this can lead to multiplication and eventual degradation of probiotics), a chilled environment and moisture.
Another key factor unique to PERKii Probiotic Drinks is the patented micro-shield technology. This supports the probiotic’s journey through the gut by actively resisting stomach acids up to 10,000 times greater than non micro-shield probiotics.
What Is Kombucha?
Let’s move on to kombucha - how is it made and what does it do? Kombucha is a fermented green or black tea, popular in the health and wellness community. This beverage has a sour taste and fizzy texture - resembling a sparkling apple cider - due to the fermentation process.
Kombucha is generally perceived for being good for you, in part because of the suggested probiotics inside. However, recent research into kombucha brands on chilled and ambient shelves in major supermarkets found that the average drink contains 100 to 500 million good bacteria at the beginning of shelf life, and far less at the end of shelf life.
So how do Probiotic Drinks stack up against Kombucha?
So, now we’ve covered the basics of both products, how do Probiotic Drinks stack up against Kombucha? We’ve listed 3 reasons why you should make the switch below!
1. Contains More Probiotics (that are identifiable)
When it comes to bacteria count, kombucha is generally outdone by Probiotic Drinks. Probiotic Drinks are typically bottled with one billion or more probiotics, which is about ten times the probiotic count of an average kombucha. This volume is much closer to the recommended daily CFU requirements - offering much more benefit to the gut and body.
Probiotic Drinks like PERKii also state the probiotic used, giving the consumer the opportunity to research the potential benefits of said strain. However, pure kombucha products tend to not include this on the packaging.
2. Survival Through The Stomach
One of the main pitfalls of kombucha is that the probiotics in this beverage are unlikely to reach the gut alive. Since they aren’t protected from stomach acid, most of the bacteria can die before they can offer any benefit.
The good bacteria in Probiotic Drinks are designed to survive through the harsh acidity of the stomach. The probiotics are coated with micro-shield technology - meaning that they are protected until they reach the intestine. From here, they’re released from their shields and proliferate.
3. Great Taste
If the probiotic element of these drinks aren’t enough to convince you, their great taste surely will. Probiotic Drinks are chilled, fruity, and refreshing - perfect for those hot summer days. Kombucha on the other hand is reliant on a sour, fermented taste due to the product process.
In the PERKii range, you can choose between sweet, juicy blends or a lighter sparkling beverage. There’s a little something to suit every taste bud!
*The information in this article is opinion only, and any advice provided is designed for those with no healthcare issues. Before adjusting your diet, speak with your healthcare professional.
