Olipop vs Poppi: The Beverage Battle

I am sure you know this already but functional prebiotic drinks are everywhere! And there are so many options! But there are two very clear front runners in this space, Olipop and Poppi.

There is a debate on social, people are either strong team Poppi or strong team Olipop. But what makes them different? What makes them “healthy?” What are they in general?! 

Let’s discuss is all. There is a clear difference between the two and I will give you a hint: it's the science behind it!

BUT before diving straight into it, let's have a talk about fiber, prebiotics, and probiotics. These 3 things are beyond important to keeping our guts happy and healthy.

Fiber

Fiber is a carbohydrate that the body cannot digest. It helps to increase the bulk and soften stool to avoid constipation by pushing our stool along the GI tract. It has loads of benefits such as improving our LDL cholesterol, regulating our blood sugars, and improving our overall heart health. Dietary fiber is also great for regulating our blood sugar and satiety (feeling full).

Some fiber rich foods are beans, leafy greens, berries, and whole grains. (Now you know why that three-bean salad keeps you full for so long!)

Research shows that about 95% of Americans do not meet their daily fiber goals. Both children and adults need at least 25 grams of fiber per day, but the majority of us are not hitting that number. The average American is predicted to only get in about 15 grams of fiber. 

Prebiotics

PREbiotics, different from probiotics but just as important, are from plant fibers that act as food for the bacteria living in our gut. Some examples include: chicory root, whole grains, garlic, apple cider vinegar, and more. 

Probiotics

PRObiotics, on the other hand, are the living microorganisms in food that improve our good bacteria. Some popular examples are yogurt, kombucha, and sauerkraut. Working together, they help our intestinal tract have a healthy microflora of bacteria to support our digestion. 

Essentially prebiotics are the food the probiotics eat! Super cool right? Picture that the prebiotics are the little pellets pac man (aka probiotics) eats to get their powers. Working together, they help our intestinal tract have a healthy microflora of bacteria to support our digestion. 

Now let the battle begin!

Poppi and Olipop are wildly popular brands. Both have a wide selection of flavors to choose from. Avid soda lovers rave over the Poppi cherry limeade and orange and some classic Olipop flavors include the vintage cola, strawberry vanilla, and classic root beer.   

They each claim that their formulas help support overall health and gut health. So let's dive in.

Some attributes they share: 

• All of their flavors contain about 2-5 grams of added sugar whereas the majority of soda brands contain 30-40+ grams. 

Now what makes them different:

• The key difference between the drinks is the form of the magic ingredient of functional prebiotics they chose. They are different but have the same intention!

Poppi:

Poppi uses apple cider vinegar which is a prebiotic known as pectin. For years, there has been discussion of whether or not apple cider vinegar can ACTUALLY be an aid to gut health. Long story short, the research continues on. Many researchers have stated that the ingredient may help the gut microbiota but there is simply no science to back it up yet.

Yes, it's great to have a soda with less added sugar, but is the apple cider vinegar ingredient truly helping our gut health? We are unsure. But hey, it is tasty! Apple cider vinegar is known for reducing blood sugar levels, helping prevent heartburn, and it's a great source of antioxidants. 

Olipop:

Olipop uses a mixture of different prebiotics such as cassava root, chicory root, artichoke, nopal cactus, calendula flower, and kudzu root. These ingredients add fiber and inulin which can help regulate our bowel movements, aid in a stable blood sugar, and more.

Both inulin and fiber have been linked in research countless times to improving digestive health and Olipop even has blogs on their website about their specific fiber ingredient choices.  

A big benefit of Olipop is that it can help fill gaps in our diet specifically for the amount of fiber we need each day. We believe as a practice in choosing food first, but using Olipop as another tool to meet your needs is awesome!

Who wins the battle?

In summary, if you are an avid soda lover who is looking for new flavors and beverages that could do more than just quench your thirst, both are good choices. Poppi lacks the hard research on functional prebiotics that are known to aid in digestive health while Olipop is a great option based on the ingredients which are backed up by years of research. In the end, the choice is yours!

At Happy Strong Healthy we believe you are in control and should be empowered after you are educated to make a choice that is best for you! So after hearing this, which sounds better to you?! (And make sure you actually like the taste too!) 

Remember, not everything you eat or drink needs to be “functional” but it is a fun benefit every once in a while. If you want to work on health promoting behaviors, Happy Strong Healthy has the strongest team of RD’s out there to support you! We have a group coaching session starting in May of 2023 that could be the start of your journey to a happier, stronger, healthier life. You deserve to feel your best! Check out our application or email info@happystronghealthyrd.com with questions.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/wellness/2023/04/03/prebiotic-soda-olipop-poppi/

https://drinkolipop.com/pages/ingredients 

https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/expert-answers/probiotics/faq-20058065 

​​https://health.clevelandclinic.org/exploring-the-health-benefits-of-apple-cider-vinegar/ 

https://www.drinkpoppi.com/ 

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Written by Emma Sommers

Hey, I'm Emma!

I'm currently a Junior at Purdue University studying Nutrition and Dietetics. I love everything about nutrition and have a passion towards helping people learn to love food and all the science behind it!  Learn more about the HSH offerings here.