Some wellness trends are a blip on the radar, fading into the recesses of the internet as quickly as they appeared. (Celery juice, anyone?) Others have serious staying power. Here’s a handful of potions, powders...and one reputed poison...that have secured a foothold in the wellness zeitgeist.
“Soda with benefits.” “Microbiome approved.” “A new kind of soda.” The latest crop of fizzy drinks like Olipop, Poppi, and SunSip are healthier than a sugary Pepsi or Coke. That much is clear. But do these pre- and probiotic sodas “support” your digestive health? Here’s a gut check.
In a crowded marketplace, supplement companies want their products to stand out. Some cite vague scientific theories. Others cherry-pick a study that seems to lend credence to a claim they’re making. Still others pay to have a study done, highlight any results that support their bottom line, and watch the cash roll in. Here’s a sampling of recent examples.
It never fails. You turn on the TV, start a new podcast, open a web browser, or walk through the supermarket, and you’re bombarded with ads pushing quick fixes to help keep you going in a demanding world: an immune boost here, a hangover cure there, a supplement for your hair or skin, or a little something to help you relax at night. What’s the evidence that these drink mixes, gummies, probiotics, and powders deliver on their promises? We took a look.
Cereals. Snack bars. Muffins. Juices. Trail Mixes. Teas. Cheeses. “Wellness” shots. Walk down just about any aisle in the supermarket, and you can’t miss the growing number of foods sprouting “probiotics” claims.
Why? Companies want you to believe that a chocolate bar or sausage link or whatever that contains “beneficial” bacteria is healthier than one that doesn’t. Spoiler: It isn’t.
If you’ve got problems with regularity, you’re not alone. Whether it’s occasional or chronic, you’re no doubt looking for relief. “There are so many recommendations out there,” says Jacqueline Wolf, a gastroenterologist and associate professor of medicine at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston. “Some of it works, and some is just folklore.”
There’s no shortage of supplements touting their “immune boosting” benefits. Here’s the evidence for colds and flu (not Covid-19) on some of the most popular.
Are probiotics the cure for irregularity? Many people seem to think so. In a survey of 2,557 British adults, roughly 35 percent of those with—versus 10 percent of those without—constipation reported taking probiotics. And a majority assumed that probiotics had curbed constipation in scientific studies.
