People that suffer from immune system deficiencies and experience poor gut health have the option to look towards probiotics for relief from their symptoms. However, the vast amount of probiotic products can make it difficult to settle on a single brand. So when a product comes along that is backed by an international base of loyal customers, it can turn itself into the easier choice to purchase.
Yakult is a brand of probiotics that is sold in the form of a shake for easy consumption. Yakult’s form is not dissimilar to the ubiquitous protein shakes that are seen being consumed by athletes and gym-goers everywhere.
What Is Yakult?
Yakult is a milk-based product that contains 6.5 billion good bacteria. Lactobacillus casei reaches the gut alive. These good bacteria enhance the digestive agents in the gut, as well as providing support to one’s immune system. These bacteria were coined by the scientist Minoru Sirota.
Is Yakult Good for You?
Yakult is a well-known brand of probiotics with an established base of happy customers. Although the formula does contain a high amount of sugar and sweeteners, the benefits reportedly outweigh the inclusion of these additives. Besides the probiotic organisms, the ingredients include water, skimmed milk and sugar.
Yakult is sold as two variations
- Yakult Regular: contains 11 grams of sugar and 50 calories
- Yakult Light: contains 4 grams of sugar and 30 calories
Regular Yakult is sold in standard serving bottle of 65 ml and contains 18 grams of sugar per 100 grams of liquid. According to a report released by the UK Food Standards Agency, the amount of 15 grams of sugar per 100 of formula is considered high.
To give a comparison, a standard glass of orange juice or cola contains around 10 grams per 100 grams of sugar. To put it simply, although the amount of sugar in the Yakult formula is high, the serving size is relatively small.
Yakult Flavors
Yakult is available for purchase in many different flavors. The different flavors used are organic or nature-identical. The flavorings were added to the formula to ensure a consistent flavor during the production process. The nature-identical flavors and created by synthetic materials that replicate natural flavors.
Yakult Sweeteners
A high amount of sucrose is found in the Yakult formula. This is used to sweeten the flavor of the milk. Reb A – an extract of Stevia leaf, can be exclusively be found found in the Yakult Light formula.
There is a lot of contention in the medical community about the inclusion of artificial sweeteners. Some claim that high amounts of sweeteners correlate to diseases such as cancer and diabetes, while others assert that they do not present health risks.
The sweetener Rebaudioside A comes from Stevia leaves and is considered safe to be used in food, but not in raw meat of poultry. It is claimed to be roughly 300 times sweeter than sucrose. One of the benefits of this sweetener is that is contains zero calories, which could appeal to dieters.
The probiotic shakes by Yakult do not contribute to one’s carbohydrate or calorie count, thus do not cause a surge in blood glucose or insulin response. This is helpful to diabetic people that want to eat a range of foods and stay healthy.
What Are Probiotics? How Do Drinks Like Yakult Benefit Us?
Probiotics are known as good bacteria. They are naturally present in some foods such as yogurt or fermented cheese. Probiotics are known as the corollary to antibiotics when used in treatments.
These bacteria are also known as gut friendly bacteria, as they exist in high concentrations inside the large intestine. These bacteria are used by the body to break down food, as well as assisting in the absorption of nutrients and suppressing the spread of bad bacteria.
An unintended side effect of taking medication such as antibiotics is that they can inadvertently destroy good bacteria. This can lead to many different health complications and illnesses such as diarrhea and irritable bowel syndrome. For this reason, probiotics are frequently prescribed along with antibiotics for their synergistic effect.
Suggested Use of Yakult
Yakult is recommended to be taken daily, up to 1-2 bottles per day for adults, during or after meals. Children on the other hand, should take one bottle per day, and same for infants over the age of 8 months. For babes it is recommend that one gradually introduces the probiotic formula into their diets.
- Yakult is not meant to quench the thirst, it is only a probiotic drink.
- It is not a replacement of yogurt and milk, but should be taken in addition to these products. Since it comes in a small bottle, you can have it comfortably and make it part of balanced daily diet.
- Small bottle is for one complete dosage and hence more hygienic. Large bottle, if not finished, can harbor bad bacteria and cause infection.
What Are People Saying About Yakult?
The reviews about Yakult could be considered a mix bag; while there were some people singing the praises of the product, there was an equal amount of criticism from the company’s disgruntled customers.
The main compliments the company received were about the effectiveness of the formula, with users of Yakult reporting that they felt better within a few short weeks after ingestion. Although sweet, the formula was easily taken as part of a meal, and did not cause complications with other forms of medications or supplements.
It should be noted that there have been several articles published in academic journals that draw suspicion to the effectiveness of the Yakult formula. Some researchers have gone as far to say that probiotic shakes in general are unhealthy for long-term consumption, as it can interfere with the body’s natural production of good bacteria.
Longitudinal studies were apparently conducted that showed a correlation between long-term use of products such as Yakult and a deficiency in bacteria after the user stopped probiotics.
The Bottom Line – Is Yakult Recommended?
There is enough evidence that suggests Yakult works as as intended. Although the negative reviews and differing medical opinions may concern some shoppers, it is important to note that everyone’s reaction to probiotics such as Yakult will vary.
Probiotics are not intended to be used as a magic pill that guarantees success, rather it should be taken as a supplement to an overall plan.
In conclusion. Yakult offers a convenient and relatively safe way for one to boost the health of their gut and immune system without significant side effects.
