Review of M&S x ZOE gut shot
Here we will give a hands-on review of the M&S x ZOE gut shot.
The shot is different from most ‘gut shots’ on the market which are commonly non-dairy and feature ginger (or ginger and turmeric) as their main selling point and ingredients.
This shot however is a kefir gut shot which means it is a fermented dairy product packed with billions of probiotics (ie good bacteria for your gut).
Kefir is like a runny and drinkable yoghurt which usually has more probiotics than yoghurt.
Learn about the difference between and benefits of yoghurt and kefir.
Ingredients
There is just so much for your gut in this shot, including both probiotics as well as prebiotics and other ingredients.
Probiotics
Most importantly, the shot contains over 5 billion live cultures from 14 different strains. It’s really impressive that there is such a diversity of microbes in this drink. The strains which they mention are present are Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus bulgaricus, Lactobacillus paracasei and Lactobacillus rhamnosus.
Other ingredients
As well as the probiotics, the shot also includes various other ingredients good for your gut including:
Fruit: various fruits are included presumably for their fibre content including apple, berries, banana and Baobab fruit pulp
Chicory fibre: this is a type of prebiotic - essentially the food which feeds healthy bacteria
Ginger juice: good for digestive health and is anti-inflammatory
Lemon juice: high in antioxidants and can aid in digestion
Flavour
The aroma is sweet banana and mixed fruit. And for some reason it smells of cinnamon buns to me ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
The taste is similar to yoghurt but with a slight vinegary, gingery acidic tang finish which lingers a bit. It also has an indistinct berry and mixed fruit taste with some banana coming through.
Typical of kefir, it is a bit funkier than yoghurt, with a finish that is not as clean. I would say the taste is still pleasant, but if it’s your first time drinking kefir then you will notice the difference initially.
And like other kefirs, it has a consistency which is thinner and more drinkable than yoghurt.
Cost and availability
I bought it for just over £2 in a small M&S store. It is generally available in most M&S stores in my experience.
Summary
4.75 stars out of 5.
It’s hard to want much more from a gut shot. It has probiotics, prebiotics, fruits, ginger and lemon - all which have been shown to be good for the gut.
Pros
huge amount of live cultures
large diversity of bacterial strains
contains prebiotics
contains ginger and lemon
Cons
taste of kefir takes a little getting used to initially
Benefits of the ingredients
Probiotics
Probiotics (ie good bacteria) are beneficial in many ways including:
Boosting digestive health
Reducing diarrhoea
Improving immune health
Reducing inflammation
Weight management and much more
Read more about the benefits of probiotics.
Prebiotics
These act as food for the good bacteria in your gut (or the good bacteria you are introducing with this drink). The fruits and chicory fibre in this gut shot provide an array of prebiotics for the probiotics in your gut to feed on and multiply.
Learn about the different types of prebiotics.
Ginger
Digestive health: Ginger can alleviate nausea and vomiting, making it useful for motion sickness, morning sickness during pregnancy and chemotherapy-induced nausea.
Anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects: Contains gingerol, a substance with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.
Pain relief: Studies have shown it may help reduce muscle pain and soreness due to its anti-inflammatory properties.
Lowering blood sugar levels: Studies show ginger can help in managing blood sugar levels.
Read more about ginger’s proven benefits.
Lemons
Vitamin C and flavonoids: Both of which are antioxidants.
Digestive health: Can aid digestion and help in weight control.
Read more about the health benefits of lemons.
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Your reviewer
This article was reviewed by Travis - learn more about me!
Or learn more about the basics of gut health.
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