Prebiotic-infused drinks to try this sober October

Get your stomach back on track with prebiotic-infused drinks. They’re perfect for Sober October because they don’t contain alcohol and they’ll strengthen your health. Prioritize your overall wellness with each sip at home, work or with friends.

Benefits of Prebiotic-Infused Drinks

People discuss probiotics often, but prebiotics can get left behind. You could experience these primary health benefits by ensuring they’re in your beverages this fall.

1. Improved Digestion

As food travels through your digestive system, probiotic colonies break it into valuable nutrients. Probiotics need fuel, too. Your stomach may feel off when that fuel runs out.

Prebiotics float along your digestive tract undigested. When they reach your gut, probiotics ferment them and gain metabolic energy. The prebiotics can digest more efficiently and even reproduce, maintaining a robust colony that makes every bite a comfortable treat.

2. Stabilized Blood Sugar

Each new wave of prebiotics results in additional short-chain fatty acids throughout your gut. The acids reduce glucose levels and improve insulin resistance, ultimately making it easier to control your blood sugar during meals and snacks. It’s an easy way to get more control of your diet and support your health alongside recommendations from your doctor.

3. Reduced Inflammation

Whole foods like kale and strawberries reduce cellular inflammation with vitamin C, but you can also fight inflammation with resources like prebiotics. They reduce inflammatory cytokines that make the digestive barrier weaker. When your body has less inflammation irritating your digestive processes, it manages nutrient absorption more easily. It could ease symptoms like gas and cramping after meals.

Drinks to Try This Sober October

Whether you want a grab-and-go beverage or a homemade recipe, there are plenty of ways to enjoy prebiotic-infused drinks this Sober October. Check out these popular options to see which match your flavor and work with your schedule.

1. Fermented Lemonade

When sugar ferments in liquid for a few days, the bacteria break down prebiotics and fortify them. The prebiotics become strong enough to survive their journey through the small intestine and their work begins when they reach the large intestine afterward.

Create the effect at home with fermented lemonade. Mix six cups of water with ½ cup liquid whey, ½ cup fresh lemon juice and ½ cup cane sugar. Let it sit at room temperature for at least two days. After refrigerating for a week and a half, you’ll have a two-quart jar of delicious lemonade ready to go.

You could even sip on this drink alongside a customized make-ahead bowl. Add your favorite ingredients like broccoli, chicken and brown rice before drizzling everything in low-calorie tahini sauce. You’ll eat fewer processed ingredients while supporting your gut’s functionality.

2. Crisp Apple Juice

If you don’t want to wait a few weeks to enjoy your next fermented beverage, trust a leading brand with your dietary delights. Olipop is a company that’s been in the game since 2017, paving the way for fermented drinks everywhere.

Although you might know Olipop for its Strawberry Vanilla or Orange Squeeze sparkling tonics, the brand just debuted its autumn flavor. Crisp Apple is what you’ll need at fall get-togethers and holiday parties. The sparkling apple juice blends with gummy apple rings to create the ultimate bubbly beverage reminiscent of apple cider.

The vegan and paleo drink has nine grams of fiber and only two to five grams of sugar. You’ll easily balance your blood sugar with the all-natural ingredients while supporting your digestive system. You can find it online and at places like Sprouts. Whole Foods and Target will join the Crisp Apple club soon.

3. Ginger Turmeric Tonic

While others sip on spiked drinks that leave them dehydrated, you could enjoy a homemade ginger turmeric tonic. The simple recipe results in a tart drink that’s great with apple pie or mixed into a low-sugar autumn juice.

Gather these ingredients before making your beverage:

• 1 two-inch ginger knob, peeled and grated
• 1 two-inch knob of turmeric, peels and grated
• 3 ground cardamom pods
• 4 cups water
• ¼ cup fresh lemon juice
• 2 tablespoons of honey

Put a saucepan on medium-low heat. Combine the water, ginger, turmeric and cardamom in the pan and let it sit. The mixture should simmer for at least 10 minutes so everything dissolves into a fragrant delight. Pour it through a strainer and into a large container, like a two-quart jar.

Whisk the lemon juice and honey into the container until blended. Chill immediately. It should be a cold beverage when you’re ready to enjoy it, but you could also heat a small serving with a floral tea bag to complement the existing flavors.

4. Pilot Grapefruit Mint

Venture into the world of kombucha with Pilot’s Grapefruit Mint beverage. The tart and minty flavors balance each other, while the organic live cultures send prebiotic assistance to your gut. It’s a low-calorie drink you can sip on anywhere, anytime. Pair yours with something like Greek yogurt and fruit to enjoy a low-calorie snack that adds even more helpful bacteria to your digestive tract.

5. Apple Cider Vinegar Gut Elixer

Apple cider vinegar is a powerful ingredient for gut health. However, its acidic content may cause irritation and diarrhea if you don’t introduce it gradually. If you enjoy it in small amounts, the fermented fruit vinegar adds dietary fiber and minerals to your intestinal microbiome. You’ll digest food more easily by sipping it in things like a gut elixir.

Throw ingredients like these into a small pot on your stove:

• 8 ounces of water
• 1 tablespoon raw apple cider vinegar
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon

Whisk the ingredients and let them simmer until your elixir reaches a heat perfect for drinking. Pour it into a mug and enjoy while it’s hot.

If the flavor is too strong, dilute it by cooling the elixir and adding it to a smoothie. You could also blend a banana into your drink to make it healthier. The electrolytes replenish gut bacteria by enhancing nutrient absorption. The strong and mild flavors balance each other so you can add other fruits or ingredients that make your prebiotic-infused drink even more delicious.

6. Pressed Probiotic Shot

Pressed is a company that makes probiotic drinks, but their smaller shots also contain prebiotics. The small purple beverage contains red cabbage to boost your pre and probiotic intake, alongside lemon juice and live bacterial cultures. It’s easy to dilute in a smoothie with extra fruits or vegetables that match the autumn season.

Have More Fun This Fall

When your stomach feels funky, it throws everything else into chaos. Your energy dips and your mood gets grumpy, which doesn’t even include what changes inside your digestive system.

Anyone can find or make prebiotic-infused drinks to improve their gut health. You’ll have more regular digestion without uncomfortable side effects once your large intestine has enough prebiotics to break down your favorite foods. See which of these options you enjoy most this Sober October to boost your health at home or on the go.