If you, like me, are chronically online, you may have seen the Olipop versus Poppi war all over TikTok. These gut-friendly drinks are feuding, and in the midst of it all, there’s another new competitor looking to squeeze their way into the prebiotic soda space.
Meet Simply Pop, Coca-Cola’s newest product that takes a fresh, nutrient-forward approach that we haven’t seen from the company—until now. The product comes in five flavors (pineapple-mango, lime, strawberry, fruit punch and citrus punch) made with real fruit juice and no added sugar.
But before you run to the store and try this bubbly beverage out for yourself, there are some things you should consider. We asked our nutrition editor and on-staff dietitian Jessica Ball, M.S., RD, for her take on these cans, so here’s what you need to know.
Is Simply Pop Healthy?
Let’s take a look at the nutrition breakdown for one of these sodas. Here is the nutrition information for one 12-ounce can of Simply Pop Citrus Punch Prebiotic Soda—while the other flavors are comparable, the citrus punch is highest in carbs and sugar:
- Calories: 60
- Carbohydrates: 19 g
- Dietary Fiber: 6 g
- Total Sugars: 10 g
- Added Sugar: 0 g
- Protein: 0 g
- Total Fat: 0 g
- Sodium: 25 mg
- Potassium: 100 mg
Six grams of fiber per can is definitely a high number for a soda, but here’s what Ball thinks about it.
“I always recommend that people try to meet their daily fiber needs through whole foods rather than supplements or prebiotic sodas,” she explains. “However, if someone is using it as an alternative to traditional soda in their diet, it could be one way to help increase their fiber intake. These drinks have about 20% of your daily fiber needs in a 12-ounce can, likely from the soluble corn fiber on their ingredients list.”
Most Americans do not get enough fiber in their diet, but foods like fruits, vegetables, oats and legumes are quick and easy high-fiber ingredients to include more of in your meals to up your fiber intake.
Plus, while these drinks do not have any added sugar, don’t expect an unsweetened sip.
“While the label says the drink contains no added sugar, it is sweetened with monk fruit, which is a nonnutritive sweetener that’s 100 to 250 times sweeter than sugar,” Ball notes. “It is generally recognized as safe by the FDA, but some people tolerate it differently than others. Be sure to talk to your dietitian or doctor to confirm this drink is safe for you before starting it.”
The Bottom Line
Simply Pop is a good alternative to standard sodas on the market, but it shouldn’t be a solution for your gut health.
“In general, I would recommend people try to increase the fiber in their diet in other ways than exclusively with drinks like this one,” Ball says. For a homemade high-fiber drink option, our brand-new gut-healthy Orange Smoothie is a perfect refreshment.
