M&S Good Gut kefir review
Here we will give a hands-on, taste-tested review of M&S Good Gut kefir. We’ll look into the benefits, ingredients, nutrition, use and flavour of this kefir. We’ll also compare some health factors against other popular kefir.
This kefir is available in M&S stores in the UK.
You might also be interested in reading our article on the best probiotics in the UK if you want to add more healthy microbes to your diet.
About kefir
Kefir is a fermented dairy drink which is traditionally made by adding kefir grains - which are full of different strains of bacteria and yeast - to milk. (There’s also non-dairy kefir, but we won’t get into that here.)
The result is a tangy dairy drink which is similar to yoghurt but more runny. It also has a lot more bacterial diversity than yoghurt does which makes it better for our gut.
Because of this diversity and increased microbial activity, kefir can sometimes taste a bit more ‘funky’ than yoghurt.
Kefir can be had on its own or you can add it to cereal, smoothies or dressings to increase your probiotic intake.
And because of the strong fermentation of the milk sugars, it is better for people with some degree of lactose intolerance.
However, many commercial kefir are not made in the traditional way and do not offer all these benefits. So it’s important to be aware of how your kefir is made and what it really offers.
Read more about the benefits of kefir and how it differs to yoghurt.
Ingredients of M&S Good Gut kefir
This organic kefir has very simple and traditional ingredients - only milk and live cultures.
One thing to note is that this kefir is made in Spain, which is in contrast to most other kefir you can buy in the UK which are made in the UK.
Our favourite gut health products in the UK
YourBiology Gut+ probiotic not only offers 10 strains of probiotics, but also includes two types of prebiotics, three digestive enzymes and vitamin D for gut health support. All this means it offers a lot more benefits for gut health and general health than most probiotic supplements do
Healthpath gut health test is the UK’s most comprehensive gut health test. It tests over 100 biomarkers, checks your digestion and immune response, analyses leaky gut and provides a clear and understandable report on your microbiome
YourBiology SuperGreens+ is a superfood and greens supplement which makes it very easy to get a huge amount of nutrition - vitamins, minerals, amino acids, fibre, polyphenols and more - in one glass. Great for supporting gut health, skin health, energy, mental clarity and immunity.
Read more about the best gut health products in the UK.
Benefits of M&S Good Gut kefir
For context, we’ll compare a few key factors against Yeo Valley kefir which is a popular kefir in the UK.
Probiotics
Probiotics are live, beneficial microorganisms that have been proven to support health. They are a specific type of live culture.
Unfortunately M&S Good Gut kefir gives no information on how many or which types of live cultures are included so we don’t know whether they are probiotic or not.
However, the taste (see below) suggests this has a undergone a proper, traditional kefir fermentation with an array of bacteria and yeasts.
In comparison, Yeo Valley kefir states that it includes 14 strains of live cultures but they also don’t specify what strains are included.
In terms of the actual amount of live cultures present (usually expressed as colony forming units), both brands don’t give any specific information on this.
Learn more about the benefits of probiotics.
Other health measures
M&S Good Gut kefir generally performs a little worse than Yeo Valley in terms of some health measures, with the exception of sugar content.
Protein: This kefir has moderate protein levels at 3.1%. Yeo Valley is higher at 4%.
Sugar: Its sugar content is moderate at 4.1%, which is below Yeo Valley at 5.7%.
Fat: It has high fat levels for a kefir at 3.9%, which is double that of Yeo Valley (1.9%).
Calcium: Its calcium content is moderate at 126mg per 100ml - which is the same as Yeo Valley’s level.
Appearance
As the picture below shows, it appears just like milk with some bubbles on the surface.
Texture
The texture is quite runny for a kefir and doesn’t have lumps like traditional kefir can. And it has a low to moderate effervescence.
Flavour
The aroma has the traditional kefir notes of farmyard funk. While some won’t find this initially appealing, it’s at least a sign that this is a proper kefir.
The taste is also a bit funky, but not to the level of the aroma. Other than the funk, it’s a bit like a watery yoghurt. There’s also a boozy characteristic to it - perhaps from the traditional fermentation with yeast as well as bacteria.
Overall, the taste is fine - but the texture is a bit underwhelming. However, compared to a lot of commercial kefir in the UK this at least comes across as a proper, traditional kefir. Many other kefir in the UK taste more like drinking yoghurts which don’t seem to have gone through complex kefir fermentation which produces a more complex, funky flavour.
Use
This kefir would be best had on its own or added to cereal or smoothies.
I don’t think the funky aspect of this kefir would lend itself to a dressing very well.
Cost of M&S Good Gut kefir
You can buy a 750ml bottle from M&S for £4.25.
Summary
Rating: 4 stars out of 5.
Verdict: M&S Good Gut kefir has the character of a traditional kefir, but is a bit runny. It’s also on the more expensive end of the spectrum.
Pros
simple, organic ingredients
tastes like a traditional kefir - which is surprisingly uncommon for commercial kefir
Cons
texture is a bit runny
high in fat for a kefir
on the expensive side
no information on which types of live cultures are included
no information on the actual number of live cultures present (ie colony forming unit count)
Now read about the best kefirs in the UK!
Other health benefits of kefir
Along with the specific benefits of this kefir mentioned above, kefir in general is good for our health in the following ways.
Vitamins and minerals
Kefir is a source of various vitamins and minerals including:
calcium
B vitamins (B12 and riboflavin)
magnesium
potassium
phosphorous
These vitamins collectively support bone health, energy production, muscle function, immune function and cardiovascular health.
Probiotics
These are the beneficial living microbes you are ingesting when you drink kefir. And kefir in general usually has a lot more different strains of probiotics than yoghurt or kombucha does.
Probiotics offer many health benefits including:
better digestive health
better immune function
reduced inflammation
reduced allergies
better nutrient absorption
Postbiotics
Postbiotics are essentially beneficial things probiotics produce during fermentation. These include healthy short-chain fatty acids which nourish our gut lining and may help reduce symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome.
Reduced lactose
Because of the strong fermentation of milk sugars by a diverse range of bacteria and yeasts, kefir is better for people with some degree of lactose intolerance compared to milk or yoghurt.
Our favourite gut health products in the UK
YourBiology Gut+ probiotic not only offers 10 strains of probiotics, but also includes two types of prebiotics, three digestive enzymes and vitamin D for gut health support. All this means it offers a lot more benefits for gut health and general health than most probiotic supplements do
Healthpath gut health test is the UK’s most comprehensive gut health test. It tests over 100 biomarkers, checks your digestion and immune response, analyses leaky gut and provides a clear and understandable report on your microbiome
YourBiology SuperGreens+ is a superfood and greens supplement which makes it very easy to get a huge amount of nutrition - vitamins, minerals, amino acids, fibre, polyphenols and more - in one glass. Great for supporting gut health, skin health, energy, mental clarity and immunity.
Read more about the best gut health products in the UK.
Your reviewer
This hands-on review was written by Travis, the founder of this website, long-time gut-health enthusiast, science nerd and passionate kombucha maker of over 10 years!
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