Tesco Gut Sense kefir review
Here we will give a hands-on, taste-tested review of Tesco Gut Sense 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 some Tesco 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 Tesco Gut Sense kefir
This kefir has simple ingredients - only milk, inulin and live cultures.
Inulin isn’t a traditional ingredient in kefir, but it is good for your gut so we’ll let that slide (more on this below).
In summary, there’s nothing to be concerned about in the ingredients.
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
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Read more about the best gut health products in the UK.
Benefits of Tesco Gut Sense kefir
This kefir comes with the usual health benefits, along with some unique benefits offered by the added inulin. For context, we’ll compare a few key factors against Yeo Valley kefir which is a popular kefir in the UK.
Live cultures
This kefir contains a good range of live cultures with 14 different strains, however they don’t specify which strains are present.
The label states that it is made with yoghurt and kefir cultures - which is a bit vague. It’s hard to know whether this kefir is made with traditional kefir grains or simply inoculated with various strains typically present in yoghurt and kefir. I would suspect the latter.
In comparison, Yeo Valley kefir also contains 14 strains of live cultures.
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.
Prebiotics
This kefir also includes prebiotic fibre in the form of inulin. This fibre will feed the good bacteria in your gut and help them multiply.
Read more about the benefits of prebiotics.
Other health measures
Tesco Gut Sense kefir presents a mixed bad when compared to Yeo Valley in terms of health measures.
Protein: This kefir has moderate protein levels at 3.6%. Yeo Valley is higher at 4%.
Sugar: Its sugar content is moderate at 3.8%, which is below Yeo Valley at 5.7%.
Fat: It has low to moderate levels of fat for a kefir at 2.5%, which is above that of Yeo Valley (1.9%).
Calcium: Its calcium content is moderate at 132mg per 100ml - which is slightly above Yeo Valley’s level (126mg).
Appearance
As the picture below shows, it appears very similar to milk.
Texture
The texture is moderately thick for a kefir and doesn’t have lumps like traditional kefir can. Some of this thickness can be attributed to the added inulin fibre. And it has a low level of effervescence - much lower than traditional kefir.
Flavour
The aroma is very neutral and simply comes across as yoghurt.
The taste is also neutral and ultimately tastes like a drinking yoghurt, rather than a traditional kefir which has a slightly funky taste. And the acidity is moderate.
Overall, the taste is fine and very approachable - but it doesn’t come across as anything like a traditional kefir in terms of texture, effervescence, aroma or taste. This and the fact it states it is made with yoghurt and kefir cultures leads me to believe it isn’t made in the traditional way with kefir grains.
Use
This kefir would be versatile given the neutral flavour. It could be had on its own, added to cereal or smoothies, or used in dressings or marinades.
Cost of Tesco Gut Sense kefir
You can buy a 750ml bottle from Tesco for £2.90.
Summary
Rating: 4 stars out of 5.
Verdict: Tesco Gut Sense kefir has 14 stains of live cultures and added prebiotic fibre. It has an approachable taste, but it doesn’t seem to be a kefir made in the traditional way.
Pros
no concerning ingredients
added prebiotic fibre
less fat than some other brands
approachable taste…
Cons
…but it doesn’t taste like a traditional kefir
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
Some of the strains of live cultures used in making kefir may be probiotic which means they could offer us health benefits.
Some probiotics may offer health benefits which could include:
better digestive health
better immune function
reduced inflammation
reduced allergies
better nutrient absorption
It’s important to note that the potential benefits of probiotics vary from strain to strain and each won’t offer all the benefits listed above.
Postbiotics
Postbiotics are essentially beneficial things cultures 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 review was written by Travis, founder of Hello Gut Health.
A long-time gut health writer and advocate with over ten years of experience exploring the science of the microbiome and fermentation.
He combines careful research with practical testing to help readers make informed, trustworthy choices.
He has reviewed over 150 gut health products.
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