What is so great about Poppi soda? Exploring the 'Better-for-You' Beverage Trend

December 27, 2025 •

2 min read

First pitched on Shark Tank, Poppi soda burst onto the market as a buzzy beverage, attracting celebrity endorsements and a massive following of consumers seeking a healthier alternative to traditional sugary drinks.

Quick Summary

Poppi is a modern prebiotic soda featuring low sugar, apple cider vinegar, and prebiotics. Positioned as a healthy soda alternative, its ingredients and benefits are reviewed in the context of recent scrutiny over its gut health claims.

Key Points

Low Sugar Content: Poppi contains significantly less sugar and fewer calories than traditional sodas, making it a healthier alternative.
Prebiotic Fiber: The soda includes prebiotics from agave inulin and cassava root fiber.
Apple Cider Vinegar: Each can contains apple cider vinegar.
Debated Gut Benefits: Experts and recent lawsuits suggest the 2g of prebiotic fiber per can is insufficient for significant gut health improvements.
Flavorful Alternative: Poppi offers a wide range of popular, satisfying flavors.
Better, Not Best: While a better choice than conventional soda, Poppi should not replace a balanced diet.

The Poppi Phenomenon: A 'Better-for-You' Alternative

Poppi has positioned itself as a healthier alternative to traditional sugary sodas. Originating from co-founder Allison Ellsworth's personal use of apple cider vinegar for stomach issues, the brand gained significant traction after appearing on 'Shark Tank'. Its appeal lies in offering classic soda flavors with added functional ingredients, all presented in visually appealing packaging popular on social media. This success highlights consumer demand for products that combine good taste with perceived health benefits, though some of these benefits are debated.

Decoding the Ingredients

Poppi contains several key ingredients that distinguish it:

Sparkling Water: Provides the carbonation without extra calories.
Organic Cane Sugar and Fruit Juice: Used for sweetness in much lower amounts than traditional sodas, resulting in fewer calories per can.
Natural Flavors: Recreate classic soda tastes.
Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV): Each can includes a small amount of ACV. While ACV is researched for potential health benefits, the quantity in Poppi may be too low for significant effects.
Agave Inulin and Cassava Root Fiber: These are the sources of prebiotic fiber, which can nourish beneficial gut bacteria.

The Prebiotic Controversy and Gut Health Claims

Poppi's claims about gut health benefits from prebiotics have faced criticism. Prebiotics, found naturally in foods like garlic and onions, feed the good bacteria in the gut. However, a 2024 class-action lawsuit alleged Poppi's claims of "meaningful gut health benefits" were misleading. Many dietitians and experts believe the approximately 2 grams of prebiotic fiber per can is insufficient to significantly impact gut health, as studies often use higher doses. Consuming multiple cans for substantial prebiotic benefits would increase sugar intake.

Nevertheless, many consumers appreciate Poppi as a low-sugar alternative, and some report improved digestion.

Poppi vs. The Competition: A Comparison

A comparison of Poppi, traditional soda, and Olipop can be found on {Link: TODAY https://www.today.com/health/diet-fitness/is-poppi-good-for-you-rcna156765}.

The Allure of Flavor and Experience

Poppi is popular due to its diverse and appealing flavor range.

Popular Poppi flavors include:

Raspberry Rose
Orange
Classic Cola
Strawberry Lemon
Doc Pop

Conclusion: A 'Good' Soda, but Not a Miracle Drink

Poppi soda is a tasty, low-sugar beverage offering a soda experience with fewer downsides. While it contains prebiotics and ACV, aligning with health trends, consumers should have realistic expectations about significant gut health benefits from the small amount of prebiotics per can. Poppi is best seen as a healthier alternative to conventional sodas rather than a primary source of functional health benefits or a replacement for a balanced diet rich in fiber from whole foods.

Potential Considerations: Downsides of Prebiotic Soda

The prebiotic fiber in Poppi can cause side effects like gas, bloating, and stomach cramps in some individuals. More information on prebiotic sodas can be found on {Link: healthline.com https://www.healthline.com/health-news/poppi-prebiotic-soda-gut-health}. Moderation is recommended with any beverage.

Frequently Asked Questions

According to many experts and recent legal scrutiny, the amount of prebiotic fiber (around 2 grams) in a single can of Poppi is likely too low to offer significant gut health benefits.

The main difference is Poppi's lower sugar and calorie count, as well as the inclusion of functional ingredients like apple cider vinegar and prebiotic fibers, which are absent in most traditional soft drinks.

Some individuals may experience gastrointestinal side effects like gas, bloating, or stomach cramps, especially if they are not used to high-fiber intake. Starting with a single can is recommended.

Olipop generally contains a higher amount of prebiotic fiber (around 9 grams per can) compared to Poppi (around 2 grams per can), making Olipop's gut health claims more substantial.

Apple cider vinegar adds a tangy flavor and is often associated with potential health benefits, but its effectiveness in the small quantity found in Poppi is unproven.

Because it has significantly less sugar and fewer calories than traditional sodas, substituting Poppi for sugary drinks can be a helpful strategy for weight management as part of a balanced diet.

Poppi's popularity stems from its clever marketing as a 'healthy' and flavorful soda alternative, its viral social media presence, and its wide variety of delicious flavors.