Aldi's new £1.99 drink improves cholesterol, blood sugar and gut health

Aldi is launching a brand-new drink that experts say can significantly improve your health. The budget supermarket is now stocking a jumbo sized, kefir drink.

For just £1.99, shoppers can grab themselves a 750ml bottle of Beautiful Everyday Kefir in stores, which is available in two variants – natural and mixed berries.

Bargain hunters will be pleased to know Aldi's offering is five times - or £8 less - than Marks and Spencer's version. It is also 36% - or £1.38 less - than Yeo Valley Kefir (per 100ml).

Beautiful Everyday Kefir is free from artificial sweeteners, gums and emulsifiers. Hollywood actor Margot Robbie reportedly incorporated kefir into her diet to get in shape for her hit blockbuster movie Barbie, last year.

Kefir is a dairy drink packed with billions of live cultures, calcium and a whole lot of protein. Kefir can improve your health in various ways:

• It is rich in calcium and fibre, which aids digestion and bloating.
• It's high vitamin B12 content helps support immune system.
• Kefir is packed with protein to help keep you fuller for longer.
• It may reduce blood pressure and risk of heart disease..
• It is a good alternative for those with lactose intolerance.

Kefir, made from kefir grains, is a fermented milk beverage that provides a significant amount of calcium, protein, and B vitamins. Kefir has the potential to harbour as many as 61 diverse microorganisms, which sets it apart as a highly concentrated probiotic option compared to various other fermented dairy items.

It is rich in a probiotic called Lactobacillus kefiri, and a carbohydrate known as kefiran. These help provide protection against harmful bacteria. The anti-inflammatory effects of probiotics have been widely reported and as kefir contains vitamin B12, it can help enhance your immune system.

Various studies have shown probiotics and probiotic foods can alleviate many digestive worries, such as bloating, irritable bowel syndrome, ulcers and many others.

Further research has also indicated that kefir has the potential to mitigate the effects of metabolic syndrome - a combination of health issues that can elevate the risk of heart disease. Kefir is known to assist in reducing blood pressure, regulating cholesterol levels, and enhancing triglycerides in the bloodstream.

Adding kefir to your diet may offer potential benefits for individuals with type 2 diabetes. Experts say consuming kefir can potentially reduce fasting blood sugar levels and may assist in managing other diabetes-related indicators such as insulin resistance and blood pressure. However, further research is necessary to confirm these findings.

Consuming kefir regularly may contribute to weight loss too. Thanks to its high protein content, it may help you feel fuller for longer, in turn helping you eat less and potentially lose weight.

Kefir contains a high amount of live bacteria and yeast, typically managed by your immune system to ward off infections. However, if you are taking immunosuppressants, which reduce your immune function, consuming kefir may lead to illness.

Health guru and nutritionist, Suzie Sawyer, added: "Kefir naturally provides live cultures, produced during the all-important fermentation process. The cultures help to restore the natural equilibrium of the gut, maintaining the delicate balance of healthy bacteria.

"Once the gut is well-balanced, not only will digestion run smoothly, but the immune system will also be well supported and our overall health will improve.

"With 70% of the immune system living in the gut, it’s great that Beautiful Everyday Kefir contains vitamin B12 for normal immune support, together with gut-friendly calcium and fibre too. It’s also high in protein, so makes a great drink choice to start the day."

Managing Director of Buying at Aldi UK, Julie Ashfield, commented: "We want to bring our shoppers a more affordable alternative to current Kefir drinks on the market as good gut health should be accessible to everyone."

The Beautiful Everyday Kefir range is available in select Aldi stores now. Shoppers better act quick if they want to grab the drink, as with all Specialbuys, once they’re gone, they’re gone.