Coca-Cola’s Simply Pop: Can It Improve Gut Health?

Simply Pop, launched by the Coca‑Cola Company, is the latest prebiotic soda marketed to nourish gut health and support the immune system. But are these claims supported by science?

Made with real fruit juice, Simply Pop contains 6 grams of prebiotic fiber, vitamin C, and zinc, and no added sugar. It is available in five flavors.

The manufacturer claims the drink supports gut health and immune function “all without compromising on incredible taste."

As awareness of gut microbiome’s effects on overall health increases, probiotic and prebiotic supplements have surged in popularity in recent years, with their sales nearly doubling between 2015 and 2024.

Growing interest also led to the development of new types of products, such as prebiotic sodas like Poppi and Olipop. The market of prebiotic sodas was valued at $262.2 million in 2024.

However, the gut microbiome is a complex ecosystem of 39 trillion microorganisms and more than a can of soda is needed to ensure its health. A class-action lawsuit was filed last year claiming the manufacturer of Poppi soda misled consumers because a single can doesn’t contain enough prebiotic fiber to provide meaningful gut benefits and has a high sugar content.

So, what can and cannot probiotic sodas do? We asked Sandra Vigelienė, a Wellnesspulse researcher with a background in nutrition science, to answer some of our questions.

What are prebiotics, and what are their benefits?

Prebiotics are a type of fiber that can promote the growth of beneficial bacteria in the gut, which then can protect against pathogenic microorganisms.

They should not be confused with probiotics, which are live beneficial microorganisms, including bacteria and yeast. In other words, prebiotics are food for gut bacteria.

Foods like garlic, onion, beans and peas, bananas, milk, and whole grains are among natural sources of prebiotics, but they can also be consumed as supplements.

According to a 2024 literature review, the potential benefits of prebiotics include the following:

• Prevention of constipation and intestinal inflammation.
• Changes in the gut microbiome, as prebiotics increase the beneficial bacteria like Akkermansia, Faecalibacterium, Bifidobacteria, and Lactobacilli.
• Improved absorption of calcium, which benefits bone health.
• Potentially improved regulation of blood sugar and insulin resistance.

Many of these conditions are complex, and their risk is determined by multiple factors, including genetics and lifestyle choices. Prebiotic consumption alone is unlikely to alleviate or treat these conditions.

Is Simply Pop good for gut health?

A serving (one can) of Simply Pop provides 6 g of dietary fiber per serving. According to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, adults should consume 14 grams of fiber for every 1,000 calories in their daily diets. For example, an individual on a standard 2,000 kcal diet would need 28 g of fiber daily.

Vigelienė says drinking a can of Simply Pop can moderately contribute to the overall intake of dietary fiber and prebiotics, but people shouldn’t rely on it to meet daily dietary fiber recommendations or support gut health.

Simply Pop drinks contain micronutrients such as vitamin C and zinc, which are linked to immune function support.

Research suggests that deficiency of these micronutrients may negatively impact immune system function, but vitamin C and zinc deficiency is rare, Vigelienė says. This may be because micronutrients are found in a wide variety of foods, including whole grains, vegetables, fruits, animal-based products, and legumes.

What also matters is the amount of these micronutrients. All flavors of Simply Pop provide only 20% of recommended daily values in a standard 2,000 kcal diet – roughly 18 mg of vitamin C and 2 mg of zinc.

Vigelienė says, “The amount of micronutrients in these sodas may not meaningfully contribute to the daily intake of micronutrients to support immune system function.”

Soluble fiber may indirectly contribute to the immune system, primarily by modulating the gut microbiome and increasing the production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). However, the direct effects are not clear, meaning that evidence doesn’t support the idea that prebiotics alone can directly impact the immune system, Vigelienė says.

Sandra Vigelienė, BSc

Health Content Researcher

Overall support for certain body systems, such as immune function and gut health, is not solely based on a few specific micronutrients or dietary fiber but on the diversity of overall nutrients and specific compounds and their synergy, which is usually best shown in whole foods and balanced diet practices. Individual baseline health and individual variability also play a role in whether such drinks may have any impact or not.

Prebiotic sodas should replace sugary sodas, not food

Vigelienė says prebiotic sodas should not be considered a replacement for whole foods or a balanced diet. Still, it may serve as an alternative for those looking to reduce their intake of traditional sugar-sweetened sodas.

Unlike regular sodas, they typically do not have added sugars and may offer additional functional properties, such as prebiotic fibers.

Frequent consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages is associated with chronic health conditions like obesity, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

While probiotics are generally well tolerated, soluble corn fiber may cause mild gastrointestinal symptoms in some cases, such as gas, bloating, digestive discomfort, and soft stools.

She says, “This is particularly relevant for those with sensitive digestion, underlying gastrointestinal conditions, and a low baseline fiber intake, as their bodies may require time to adapt to increased fiber consumption.”

Coca-Cola’s Simply Pop can help people consume more fiber, but it should not replace whole foods and a balanced diet that provides a wide variety of nutrients necessary for health.