Is kvass really good for the intestines: debunking myths about fermented drinks

Світлана Бурмей
5 days ago
5 min read

In the summer heat, the desire to quench our thirst with something cool and refreshing often leads us to the shelves with kvass, kombucha or kefir. Traditionally, it is believed that such fermented drinks are almost an elixir of health for our digestion. Marketers convince us of the presence of "live bacteria", and folk medicine has been promoting kvass for years as the best way to improve the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract. But is this really so?

Modern 4P medicine (personalized, predictive, preventive, patient-centered) is studying in detail the invisible "superorgan" of man - the microbiome. It turns out that the interaction between kvass and the intestines has a much more complex biological nature than it seems at first glance. Let's consider from a scientific point of view what the colossal difference between live fermentation, sugar and industrial drinks is, and how innovative microbiome drinks and biopreparations from the Ukrainian biotechnology company Ediens are shaping the new future of gastroenterology.

The Illusion of Benefit: Industrial Pasteurization Kills Life

To understand whether a drink is healthy, it is necessary to understand the process of its creation. Real (live) fermentation is a biochemical process during which living microorganisms (lactic acid bacteria or yeast) break down carbohydrates, releasing valuable metabolites: organic acids, vitamins and enzymes. Such a "homemade" drink can really serve as a source of beneficial microbes for the intestines.

However, what we buy en masse in supermarkets in plastic bottles is radically different from traditional kvass. The main problem with industrial drinks is pasteurization. In order for the drink to be stored on a store shelf for months and not explode, manufacturers subject it to heat treatment. As scientists note, during pasteurization at high temperatures, all beneficial flora (in particular lactobacilli) simply dies. As a result, the drink becomes microbiologically "dead". That is, instead of the promised probiotic, you drink an ordinary liquid devoid of any living potential for your microbiome.

Sugar Trap: Why Does Kvass Cause Bloating?

The second and most dangerous factor in industrial kvass and kombucha is the huge amount of added sugar (or questionable artificial sweeteners). If you drink such a drink, your body receives a powerful osmotic and glycemic shock.

What happens at the microbiome level? Our intestines are inhabited by trillions of bacteria, including both beneficial (commensal) and opportunistic pathogens (for example, gas-forming bacteria and yeast Candida ). These pathogens simply adore sugar. The excess of simple carbohydrates from sweet kvass rapidly feeds the harmful flora, provoking its reproduction. Artificial sweeteners also increase blood sugar levels, stimulating the growth of unwanted enterobacteria.

As a result, pathogens begin to actively ferment sugar right in your colon. A huge amount of gases is released - hydrogen, methane and sulfides. That is why after a glass of cold industrial kvass, most people experience severe bloating (flatulence), cramps and discomfort. You are not healing your intestines - you are feeding microbes that cause inflammation.

Microbiome Beverages: Innovation Instead of Mass Marketing

Today, cutting-edge science is moving from the “blind” consumption of fermented products to the targeted development of functional microbiome beverages . Scientists at the biotech company Ediens are conducting in-depth research on different strains of bacteria. Instead of random yeasts, they are testing specific, clinically proven strains (such as Lactobacillus plantarum or Lactobacillus casei ) that are able to ferment natural bases (such as vegetable juices, whey, and even beer) without the formation of excess gases and with maximum benefit for immunity.

The goal of such innovations is to create products that will have proven effects. For example, if a drink is fermented with certain strains, it will not only quench thirst, but also relieve systemic inflammation, suppress pathogens and help treat irritable bowel syndrome.

Healthy solution from Ediens: Pharmabiotics instead of sweet kvass

If you really want to restore your microflora and forget about bloating, ditch the pasteurized industrial "lemonades" in favor of real evidence-based 4P medicine. The line of proprietary pharmabiotics from Ediens offers quick and safe solutions:

1. " My Second Brain. Intestinal Microbiome " (Your Ideal Drink) Instead of buying dead kvass, you can create your own healing drink in a few seconds. This drug is available in the form of convenient sachets (16 pieces per package). By dissolving the contents of the sachet in ordinary water at room temperature, you get billions (108 CFU) of live, clinically tested lactobacilli without a single gram of sugar! This pharmabiotic aggressively displaces pathogenic flora that has multiplied from sweets, is guaranteed to relieve chronic inflammation, eliminate flatulence (bloating) and treat constipation (constipation).

2. « Metabolic. Antistress » If you notice that you constantly feel a craving for sweet drinks, this may be a signal of chronic stress and dysbiosis. This oral pharmabiotic (in capsules) works through the gut-brain axis. Special strains normalize hormone levels, reduce cortisol, eliminate anxiety and give stable energy without caffeine and sugar. It also helps stop stress-induced visceral fat deposition.

3. Synbiotic " First Microbiome Salad " For your beneficial bacteria to receive proper nutrition, they need not sugar, but high-quality fiber (prebiotic). In collaboration with TM "Zelenyok", the company has developed a fresh salad, to which a sachet with live starter bacteria is added. The bacteria instantly activate and break down fiber right in your intestines, preventing fermentation and discomfort.

4. Personalized Nutrition Plan For a 100% understanding of what your body needs, Ediens offers a genetic analysis of your gut microbiome. Based on your unique profile, an IT algorithm will develop a personalized nutrition plan. You will know exactly which fermented foods are your personal medicine and which ones only provoke diseases.

Conclusion

The popular industrial kvass is more of a dessert than a medicine. Heat treatment (pasteurization) kills beneficial bacteria, and a large amount of sugar provokes fermentation, bloating, and the growth of fungi in the intestines. Only live fermentation products or clinically proven biological preparations bring real benefits. The use of modern pharmabiotics in sachet form (such as "My Second Brain") is the best alternative for those who want to drink live bacteria and maintain lightness in the stomach without harm to health.

Short questions and answers (Q&A)

1. Is kvass really good for your intestines? Answer: Traditional homemade kvass of live fermentation contains beneficial microorganisms. However, kvass from the supermarket undergoes pasteurization (heat treatment), during which all lactobacilli are killed. Therefore, store-bought kvass is a "dead" drink, devoid of probiotic benefits for your intestines.

2. Why does industrial kvass often cause bloating? Answer: The main reason is the high sugar content or artificial sweeteners. Sugar instantly becomes food for gas-forming flora and yeast fungi (Candida) in the colon. They rapidly ferment carbohydrates, releasing large amounts of gas, which causes acute flatulence and pain.

3. What is the difference between regular fermented drinks and microbiome drinks? Answer: Regular drinks often contain random sets of yeasts and bacteria that can compete with your microflora. Modern microbiome drinks are created by scientists based on specific, clinically proven strains of bacteria (such as L. plantarum ) that ferment the base without producing gases and are proven to relieve inflammation of the mucous membranes.

4. Which Ediens products will best replace sweet drinks for intestinal health? Answer: The niche pharmabiotic "My Second Brain. Intestinal Microbiome" will be an ideal replacement. You can simply dissolve the sachet in a glass of water to get a 100% live drink without sugar. It aggressively suppresses pathogenic flora, treats bloating and constipation. And to relieve cravings for sweets, "Metabolic. Antistress" capsules have been developed , which normalize the functioning of the nervous and immune systems.