The British Heart Foundation (BHF) has issued a warning about 'gut-friendly' foods such as kimchi, kombucha, and fruit smoothies, highlighting potential drawbacks for heart health due to added salt and sugar.
The charity advises consumers to check labels on these popular products to ensure that the benefits of probiotics are not outweighed by high levels of salt or sugar. Fermented foods like kimchi and sauerkraut often contain significant amounts of salt, while some commercial kombucha brands have added sugars.
Flavoured or fruit-based yoghurts and blended smoothies can also cause blood sugar levels to rise more quickly. Excessive sugar intake can lead to weight gain, increasing the risk of heart attack or stroke, while too much salt can raise blood pressure, also heightening cardiovascular risks.
Tracy Parker, BHF nutrition lead, stated: 'We encourage everyone to choose foods that can keep their gut microbiome healthy. The benefits are clear... A lot of these products can contain high levels of salt or sugar though, so it is important to be aware of the potential drawbacks.'
The BHF emphasises that these foods are not harmful in moderation but urges consumers to opt for smaller portions and lower-salt or lower-sugar varieties where possible.
