GoodBelly Probiotics Review: Can You Drink Your Way to Good Gut Health?

Whether you’ve got a diagnosed digestive disorder or find yourself suffering from frequent bouts of diarrhea, dealing with poor gut health can be frustrating. 

Although they are a relatively new concept, I’ve noticed plenty of brands popping up with friendly-bacteria-filled beverages that claim to tackle these issues. GoodBelly is one such brand, but what makes it stand out from the rest?

I was keen to find out whether GoodBelly probiotic Juice Drinks could be useful for my patients struggling with an imbalanced gut microbiome, so I decided to explore their ingredients, pros, and cons more closely. 

Keep reading to discover my thoughts and find out whether I’d recommend GoodBelly probiotics as a medical professional. 

What Are GoodBelly Probiotics?

GoodBelly is a dietary supplement brand that was originally founded to help Baby Boomers live long, happy, healthy, and active lives. The company uses only scientifically backed, healthy, and natural ingredients as part of their probiotic products, which aim to support good digestive health for kids and adults alike.

GoodBelly juice was the first probiotic drink of its kind to hit the US market and comes in a wide selection of dairy-free fruit flavors to suit every taste palate, from pomegranate blackberry to mango. 

However, GoodBelly has also developed a probiotic supplement, shots, and powders that provide users with the vitamins and minerals they need for overall well-being.

⭐ Rating	3.8
🥦 Vegan?	Yes
🧪️ Dosage	240ml per day
💊 How to use	Drink one serving once per day with or without food
🍎 Key ingredient	Lactobacillus plantarum 299v
📱 Where to buy?	Online or in your local health store

GoodBelly probiotics product range

GoodBelly offers a probiotic supplement in many different forms, meaning that there should be something suitable for all of my patients’ needs and preferences. Here’s a breakdown of their whole range:

• Juice Drinks – Comes in 7 unique flavors, including Blueberry Acai, Pomegranate Blackberry, Mango, Strawberry Banana, no added sugar Raspberry Blackberry, Peach Mango Tropical Orange, and Immune Support Pineapple Passionfruit.
• Juice Drinks Kids! – Punch Party and Berry Blast Off flavors support overall gut health with no added sugars.
• Digestion Shots – Marketed as the perfect gut health solution, the pear and yumberry flavored Digestion Shots are concentrated juice shots that contain 20 billion probiotics.
• Digestion + Wellness Shots – The Digestion + Wellness shots in strawberry, blueberry acai, and mango combine essential vitamins and probiotics.
• Super Shots – Vanilla Chamomile and Lemon Ginger flavors contain 50 billion live and active probiotic cultures to promote daily wellness or restore good gut health after taking a round of antibiotics.
• Probiotic Supplement – Contains 10 billion active cultures of their superhero probiotic strain, Lactobacillus plantarum 299v, for improved digestive health.
• Iron Supplement – Combines probiotics with iron to help your body properly absorb this essential nutrient while relieving symptoms of iron buildup in the gut.
• Fast Melts – Quick-dissolving probiotic powder that can be poured directly into the mouth, mixed with water, or blended into a smoothie. Choose from Lemon Digestion or Strawberry Immunity flavor.

As their first product, the Juice Drinks stood out to me, so I’ve chosen this range to analyze in more detail.

Why I Decided to Review GoodBelly Probiotics

As a healthcare professional, I regularly see patients who are suffering from digestive issues, whether they’re struggling with constipation, experiencing diarrhea, or finding it difficult to control their irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) symptoms. 

I’m, therefore, always on the lookout for new solutions I can recommend during a gut health crisis or for things that my patients can do to maintain healthy digestion daily. There is a great range of probiotic supplements on the market, but capsules or pills aren’t suitable for everyone. 

So, when I came across GoodBelly Juice Drinks, I was intrigued to see if they could offer the same benefits as these supplements but with the convenience and delicious taste of a beverage.

How Do GoodBelly Probiotics Work?

Probiotics are live “good” bacteria that live within your body, in places such as the digestive tract, mouth, skin, urinary tract, and vagina. It’s essential to have a healthy probiotic balance throughout the body to eliminate bad bacteria. 

These unhealthy microbes can increase your risk for illness and infection, have a negative impact on digestion, and reduce your immune function.

A probiotic supplement helps to restore this balance and has a range of benefits for your overall health. For example, it’s useful for preventing bacterial vaginosis, keeping your bowel movements regular, and even boosting weight loss.

I was pleased to see that GoodBelly Juice Drinks contain the Lactobacillus plantarum 299v (LP299v) probiotic strain, which is well-researched and backed by more than 60 human clinical studies. 

Unlike some other strains, it has the ability to survive the stomach’s harsh acidic conditions, which makes it effective in supporting gut health and treating many digestive conditions, from IBS to Clostridium difficile (C.diff). 

Plus, each serving contains 10–20 billion colony-forming units (CFUs), which indicates the number of live microorganisms that will be delivered to your gut. It’s recommended to consume a probiotic supplement containing this number of CFUs, as these are the most effective in ensuring your gut microbiome thrives.

How to Use GoodBelly Probiotics

Depending on your dietary needs and preferences, you can choose from several GoodBelly probiotic juice drinks. The original Juice Drink is full-flavored and contains 100 calories per serving. 

For my patients with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity, I’d only recommend the two gluten-free flavors, which are Strawberry Banana Peach and Mango Tropical Orange. Alternatively, you can also try their no added sugar option, which is naturally sweetened with fruit extracts and contains just 50 calories.

Each Juice Drink comes in a 240ml carton, which provides 4 servings, and according to the manufacturer, you should “sip and savor” one serving per day on either a full or empty stomach. 

When drunk every day for at least 12 days, GoodBelly suggests that you should begin to notice improvements to your gut health, such as better digestion, reduced cramping, and less gas.

The brand encourages users to stay consistent with their 12-Day Belly Reboot challenge, where you’ll receive coupons for the GoodBelly products, tips to get you started, and a money-back guarantee in case the drink doesn’t work out for you.

To keep the beverage fresh, you’ll need to store it in the fridge, where it will last for up to 2 weeks. 

What Are the Key Ingredients of GoodBelly Probiotics?

Each flavor within the GoodBelly Juice Drinks range has slightly different ingredients, which gives every variety a unique yet equally delicious sweet taste. However, here are the ingredients I noticed that are common throughout all of the beverages: 

#1 Lactobacillus plantarum 299v

As I mentioned, the main ingredient and only probiotic strain within the GoodBelly probiotic supplement is Lactobacillus plantarum 229v. This strain is able to survive the digestion process as it is strong enough to withstand the acidic conditions of the stomach. 

Once it safely reaches the gut, it can reproduce and grow effectively to help you maintain a healthy digestive system, even in the presence of antibiotics that typically kill both good and bad bacteria.

#2 Organic fruit juices and purees

Depending on the drink’s main flavors, each contains a slightly different type of fruit juice or puree. Fruit juices provide a good hit of nutrients like vitamins A, C, potassium, and magnesium, which are essential for maintaining all-round good health. 

They’re also packed with antioxidants that can strengthen the immune system and lower your risk of chronic diseases, such as stroke, high blood pressure, heart disease, and some types of cancer. 

#3 Organic oat flour

Oat flour is typically used as a thickening agent within beverages like GoodBelly. It is a slow-release carbohydrate packed full of fiber, which helps keep you fuller for longer and reduces your risk of overeating. 

However, the inclusion of this ingredient means that all but two of the Juice Drinks aren’t gluten-free, meaning that not all of my patients can experience its benefits. 

What I Liked About GoodBelly Probiotics: 5 Key Benefits

After looking at the ingredients in GoodBelly Juice Drinks, reading the research behind each, and considering the packaging, I was pleased to discover several benefits. Here’s what I found.

#1 It’s convenient and easy to use 

Whereas many supplements are in capsule or pill form, GoodBelly probiotics come as a delicious fruity juice. This means you don’t have to worry about swallowing large capsules each day, which some of my patients struggle with. Instead, you can simply enjoy a glass of juice with breakfast or as a snack and stay hydrated throughout the day.

#2 You get a great dose of probiotics

As I mentioned, each serving of GoodBelly Juice Drink contains 10–20 billion CFUs per serving. Generally, the higher the CFU count, the more effective the supplement is, as it delivers more live microorganisms to the gut. However, extremely high counts of over 50 billion or more are generally unnecessary and don’t tend to improve the product’s effectiveness.

If you’re looking for an even higher dose of probiotics, I’d recommend giving GoodBelly’s concentrated Shots a go. Each flavor delivers 20–50 billion CFUs to your gut for just 30 calories per 80ml bottle.

#3 It helps with various digestive issues

Studies show that the LP229v probiotic strain, the main ingredient with GoodBelly Juice Drinks, stops E.coli from growing in the gut. This is a type of bacteria that causes bowel discomfort and occasional diarrhea. It also provides effective relief from the symptoms of IBS, particularly abdominal pain, bloating, and the feeling of incomplete rectal emptying.

Along with IBS, LP299v may potentially play a therapeutic role in other inflammatory bowel diseases, such as colitis, due to its anti-inflammatory properties. 

#4 It’s 100% organic

Containing fruits and oats that are grown without the use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) or synthetic chemicals, GoodBelly probiotics are completely organic. Research indicates that products made with organic ingredients contain more essential nutrients, including vitamins and antioxidants. 

Another reason I like seeing organic ingredients within probiotic juice drinks is that they aren’t treated with pesticides, which lowers your risk of ingesting chemicals and developing cancer.

#5 It’s available nationwide

Whether you like shopping online or prefer to see products in person before making a purchase, it’s easy to find GoodBelly Juice Drinks, as they are available in many grocery and health stores nationwide. 

I generally like recommending products that are accessible to all of my patients and can be easily picked up, and this probiotic drink definitely fits the criteria.

4 Downsides of GoodBelly Probiotics

Despite liking several aspects of GoodBelly probiotics, there are some drawbacks I noted from a medical point of view that are important to highlight. See my thoughts in more detail below:

#1 It contains a lot of sugar

Each drink contains anywhere from 8 to 19 grams of cane sugar, which is quite high for a 240ml serving compared to other probiotic supplements. Consuming too much sugar over an extended period can increase your risk of weight gain, high blood pressure, diabetes, heart attack, and stroke. 

However, this shouldn’t have too much of an impact if you stick to the once-a-day serving recommendation and eat a relatively low-sugar diet in general. You could also choose the no added sugar Raspberry Blackberry flavor, which is naturally sweet with berries.

#2 It’s easy to overconsume

While getting your daily dose of probiotics through a delicious-tasting drink can be an advantage, I also consider it to be a drawback. Many probiotic supplements typically come in capsule form, meaning you’re unlikely to exceed the recommended dosage. 

However, you may be tempted to drink more than the recommended 240ml serving size of GoodBelly Juice Drink, which can lead to your calorie and sugar consumption becoming pretty high. This can lead to weight gain and increase your risk of developing a host of chronic diseases and health complications.

#3 There’s a high chance of side effects

Some of the reported side effects from customers I came across after consuming GoodBelly include excess gas, increased bloating, and mild diarrhea. This is the same as many other probiotics, which can take some adjusting and should subside after a few days of consistent use.

If you are struggling with these symptoms, I’d suggest starting with a half dose for the first few days and gradually increasing the serving size as your digestive system begins to adjust to the new beneficial bacteria.

#4 Lack of research to confirm the effects

When it comes to probiotics like GoodBelly, I struggled to find much research to back their benefits for gut health. Studies on probiotic beverages are still in their early days, and one review of probiotic products including drinks found no evidence that they changed the composition of fecal bacteria.

However, the Lactobacillus strain is well-researched and is backed by plenty of human clinical studies. Different probiotic strains also work better for some of my patients than others due to variations in genes, diet, and lifestyle.

Pricing of GoodBelly Probiotics

At the time of writing this review, the GoodBelly probiotics online store was down for maintenance. However, the product was still available for purchase in Safeway and other local supermarkets, with the price for one 32oz carton ranging from $4.50 to $6.20.

You may be able to access greater deals once the official store is up and running again.

What Do Other Users Think About GoodBelly Probiotics?

When it comes to taking any new dietary supplement, I’d recommend reading a range of customer reviews from people of different ages, backgrounds, and with different needs. This will give you a well-rounded view of whether the probiotic is right for you. 

Here are some useful reviews that I came across online:

The wide flavor range has benefited the customer shown in the review above, as it means they’re unlikely to get bored of the Juice Drink flavor. 

As I mentioned, unfortunately, GoodBelly Juice Drinks are high in sugar, which won’t work for customers like this one who are keen to keep an eye on their sugar intake.

An element of the drink that I haven’t yet mentioned is highlighted in this review, which is the texture. It has a thick consistency that you may enjoy if you like yogurt but not if you’re looking for a thinner juice drink.

GoodBelly Probiotics vs. Other Probiotic Brands

FAQs

How I Tested GoodBelly Probiotics

As a medical professional, I test any new products in 4 particular categories to see if they are safe and effective enough for me to recommend. Here’s what I found when conducting this GoodBelly probiotics review:

Quality 7/10

High-quality supplements should be made with natural, well-researched ingredients and manufactured according to industry standards. GoodBelly Juice Drinks hit these criteria, but, unfortunately, most of the flavors do contain added sugar, which lowered my score.

Effectiveness 7/10

GoodBelly scored well in this category as it contains Lactobacillus plantarum 299v, one of the most studied probiotic strains for gut health. However, research on the effectiveness of probiotic drinks is still in its early stages, so it’s difficult for me to confirm whether the Juice Drinks will help every user with their digestive health needs.

Price 8/10

Compared to other probiotic supplements I’ve looked at, which are often expensive, GoodBelly Juice Drinks are relatively good value for money. However, at $4.50 to $6.20 per carton, they are quite pricey when it comes to probiotic drinks, especially considering the fact that it’s easy to fall into the trap of drinking more than the recommended serving size.

Brand reputation 7/10

Customer reviews for GoodBelly are generally positive, praising the brand for the quality and effectiveness of its products. However, there was a lawsuit brought against the company for making dangerously misleading claims about their products’ ability to promote overall wellness and digestive health.

Conclusion: Are GoodBelly Probiotics Worth the Hype?

If you’re looking for a fun and flavorful way to boost your gut health, I’d recommend giving GoodBelly probiotic Juice Drinks a go. They’re packed with plenty of active probiotic cultures, which are proven to offer many digestive and overall health benefits.

However, you should be careful with portion sizes, as the beverages contain a lot of sugar, and drinking too much over an extended period could contribute to obesity and other chronic diseases. Try the no added sugar Raspberry Blackberry flavor if you’re struggling to keep your sugar consumption down.

If you’re not completely sold on probiotic drinks, then there are plenty of other great probiotic supplements out there on the market for you to try. Just be sure to speak to a healthcare professional before integrating them into your daily routine.