The wellness drinks industry is booming. From kombucha to kefir and protein drinks, our supermarket shelves are packed with a myriad of drinks that are marketed to enhance our health and wellbeing.
And our thirst is only growing – 22,000 of us searched for protein shakes every month this year on average, that’s compared to 14,000 three years ago. It’s a similar story with wellness drinks, which has gone from 50 searches a month to 210 in three years.
Drinks that support our gut health are a popular choice with kefir and kombucha offering probiotics, meanwhile the label “high in protein” now seems to feature on every drink packaging. Wellness shots are another trend as is CBD, while juices (I’m looking at M&S’s carrot juice) remain a favourite.
But with any wellness product, it pays to be sceptical – especially as they don’t always come cheap. So to slim down the choices, I’ve tested a range of supermarket wellness drinks and consulted nutrionists to find out what is really worth buying.
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The best supermarket wellness drinks for 2026 are:
- Best value kefir – Aldi Brooklea natural kefir drink: £2.09, Aldi.co.uk
- Best protein kefir – Bio&Me protein kefir cocoa: £2, Sainsburys.co.uk
- Best kombucha – Remedy kombucha ginger lemon: £5.50, Sainsburys.co.uk
- Best probiotic drink – Biomel natural coconut: £2.90, Sainsbury.co.uk
- Best protein shot – M&S high protein shot: £2, Ocado.com
Read more: 11 best gut health drinks, tested by experts
Aldi Brooklea natural kefir drink
Rating: 5/5
Best: value supermarket kefir
Why we love it
- Affordable
- Good for gut health
- Easy to drink
We’ve reviewed the leading kefir brands in our guide to the best gut health drinks, but if you’re after a budget option from the supermarket, Aldi’s Brooklea natural kefir drink is worth a mention.
At £2.09 for a 750ml bottle, it offers better value compared with many branded alternatives like Biotiful. The flavour is also mild and less tangy than some premium kefirs I’ve tried, making it easy to drink, even if you're new to kefir. It has a smooth, creamy texture without being overly thick, so it works well on its own, used in yoghurt bowls or blended into smoothies.
On its health qualities, certified dietitian Hazel Shore, says “Kefir gets its fizz and tang from kefir grains, which are clusters of live bacteria and yeast that ferment milk into a probiotic-rich drink. Live cultures may help boost gut microbial diversity, though not all kefir is the same. The type and amount vary by brand, so it's worth checking the label for "live cultures.” Fortunately, Aldi’s bottle hits this brief.
“Many kefirs also pack vitamin B12, which keeps your nerves firing and powers energy metabolism, plus calcium for healthy bones. Levels of both vary by brand and milk type, so check the label to know what's in your bottle.” In the case of Aldi’s kefir, 100g provides 0.21mcg of vitamin B12 and 155mg of calcium.
Key specifications
Buy now £2.09, Aldi.co.uk
Bio&Me protein kefir cocoa
Rating: 5/5
Best: supermarket kefir protein drink
Why we love it
- High in fibre and protein
- High quality taste
- Short, recognisable ingredient list
Take note
- Be wary of sugar content
- Expensive
New from the brand founded by gut health scientist and registered dietitian Dr. Megan Rossi, Bio & Me has added a gut health twist to protein drinks, which so often contain unwanted ingredients like thickeners and emulsifiers. This drink on the other hand has a short and recognisable ingredient list including cow’s milk fermented with 18 different cultures to help boost gut microbial diversity, as well as banana puree, milk protein, fibres and dates.
If you’re used to the taste of kefir, this is easy to get on board with as the fermented milk makes up the main flavour with the gentle cocoa hit giving it a richness. Using natural sources, the drink has 16g of protein as well as 5.3g of fibre per 280ml serving, plus there’s no added sugar – though you should note there’s 19g of naturally occurring sugars per serving.
Key specifications
Buy now £2, Sainsbury.co.uk
Remedy kombucha
Rating: 4.5/5
Best: supermarket kombucha
Why we love it
- Tasty flavours
- Sugar free
- Can be stored out the fridge
Take note
- Swaps sugar for sweeteners
We’ve reviewed many more kombuchas in our guide to the best gut health drinks, but the category deserves a mention if we’re talking supermarket wellness drinks. Founded in Melbourne, Australia, Remedy has become the best selling kombucha brand in the UK. Its cans offer the best value for money and are widely stocked in supermarkets.
Its flavours include raspberry lemonade, wild berry, mango, peach, cherry plum and, my favourite, ginger lemon. Refreshing and delicate, the ginger flavour is subtly warming and sweet. Remedy’s long-aged fermentation removes all sugar from the drink but adds organic stevia and organic erythritol (fermented glucose), which is great if you’re avoiding sugar in your drinks.
Kombucha purists might want a drink like Equinox’s (£2.40, Waitrose.com) which uses a traditional process that keeps the sugar in. Remedy’s process means it has a long shelf life and can be stored out of the fridge which is a bonus if you’re buying in bulk.
On the health qualities of kombucha, Shore commented: “The live cultures interest people most, but the human research is still early, with small, short trials. I'd call it a drink some people enjoy rather than one with proven effects. Where it earns its place is as a swap. If you're drinking sugary soft drinks, it's worth trying, though sugar content varies.”
She notes that as most kombucha is unpasteurised, it still contains a small amount of alcohol from the fermentation. Therefore she doesn’t recommend drinking it if you're pregnant, or your immune system is compromised. “It's also acidic, so drink it with a meal rather than sipping it all afternoon.”
Key specifications
Buy now £4.5, Sainsburys.co.uk
Biomel natural coconut
Rating: 4.5/5
Best: supermarket vegan probiotic drink
Why we love it
- Refreshing coconut taste
- Packed with live cultures
- Vegan
Take note
- Expensive
If you're looking for a dairy-free alternative to kefir, Biomel’s natural coconut drink is a refreshing option. With a coconut milk base, it's packed with billions of live cultures that promote gut health, and is fortified with vitamins B6 and D that support the immune system.
Flavour-wise the coconut is light and subtly tropical without being overpowering. The consistency is much thinner than traditional kefir, so don't expect a thick, creamy texture – it's quite watery, which makes it easy to drink on its own or use in recipes. I tried adding it to my coffee to make an iced latte, and it worked surprisingly well, adding a subtle coconut flavour without making the drink feel heavy.
Key specifications
Buy now £2.9, Sainsburys.co.uk
M&S high protein shot
Rating: 4.5/5
Best: supermarket protein shot
Why we love it
- Nice cocoa flavour that makes it taste high quality
- Whole food and small ingredient list
- Contains magnesium
Take note
- Very expensive for size
- Texture is a little cloying
If you want a quick protein boost without committing to a full-sized shake, the M&S high protein shot is a good option. The compact bottle delivers 10g of protein for relatively few calories, making it easy to fit into a busy day or enjoy after a workout.
Unlike many ready-to-drink protein products, it's not overly sweet. Instead, it has a rich cocoa flavour that gives it a more premium feel, while the short, whole food-focused ingredient list is a refreshing change from the lengthy formulations often found in this category.
Dietitian Shore agrees as she flags the added sugar sometimes found in these wellness shots. “It's easy to miss because these shots are marketed as health products, but many are bulked out with apple or orange juice to make the sharp ingredients palatable, so you're often paying for a shot of sugar as much as anything else.”
I also like that it has a dose of magnesium, which helps to support normal muscle function and recovery.
The only downside is the texture, which is slightly cloying despite the small serving size. Even so, if you value simple ingredients and a convenient protein hit over a dessert-like shake, this is a strong contender.
Key specifications
Buy now £2, Ocado.com
Biotiful gut health strawberry kefir high protein drink
Rating: 4/5
Best: fruity supermarket protein drink
Why we love it
- Gut health friendly protein drink
- 20g of protein per drink
- Kefir taste isn't too strong
Take note
- Be cautious of the amount of sugar
- Expensive
If you're looking for a protein shake with an added gut health boost, this Biotiful drink is a convenient option. The thick, creamy texture makes it feel more substantial than a traditional kefir or protein shake, while the strawberry flavour is sweet and nostalgic, reminiscent of a Petit Filous yoghurt.
The kefir itself takes a back seat, with very little of the characteristic tang you'd expect from a fermented drink, but it still contains those gut microbiome-loving bacteria. Instead, it drinks more like a high-protein yoghurt beverage, making it a good choice for those who aren't keen on the stronger flavour of traditional kefir.
A bottle delivers 20g of protein, which offers the amino acids needed for the body “to repair and grow muscle, as well as maintain and build tissue more generally,” says Shore. “Protein also helps you feel fuller for longer, which can support healthy eating patterns by reducing hunger between meals.”
The main drawback is the sugar content. At 23g per 330ml bottle, it's considerably sweeter than plain kefir, so while it's a convenient way to increase your protein intake and support gut health, it's one to enjoy in moderation rather than as an everyday health drink.
Key specifications
Buy now £2, Sainsburys.co.uk
M&S pop marks lemon and lime
Rating: 4/5
Best: supermarket soda
Why we love it
- Recognisable ingredients
- Low sugar
- High in fibre
For a refreshing soft drink with added functional benefits, M&S’s pop marks lemon & lime is an impressive option. Lightly sparkling and crisp, it has a zesty citrus flavour, with the lime standing out for a fresh, tangy finish.
It's reminiscent of Poppi, making it a good alternative if you're looking for a prebiotic-style fizzy drink from a supermarket own brand. Each can provides more than 7g of fibre alongside a low sugar content, making it an easy swap for traditional soft drinks.
The ingredient list is also refreshingly straightforward, relying on recognisable ingredients rather than a long list of additives. If you're after a light, everyday fizzy drink with a gut health twist, this is one worth stocking in the fridge.
Key specifications
Buy now £4.75, Ocado.com
Optimum Nutrition high protein shake chocolate
Rating: 3.5/5
Best: supermarket high protein drink
Why we love it
- Thinner consistency than kefir protein drinks
- Smaller ingredient list than other supermarket protein drinks
- 25g protein per drink
Take note
- Too sweet for me
- More unrecognisable ingredients than kefir protein drinks
- Expensive
I generally steer clear of protein shakes on supermarket shelves, which often contain a long list of stabilisers and additives, but this one from Optimum Nutrition has a shorter ingredient list than most.
The consistency is thinner than the kefir drinks in this list and the chocolate flavour is good, although I found it a tad too sweet. While it provides a solid 25g of protein per drink, which helps to keep you satiated and repair and grow muscle, you should note it uses sucralose to sweeten the shake. This has been shown to cause changes in the gut microbiome, though the evidence is still small. Plus it contains stabilisers like carrageenan which might cause insulin sensitivity in those suceptible, though again the evidence needs to be developed.
Key specifications
Buy now £2.75, Sainsbury.co.uk
What are the best supermarket wellness drinks?
From protein shakes, kefir, kombucha, shots and sodas – I tested a range of drinks that you can buy from supermarket shelves. I liked Remedy’s kombucha for its refreshing flavours, excellent value and sugar-free fermentation, while Biomel impressed me with its vegan probiotic formula. If you’re reaching for a shake, I’d opt for Bio&Me’s protein kefir drinks with their short ingredient list, and high protein and fibre. In the end though, the simple and affordable kefir from Aldi is my overall choice for your wellness.
How I tested wellness drinks
When assessing each drink I looked at the following factors:
Why you can trust IndyBest reviews
Alice Reynolds is a writer and production journalist at IndyBest. As someone interested in the world of wellness, she has previously reviewed the best creatine supplements and the best apple cider vinegar drinks.
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