The human enteric nervous system consists of two thin layers of over 100 million nerve cells in our gastrointestinal tract. It’s often referred to as our “second brain,” and is responsible for foundational links between digestion, mood, health, cognitive function, and more (see “The Brain-Gut Connection” from Johns Hopkins Medicine).
Knowledge about the need to keep our “second brain” healthy and functioning in top form is starting to spread. Innova Market Insights identified gut health as one of its top trends for 2026 (see Innova’s “Gut Health Trends” page for complete details). In its report, Innova notes:
Fermented dairy products, such as yogurt or kefir, are ideal vehicles to support gut health. But while yogurt and kefir are both fermented, probiotic foods, they have some notable differences. As Lifeway Foods, America’s leading kefir supplier, notes, kefir contains more than double the probiotics of yogurt, and the longer fermentation period for kefir makes it up to 99% lactose-free, among other differences (see “Kefir vs. Yogurt: Which One is Healthier?”).
Kefir is most commonly a beverage, and Lifeway Foods offers a wide range of kefir drinks. The company also produces kefir butter and the ProBugs line of probiotic kefir pouches for kids. Lifeway’s fermented dairy products are now sold across the U.S., Mexico, Ireland, South Africa, United Arab Emirates, and France.
Lifeway recently expanded into a targeted area of nutrition with its Probiotic Smoothie + Collagen line, made with its kefir cultures, available in four varieties: Matcha Latte, Berry Blast, Tropical Fruit, and Plain. The probiotic kefir smoothies are boosted with 5g of collagen peptides, along with 13g of protein, and a lactase enzyme to eliminate any remaining lactose after culturing.
Prepared Foods recently spoke with Julie Smolyansky, CEO, Lifeway Foods, to learn about its new Probiotic Smoothie line, as well as the synergies between gut health and the “beauty from within” opportunity. The following is an edited version of this conversation.
Prepared Foods: Is consumer awareness around gut health changing in the U.S.?
Julie Smolyansky: Gut health has moved from niche to mainstream conversations. If you look at any mainstream media or social media, it is a trending topic. Google searches are up dramatically for gut health, and consumers are understanding that the microbiome is connected to not just digestion, but your immune system, mood, energy, bone health, skin health, and overall well-being.
It’s exciting to see how research is helping bring the “food as medicine” movement to more consumers, helping terms like probiotics, fermented foods, and the “gut-brain axis” become part of everyday vocabulary.
Lifeway has been leading that effort for nearly 40 years now. We were one of the first companies to ever write “probiotic” on our label. That’s how cutting-edge and ahead of the curve we’ve been. So it’s really exciting to see this broader culture embracing gut health and kefir. And it’s been at the heart of what we stand for at Lifeway.
Prepared Foods: Why is the beverage category a good option for healthy, nutritionally functional products?
Julie Smolyansky: Beverages fit seamlessly into consumers’ daily routines. Beverages are convenient. They are portable. They’re easy to enjoy at breakfast, after a workout, other meal occasions as a snack, or as an ingredient in a smoothie. It makes the category an ideal delivery system for various functional needs.
It’s important to offer more than convenience. The product has to taste good … if it’s not delicious, people will not keep coming back to it.
Prepared Foods: What is the connection between gut health and beauty from within?
Julie Smolyansky: We are seeing emerging research show that gut health and skin health are connected through the “gut-skin axis.” Consumers have been adding collagen to their smoothies with our products for years. The intersection between beauty and “food as medicine” is on fire. Margot Robbie, on the set of “Barbie,” was using kefir to help keep her skin glowing and acne-free. It just feels like a natural fit. I’ve talked to so many dermatologists and skin experts who’ve said the research is really strong around collagen and its support for skin elasticity.
Prepared Foods: Why did you decide to include a “lactose-free” designation on the label for the new Probiotic Smoothie + Collagen line?
Julie Smolyansky: As consumers come back to dairy, many are looking for lactose-free. Kefir is already essentially lactose-free. The probiotics consume the lactose in the milk as their food, so even though most people who are lactose-intolerant can still drink Lifeway without any problems, articulating that it’s lactose-free on the label is just another way to validate and reinforce that message.
Prepared Foods: Can health-focused products with additive benefits, targeted toward specific consumer demographics, find widespread consumer resonance in the United States today?
Julie Smolyansky: More consumers have specific needs that they’re looking for in a product. Somebody is working out and trying to build more muscle. They read that creatine is important for their mental, gut, and bone health. Another person, perhaps a teenager, is looking for collagen for better skin health. An aging adult might want collagen, as well, because it helps their bone health and skin elasticity. We all have these like various boxes that we’re trying to check.
Prepared Foods: Which other new products are newly available from Lifeway Foods?
Julie Smolyansky: Muscle Mates, which is our new creatine line, is making its way across the country at Walmart and other stores. We also just recently launched Kefir Butter, a European-style churned butter with probiotics. We see more Americans embracing real butter, real fat, and whole milk. Another expanded line that we recently launched with new flavors is Whole Milk Kefir. People love those full-fat, creamy, delicious products. Finally, our Farmer Cheese line, even though it’s a 40-year-old legacy, one of our first products, is finally coming into the mainstream.