New Lidl 69p drink reduces cholesterol and boosts gut health - in stores now

New Lidl 69p drink reduces cholesterol and boosts gut health - in stores now Shoppers can get their hands on the new drink in stores now with two flavours to choose from Lidl has launched a brand new drink that can be beneficial for IBS sufferers while keeping the heart healthy. The supermarket has revealed its first-ever high-fibre Freeway Sparkling Cans. The drink is available in all UK stores for 69p per can and comes in two flavours: passionfruit and mint, and ginger and lemon. Lidl says the new drink comes as searches for prebiotic drinks have rocketed by more than 5,000% over the past three months, proving Brits are becoming increasingly gut-savvy. The drink is packed with tapioca fibre and Jerusalem artichoke, both of which support regular digestion and gut health, and boost heart health. Lidl says the passionfruit and mint option is "bursting with tropical flavour", while the ginger and lemon is a blend of "zesty citrus with a warming ginger kick". According to Heart UK, eating more fibre is associated with a lower risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes and obesity. It says: "Studies have found that people who eat more fibre have a lower body weight, lower blood pressure and lower cholesterol – which is great for your heart health." Ensure our latest Lidl headlines always appear at the top of your Google Search by making us a Preferred Source. Click here to activate or add us as Preferred Source in your Google search settings. A spokesperson said: "Whether you’re reaching for a refreshing pick-me-up or simply fancy something a little different from your usual soft drink, these fibre-filled drinks are made for effortless sipping. Best enjoyed straight from the can, they’re perfect for on-the-go refreshment - from the morning commute to an afternoon reset." According to the NHS, most adults should aim for 30 grams of fibre per day, though daily targets can vary slightly by age and sex. For example, guidelines for women under 50 recommend about 25 grams daily, while men under 50 should aim for 38 grams. For adults over 50, the recommended intake drops slightly to 21 grams for women and 30 grams for men. Both soluble tapioca fibre and Jerusalem artichoke are good sources of prebiotic dietary fibre. They also lower glycemic responses and support your digestive system by feeding beneficial gut microbes. However, their unique chemical structures dictate how quickly they break down in your digestive tract and how well your body tolerates them. Why is fibre good for you? Dietary fibre is essential for your health because your body cannot digest it. Unlike fats, proteins, or simple carbohydrates, which are broken down and absorbed, fibre passes relatively intact through your stomach, small intestine, and colon. During this journey, it performs vital mechanical and biological tasks that regulate your digestion, support your metabolism, and protect you against chronic diseases. By regulating your bowel movements, reducing your risk of heart disease, and flattening your insulin responses, fibre serves as a fundamental pillar of daily metabolic and cardiovascular health. Fibre directly nourishes your gut microbiome. Because human enzymes cannot break it down, soluble fibre reaches your large intestine intact, where trillions of beneficial bacteria ferment it to grow and diversify. This fermentation process produces short-chain fatty acids like butyrate, which reduce inflammation and actively protect your colon lining against diseases like colorectal cancer. Because fibre expands in your stomach and slows down digestion, it triggers long-lasting satiety cues that make it a powerful, natural tool for sustainable weight management. Is Jerusalem artichoke is one of nature's richest sources of inulin, a highly fermentable type of soluble prebiotic fibre. Because the small intestine lacks the enzymes to break down inulin, it passes intact into the large intestine, where it serves as a premium food source for health-promoting gut bacteria such as Bifidobacteria. As these bacteria feast on the inulin, they produce short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) that nourish the gut lining and strengthen your immune system. The main drawback of this rapid fermentation process is that it can trap gas in the colon, which frequently triggers bloating, cramps, or digestive distress in sensitive individuals or those who consume large quantities. What about tapioca fibre? Soluble tapioca fibre, derived from the cassava root, is a more stable resistant starch and soluble fibre that undergoes a much slower fermentation process. Because it breaks down gradually in the colon, it provides a steady, sustained release of beneficial fatty acids without causing the sudden gas production associated with inulin. This makes it an ideal option for people with sensitive stomachs who still want to improve satiety and support their microbiome. While it is highly functional and frequently used as a low-calorie sweetener or texturiser in keto and health foods, it is important to remember that it is a processed fibre isolate rather than a vitamin-rich, whole-food source like the Jerusalem artichoke. How can a high-fibre diet help reduce cholesterol? A high-fibre diet reduces cholesterol by forcing your liver to clear circulating fats directly from your bloodstream. This heart-protective process is driven by soluble fibre, which absorbs water in your digestive tract, forming a thick, gel-like substance. As this sticky gel travels through your small intestine, it physically binds to bile acids, which are digestive fluids made by the liver using cholesterol as their raw building block. Normally, your body recycles 95% of these bile acids, but the fibre gel locks them away and escorts them entirely out of your body through your stool. Because your body has lost its bile supply, your liver is forced to go into emergency clearance mode to manufacture a fresh batch. To get the materials it needs, the liver aggressively removes LDL ('bad') cholesterol from your bloodstream, lowering your circulating cholesterol levels. When the remaining soluble fibre reaches your large intestine, beneficial gut bacteria ferment it, producing short-chain fatty acids such as propionate. Once absorbed, these fatty acids travel to your liver and act as a natural "off switch," preventing it from synthesising new cholesterol and providing a defence against heart disease.