Functional foods promise to support skin health, the immune system and the microbiome, among other benefits. Kefir and fermented probiotic products supplier Lifeway Foods Inc. released its latest functional beverage, Probiotic Smoothie + Collagen made with kefir cultures. The Matcha Latte, Berry Blast, Tropical Fruit and Plain flavored beverages provide 5g of collagen in each serving, and the product is lactose-free. According to research by Future Market Insights Inc., consumer demand for lactose-free dairy products is predicted to grow rapidly over the next five years.
Lifeway Foods has been developing this product since 2021 and will begin shipping in December.
“The benefits of kefir have been one of the best-kept secrets in the beauty, wellness and celebrity industries for years,” said Julie Smolyansky, president and CEO of Lifeway Foods. “The beauty hack can be credited to the ancient Egyptians, Cleopatra used to bathe in kefir to help soothe and smooth her skin. The trend has since evolved for celebrities, where they have seen a larger impact by consuming the kefir. Margot Robbie worked with skin expert, Jasmina Vico, on the Barbie movie to achieve her natural movie star glow on air. Once it went viral that Vico recommends fermented foods, like kefir, as a key component in skincare routines, we tracked a surge of consumer interest for kefir's holistic benefits and knew the market was ready for our Probiotic Smoothie + Collagen.”
