Prebiotic sodas promise to boost your gut health. Here's what to eat instead

You may have seen them stacked up in your grocery store or promoted on your social media feeds: carbonated prebiotic sodas with names like Olipop, Poppi and Vive Organic that promise to boost your fiber intake – and your health – by feeding the trillions of microorganisms that live in your gut.

Scientists say these drinks aren't exactly a magic elixir for your gut (more on that soon), but the marketers are right about one thing: Gut microbes play a critical role in health, and feeding them the fiber they love is a smart move.

In fact, nutrition researchers can't get enough of this nutrient.

"There's been so much research that has shown that if you consume more fiber, you are healthier," says , an associate professor of nutrition at the University of Illinois, and self-proclaimed