It contains live bacteria (Lactobacillus casei Shirota) which may support gut health. But it's NOVA 4 with 11.5g sugar per tiny bottle. Consider kefir (NOVA 1-2) as a less processed probiotic alternative.

What is the glycemic index of yakult?

Yakult has a glycemic index of 46, which is classified as Low GI. Yakult has a medium GI of around 46. Despite containing sugar, the small serving size (65ml) means the glycemic load is low.

Glucose: MediumNOVA 4

How Many Calories for Yakult?

One Yakult Original bottle (65ml) has 50 calories with 11.5g of sugar. Yakult Balance has 32 calories with 6.5g of sugar. Both are NOVA 4 — skimmed milk powder, sugar, and flavouring.

Calories by preparation

Method	Calories	Protein	Fat	Carbs	NOVA
Yakult Original (1 bottle, 65ml)Small bottle, big sugar hit — 11.5g in 65ml	50	0.8g	0.1g	11.5g	4
Yakult Balance (1 bottle, 65ml)36% fewer calories but still NOVA 4	32	0.8g	0.1g	6.5g	4

Nutrition per 100g

Nutrient	Per 100g	Per serving
Energy	53.5 kcal / 224 kJ	53.5 kcal
Protein	1.3g	1.3g
Carbohydrates	14.4g	14.4g
of which sugars	0g	—
Fat	0g	0g
of which saturated	0g	—
Fibre	0g	—
Salt	0g	—

Serving size: 1 bottle (65ml) · Source: Tesco product page, October 2025

Glucose impact

Glycemic Index

Medium

Glucose risk

11.5g of sugar (glucose-fructose syrup + sucrose) in just 65ml. Per bottle it's a quick sugar spike, though the tiny volume limits total impact.

Processing level

NOVA 4 (ultra-processed)

Yakult contains water, skimmed milk powder, glucose-fructose syrup, sugar, and flavouring. Despite the probiotic health claims, the formulation is ultra-processed.

Yakult at Tesco

Source: Tesco product page, October 2025

Yakult Original 8 X 65Ml

£3.7*

Yakult Balance 8 X 65Ml

£3.7*

*Prices were correct at the time of collection and may have since changed. Check Tesco.com for current pricing.

What to watch for when shopping

Yakult is NOVA 4 due to added sugar, flavourings, and skimmed milk powder. A single 65ml bottle has 50 kcal with 8.8g of sugar - that is 35% sugar by weight. Yakult Light has 28 kcal per bottle but uses artificial sweeteners. For probiotic benefits without the sugar, plain kefir or natural yogurt with live cultures (NOVA 1) is a better choice.

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