A functional beverage is a drink that offers added benefits to the consumer, apart from the regular nutrients that the body needs. From gut health to weight management, functional benerages provide a wide array of benefits that help support different lifestyles.
Types of Functional Beverages
From energy shots to beauty drinks, there are a variety of functional beverages that cater to different requirements.
Energy drinks and meal replacement drinks are very popular nowadays with some of them including functional ingredients good for vision, memory, and reflexes. Some meal replacement drinks also have added bioactive proteins that are useful for weight management too.
Wellness beverage is another functional drink that is gaining popularity these days. It includes L-theanine that calms the senses and adaptogenic mushrooms that help the system to cope with stress and anxiety.
Beauty beverages having functional ingredients such as antioxidants and collagens are also a trend to watch nowadays. These beverages nourish your hair, nails and skin from within and make you look prettier.
Nootropic beverages is another name worth mentioning here. This drink aid cognitive health, focussing specifically on memory and concentration. They contain a broad range of ingredients from phosphatidylserine to grape seed extract.
Main Ingredients Found in Functional Beverages
Functional beverages include ingredients that are beneficial for the body in some way. These include foods such as grapes and oats to spices such as cinnamon and turmeric.
Functional ingredients usually present in Functional beverages are:
- Minerals
- Vitamins
- Functional fibres
- Bioactive proteins
- Omega-3s
- Amino acids
- Caffeine
- Probiotics
- Mushrooms
- Fruits
- Vegetables
Benefits of Functional Beverages
Consumers prefer having functional beverages as they help them manage specific health issues in a convenient and refreshing way. People also prefer these beverages to give their body a little extra support without having to take any specific supplements.
Functional beverages are helpful in the following manner:
- Digestive health
- Sleep aid
- Immunity support
- Energy
- Relaxation
- Focus
- Cholesterol management
- Stress relief
- Beauty support
Summing up
With consumers becoming more aware of the need to take care of their physical and mental health, functional beverages are a convenient and simple choice for a healthy living.