Functional Beverages: Why are they important?
Whether it’s the hydration value of water or the vitamin C content of pomegranate juice, most drinks have an inherent functionality of some sort. Functional beverages, however, are nonalcoholic drinks known to use certain ingredients to help maintain certain body functions in the normal range – for example, target functions in the body or mind to achieve an improved state of health and well-being and help the immune system mental performance.
EXAMPLES OF FUNCTIONAL DRINKS
- Sports drinks: containing combinations of characterizing ingredients like taurine, caffeine, vitamins, carbohydrates, and other substances with nutritional or enhanced physiological effects.
- Minerals
- Energy drinks
- Herbal teas
- Botanical
- Probiotics (contains minimal spur of alcohol)
- Functional Water: H2O with added altered chemicals like oxygen, hydrogen, caffeine, or herbs bring health benefits with target functions.
- Soy beverages
- Fruit drinks with vitamin additives
- Milk products with added vitamin D
- Dietary fibers
- Sports drinks: increasingly add carbohydrates in the form of sugar, low-calorie sweeteners, and sometimes contain vitamin B to boost energy.
Some functional drinks contain synthetic nutrients or artificial additives such as stimulants; however, Exeer beverages contain 100% natural plant-based botanical ingredients without artificial ingredients.
Image Credit: Drazen Zigic | Getty Images/iStockphoto
