Functional drinks are intended to offer specific health benefits such as hydration, energy, immune support and digestion support. As part of a rapidly evolving category of beverage innovations – often alcohol-free but packed with adaptogens or nootropics – functional beverages have quickly become a fast-growing trend in recent years.
Consumers prioritize hydration when selecting functional beverages, followed by immune boosting effects and mood-calming benefits. Read on to gain more insight into the latest innovations in functional drinks.
Hydration
Hydration is one of the main goals of functional beverages. These drinks typically contain electrolytes such as sodium, potassium, calcium and magnesium that work to balance body water levels while aiding nerve impulse transmission and supporting metabolism and temperature regulation.
As well as their nutritional content being high in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, supplements may offer other wellness benefits like digestive support, energy boost, stress relief and immune system function.
These beverages typically feature reduced caloric intake and natural flavors. Furthermore, they can be tailored to specific consumer needs through various formulations that contain various ingredients or probiotics (for improved gut health), energy drinks or both. Probiotics have become particularly popular among those interested in improving gut health while energy drinks offer enhanced athletic performance and mental clarity for many consumers.
Energy
Functional beverages offer consumers a boost of energy that helps them feel alert and focused. Ingredients such as caffeine, taurine, guarana and B vitamins stimulate the central nervous system to increase energy levels and reduce fatigue.
Probiotics are widely available in functional beverages that provide gut and immune support, while botanical extracts can aid digestion, increase immunity and relax the mind.
Functional drink industry is in constant development. From products designed to promote hydration, energy, focus or stress relief; new offerings boast on-trend flavors and natural ingredients while promising additional benefits beyond basic hydration – like collagen for skin health or CBD for relaxation and stress management. But these beverages should not be seen as panaceas; they should work alongside healthy lifestyle practices in tandem.
Immune Support
Immunity remains one of the top health priorities among consumers; in 2020 alone, 40% of global beverage launches with claimed health benefits included immunity claims as one of their benefits.
Immune-enhancing functional beverages offer many health advantages, ranging from increased energy levels to improving mental clarity. Options for these drinks can include enhanced waters containing vitamins, minerals, electrolytes and amino acids; or fermented tea blended with natural sweeteners that contain probiotics and antioxidants – two popular examples.
Kerry offers formulation and ingredient expertise to assist customers in developing innovative immune-health beverages that satisfy consumer demand while meeting complex regulatory environments. From supporting cognitive function to reducing inflammation or increasing heart health, Kerry can turn your functional drink idea into reality.
Digestive Support
Many consumers prioritize digestive health as a top priority, and functional beverages offer many advantages for supporting both it and immune health. Prebiotics and probiotics promote digestive and immune health while herbs like ginger, turmeric and ginseng offer anti-inflammatory benefits.
Other ingredients for digestive health may include soluble and insoluble fibers, vitamins, minerals, amino acids, omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids and functional drinks incorporating these ingredients that support digestive tract health as well as cognitive performance and mood enhancement – these drinks may even meet specific dietary preferences such as gluten-free or dairy-free.
Relaxation
As consumers search for ways to cope with work, family, and societal demands that increase stress levels, relaxation beverages have become an increasingly sought-after option for relieving anxiety and insomnia. Drinks designed to soothe nervous systems by lowering stress hormones, decreasing blood pressure, or encouraging pupil constriction have become popular functional beverage solutions.
Functional beverages for brain health have seen rapid expansion over the last five years, with 14% of global food and drink launches featuring brain health claims (Nutraingredients). Yet one key challenge facing functional beverages in this space is making their claims appear credible to consumers, especially if intended to reduce anxiety or make sleep easier. It is therefore imperative that they contain ingredients clinically tested to deliver on their promises, with selecting combinations making all the difference for users.
