Wellness beverages claim to promote immunity and aid digestion. Some boast antibacterial properties while others boast probiotics–beneficial bacteria found in our gut.
Consumers are seeking ways to alleviate stress, improve mood and decrease inflammation – here are drinks that provide these solutions.
Water
Beverages are an essential component of a balanced diet, and there are countless options on the market that cater to various wellness needs. From immune-enhancing vitamin C juices to refreshing coconut water drinks, wellness beverages can offer numerous health benefits while satisfying taste preferences.
Innova’s latest consumer study indicates that consumers value wellbeing above all other values when it comes to eating, and this trend has extended into beverage products. Functional beverages aimed at mood and holistic wellness have gained increasing appeal, especially relaxation/relaxation beverages such as Fight Droplet (an adaptogenic blend of ashwagandha, white peach, lemon verbena and moringa) and Sleep Aid by PepsiCo (containing melatonin, L-theanine and magnesium).
When selecting a wellness drink, look for natural ingredients and an approach that takes an integrative approach to health. Avoid drinks boasting extreme claims or using trendy ingredients which have limited scientific support or only offer short-term benefits.
Another popular beverage category is prebiotic-rich beverages, which provide probiotics and other beneficial bacteria to support digestive health. Drinks like these offer an easy way to increase daily probiotic intake with flavors ranging from fruity citrus to bubbly ginger ale available to meet every preference.
Functional beauty beverages (also called “ingestible beauty”) contain nutrients believed to promote hair, skin and nail health, such as biotin, collagen, fish oil, antioxidants and vitamins A, C and E. Available as ready-to-drink bottles or tablets like Skin Te by Hum which combines collagen with herbs and antioxidants in sparkling water formulation, or tea options such as Kombucha and Matcha powders which can be mixed in hot or cold beverages, they claim that functional beauty beverages provide all-around nourishment that benefits hair, skin and nail health benefits.
Though these drinks have become more and more popular, water remains essential to health. Avoid overindulgence in functional drinks which contain high levels of sugar or caffeine as these could contribute to weight gain or chronic diseases; excessive consumption can also increase heart disease risk and other serious medical conditions.
Kombucha
Kombucha, an acidic sweet-and-sour drink made of tea, is touted to alleviate or prevent everything from digestive issues and arthritis to high blood pressure and cancer – but its efficacy remains debatable. Furthermore, much evidence to back these claims remains lacking.
Fermented drinks contain probiotics – bacteria that promote healthy gut microbiomes – along with antimicrobial agents such as glucuronic and acetic acids to combat harmful bacteria growth, B vitamins, and organic compounds with antioxidant properties.
But although kombucha can aid digestion, if you suffer from conditions like IBS or irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), it’s wise to speak to your physician first before drinking it. Also be mindful that it contains sugar which should only be consumed moderately as too much sugar may lead to weight gain, heart disease risk increases and high blood sugar and triglyceride levels.
Circulation recently published a study which linked regular consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages with obesity, type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. While kombucha tends to contain less added sugars than most sodas do for flavoring purposes, some brands contain large amounts of added sweeteners for their products’ flavouring purposes – those on restrictive diets will want to choose lower-sugar varieties or try homemade versions without added sweeteners for maximum effectiveness.
Rat studies have demonstrated the positive benefits of Kombucha to improve two markers of cardiovascular disease — LDL cholesterol and HDL cholesterol — while protecting against oxidative damage. Furthermore, test tube studies reveal it contains tea polyphenols and acetic acid which suppress gene mutation and cancer cell proliferation; yet further research needs to be completed before we know if these effects occur in people.
