Functional Beverages in the 21st Century

Abstract

Underlying the dawn of humanity was primarily the search for food and access to drinking water. Over the course of civilization, there has been a significant increase in drinking water quality. By the average of the nutritional standards, the daily water demand is 2.5 L (also including liquid products such as tea, coffee, or soup). However, it is worth noticing that the need is strictly individual for each person and depends on two major factors, namely, epidemiological (sex, age state of health, lifestyle, and diet) and environmental (humidity and air temperature). Currently, our diet is more and more often enriched with isotonic drinks, functional drinks, or drinks bearing the hallmarks of health-promoting products. As a result, manufacturing companies compete to present more interesting beverages with complex compositions. This article will discuss both the composition of functional beverages and their impact on health.

Assessment of the Physicochemical, Antioxidant, Microbial, and Sensory Attributes of Yogurt-Style Products Enriched with Probiotic-Fermented Aronia melanocarpa Berry Juice

“…Nowadays, promoting health and healthy habits are of major concern to consumers and functional foods are gaining increased recognition, popularity, and acceptance [ 1 , 2 ]. Specifically, fermented foods and their advantageous microbiota are anticipated to drive the growth of the functional food industry in the coming years [ 3 ].…”

Determination of Caffeine and Elements in Hypertonic, Isotonic, and Hypotonic Beverages

“…Energy drinks are beverages that contain compounds with stimulatory properties, such as caffeine, taurine, ginseng, and L-carnitine [5]. Energy drinks are marketed as products that impact the improvement of mental and physical energy levels, but such a fact is not proved yet [6]. Sports drinks are another kind of beverage that was created to swiftly restore fluids and electrolytes lost due to exerciseinduced perspiration, as well as supply carbohydrates to replenish glycogen stores, hence preserving adequate performance during exercise [4,6].…”

“…Energy drinks are marketed as products that impact the improvement of mental and physical energy levels, but such a fact is not proved yet [6]. Sports drinks are another kind of beverage that was created to swiftly restore fluids and electrolytes lost due to exerciseinduced perspiration, as well as supply carbohydrates to replenish glycogen stores, hence preserving adequate performance during exercise [4,6]. Sports drinks are usually classified into three types: isotonic, hypertonic, and hypotonic, with various amounts of electrolytes, and carbohydrates.…”

“…Sports drinks only benefit adults during intense exercise and training in high temperatures and humidity, not children and adolescents. A well-balanced diet and water are sufficient for most children and teenagers, and the consumption of sports drinks, energy drinks, or other caffeinated drinks is not necessary, as they often contain chemical substances such as caffeine or toxic metals [6,7,9].…”

“…The presence of such elements usually derive from the water used to produce these beverages, which can be polluted from human activities [13]. Furthermore, several additional metals, known as trace elements, can have adverse consequences when present in elevated amounts [6].…”