Beverages with functional properties comparison of different functional beverages.

1. Beverages with functional properties
Introduction weight and fighting degenerative diseases
(Cock and Bechert, 2002).
Functional foods and beverages are the
foods containing health promoting Categories involved in functional
components that extend beyond traditional
nutrients. High consumption of fruit and
beverages
Functional beverages are drinks that have
vegetable is associated with a reduced risk
been enhanced with added ingredients to
of several chronic diseases such as cancer,
provide specific health benefits beyond
cardiovascular disease, coronary heart
general nutrition. Functional beverages
disease, and atherosclerosis. carotenoids
includes sports drinks, energy drinks,
and antioxidant vitamins present in certain
functional drinking yoghurt, bottled water, hot
compounds believed to be responsible for the
drinks, concentrates, tea, coffee fruits and
protective effects of a fruit-rich and
vegetable juices . Energy drinks and sports
vegetable-rich diet. However, there is
drinks are on high demand by the consumer.
growing evidence that other phytochemicals
(non-nutritive components) also contribute to
varying degrees to antioxidant activity of
individual fruits and vegetables (Gunduc and
El, 2003).
The beverage industry is trying to
target consumer consumption occasion.
Consumption habits are becoming more
diverse and sophisticated now a days.
Convenient and good-tasting products having
functional properties are now very successful.
Consumers are also looking for ways to
include more healthy food products in their
diets. Medical and scientific research
increasingly substantiates the relationship
between health and diet. A functional
beverage is only successful if the product
Source: Maddrell, (2008)
tastes good, is convenient to consume, has a
clear message and can be bought at an Sports and energy drink
affordable price. Functional beverages
Sports and energy drinks is the main category
having both heath benefits and good flavour
of functional beverages and is targeted by
have become increasingly popular in recent
specific groups includes seniors, adults,
years. Functional drinks appeals the
teenagers, children, and even toddlers.
consumer by their special properties like
Among all these consumer groups there is
boosting the immunity system, relieving
one thing common which had to be
stress, increasing vitality and stamina,
considered by product developers: “No one is
improving intestinal health, controlling
cholesterol and body

2. willing to sacrifice taste to health and nutrition Reduce the effects of lactose intolerance
benefits”. The sports and energy drinks and constipation
provides instant energy that’s why their
consumption is more than other soft drinks
(Cock and Bechert, 2002).
Functional dairy beverages
with added bioactive
components
Functional Brand Manufacturer Source of
dairy name bioactive
beverage
Low-fat milk Heart plus BP Foods Omega-3
Australia (fish oil)
Low-fat milk Dawn Dawn Dairy, Omega-3
Omega Ireland (fish oil)
Milk
Low-fat milk Farmers Dairy Omega-3
Functional dairy beverages Best Farmers,
Australia
(vegetable
oils)
Supermarket shelves in Europe, America and Low-fat milk Flora Pro- Unilever, UK Phytosterol
Japan carry a wide range of functional dairy Activ
beverages with probiotics, prebiotics, Yogurt drink Flora Unilever, UK Phytosterol
omega-3, plant sterols and many other ProActiv
components now a days. In the past couple
of years a large numbers of functional dairy Source: Sharma, (2005)
beverages containing a wide range of non- Functional bottled water
dairy bioactive additives have been launched Water is fortified with different vitamins to
in Europe, Japan and America. Tea is one make it functional water. Consumption of this
the most commonly used dairy beverage in fortified water increased dramatically in last
the world having ingredients which give
few decade in UK.
beneficial health impacts (Sharma, 2005).
Conclusion
There is a growing trend for fortification of
beverages with bioactive ingredients.
Functional beverages can satisfy the
growing need of market for health, taste and
Properties of functional dairy convenience.
beverages References
Cock P.D. and Bechert C.L., (2002). Erythritol.
Promote the reduction of blood cholesterol Functionality in noncaloric functional beverages. Pure
and Applied Chemistry, 74, 1281-89.
Prevent certain illnesses, such as Gunduc N. and El S.N., (2003). Assessing antioxidant
cardiovascular disease activities of phenolic compounds of common Turkish
food and drinks on in vitro low-density lipoprotein
Visual development in children oxidation. Journal of Food Science, 68, 2591-95.
Maddrell S., (2008). Functional
Improve immune reactions against allergies beverages. Euromonitor. URL:
www.functionalbeverages.org/c/document_library/get_file?folde
Reduce the risk of forming blood clots [28 April 2009]
Sharma R., (2005). Market trends and opportunities
Boost the immunity system for functional dairy beverages. The Australian Journal of
Dairy Technology, 60, 196-99.