Beverages- the perfect carrier for functional benefits

CONSUMERS have become more conscious about their diet during the last years. This is partly due to the significant increase of nutrition-related diseases and the awareness that nutrition can have a major impact on health and well-being, not only now but also for later in life. With beverages being regularly consumed and in significant volumes, they are ideal media to provide the body with important nutrients, vitamins and minerals, and they also present a perfect carrier for other functional ingredients. A broad range of beverages ranging from pure water, lemonades and juices to sports drinks and others can be seen in the market, but a number contain large amounts sugar and are very high in calories. If a health benefit is offered using a beverage as a carrier, then the nutrient profile has to be taken into account. Beverages that are consumed regularly and in higher volumes should be low in energy and without added sugar. In a more concentrated form, beverages can be positioned as a "healthy shot" as for instance smoothies are. These concentrated fruit products are positioned as a convenient alternative to real fruit. The consumer is interested in products that make it easy for him to actively support his health. Such products need to fulfil certain requirements: They must enable regular consumption without having to change eating and drinking habits. They must be innovative to differentiate them from other concepts. The added value has to be clear and understandable for the consumer. The product has to match the requirements on taste and texture. Beverages have been typical examples for functional food for a long time. First-generation products have primarily been enriched with vitamins and minerals, such as the well-known ACE products. For some time, second-generation functional beverages with bioactive ingredients have been finding their place on the shelves. These products are consumed for their health benefits, which promote specific body functions. The main trends are: Gut health Digestive and immune system health Mental performance + cognitive function Bone health Heart health Weight Control Beauty Energy Sport and recovery A successful product has to fulfil as many consumer demands as possible, and must be supplied in an attractive and convenient way to facilitate regular consumption. Products combining great taste, health and convenience address all the important aspects. In order to develop such products, suitable ingredients need to be available. Inulin and oligofructose are natural ingredients that perfectly fit with these demands. They can help to develop new products that can offer most of these benefits. The prebiotic effect of these soluble fibres has been proven in scientific studies. Regular uptake of only a few grams daily, an amount that can easily be incorporated into drinks, can significantly improve gut health - 80 per cent of the body's natural defences are located in the gut. Stress, a hectic lifestyle and an unbalanced diet negatively impact the balance of the gut flora. Providing enough calcium in the diet is essential for the development of strong bones. At the same time it is important to make sure that the calcium can be taken up from the diet. Unfortunately the human body uses the calcium inefficiently; only around 30 per cent is taken up whereas the main part goes unused. Calcium enrichment does not necessarily lead to the targeted effects, as only a very small part of the additional calcium will be taken up. It has been shown that a regular dose of 8g Orafti®Synergy1 significantly improves calcium absorption from the diet, and an easy and efficient way to support bone health: Improved digestive system + calcium from the diet → stronger bones Studies also indicate a positive impact of oligofructNike Air Max 270