The Rise of Functional Beverages: Do They Enhance Performance?

The short answer is: it depends. Functional beverages can enhance your health in many different ways.

“In what ways?” you might ask. Functional beverages can help support our emotional, physical, and mental well-being.

For example, research has shown that functional beverages — like energy shots — can enhance mood and cognition when consumed in moderation.

So, the truth is that not all functional beverages enhance daily performance, but many do. Curious to know why?

Ola maté here: we’re here to help give you the low down on what makes functional beverages conducive for improved daily physical, mental, and emotional performance.

In this article, we’ll cover the gamut of beverage-related topics to help you better understand what makes a beverage, well, functional, so you can tackle life head-on and with vitality.

In this quick read, we’ll cover:

• The definition of “functional” with regard to functional beverages and drinks

• The benefits of functional beverages

• Common ingredients found in functional beverages that support daily performance

• Five common types of functional drinks you can find in your local grocery store

• The health benefits of yerba maté-infused functional beverages (because how could we not?)

• What we expect from the future of functional beverages

What exactly are functional beverages?

Before we dive into our foray into functional beverages, we need a working definition.

A functional beverage is a drink that provides a beneficial effect beyond the essential nutrients the body needs. Functional drinks can therefore include a variety of health and wellness benefits, such as increased energy, greater mental focus, and increased calm.

They derive their benefits from functional ingredients from adaptogens, caffeine, probiotics, and bioactive components.

But before we dive into ingredients, let’s explore all the different types of functional drinks.

5 Common types of functional drinks

Functional beverages come in five different types:

1. Drinks that give you energy

2. Drinks that boost mental focus and clarity

3. Drinks that promote physical recovery

4. Drinks that support better sleep and relaxation

5. Drinks that promote digestion and gut health

Physical, emotional, and mental benefits abound with each drink type. Let’s explore the ingredients and benefits associated with each one in greater detail.

1. Functional drinks that give you energy

Many functional energy drinks come in still and sparkling, ready-to-drink cans. Many energy drinks include functional ingredients for vision, memory, focus, reflexes, fitness recovery, and much more.

The most functional and healthy energy drinks on the market include drinks without artificial sweeteners and suspicious stimulants. Many energy drinks like soda and bottled coffee drinks (like milk and cream-heavy lattés and espressos) include synthetic caffeine made from urea and chloroacetic acid instead of from plant-based ingredients like green tea extract or yerba maté.

As such, these types of drinks may give you a boost of energy, but with the jitters or a comedown crash. Especially with lattés, espressos, and other dairy and sugar-heavy synthetic energy drinks, the science suggests that these drinks may not be very functional for your health in the long run.

For example, research suggests that consuming excess amounts of sugar over a long period of time increases the risk of obesity and diabetes and can lead to insulin resistance because of the inhibition of certain cells in the pancreas that secrete insulin. The result is increased blood glucose levels that can lead to conditions like diabetes.

Nevertheless, a functional energy drink like yerba maté-infused sparkling green tea and other plant-based beverages may act as a healthy complement to a balanced diet and lifestyle that includes whole-based foods, sleep, activities that relieve stress and promote relaxation, and regular exercise.

In other words, drinking these beverages can support overall well-being.

2. Functional beverages that support better relaxation

Speaking of sleep and other activities for relaxation, functional drinks can also help support relaxation for a more stress-free lifestyle. For example, many beverages that support general wellness and stress relief include beverages that contain adaptogenic ingredients like ashwagandha, lion’s mane mushroom, or L-theanine.

Studies show that adaptogens like lion’s mane and ashwagandha, two potent Ayurvedic herbs that aid in stress relief, include anti-inflammatory properties that can help with conditions like anxiety and depression. What’s more, functional energy drinks that include adaptogens can help with modulating the effects of caffeine on mood and cognition, according to a recent National Library of Medicine study.

Furthermore, lion’s mane goes great in a cup of black coffee in the morning, and it can even be taken on the go in a ready-to-drink sparkling tea.

3. Functional drinks that boost mental focus and clarity

Adjacent to functional beverages that promote relaxation are those that boost mental clarity and focus. The two are close cousins of the same proverbial functional beverage tree.

Nootropic beverages are those that aim to boost cognitive functioning. These functional beverages often include green tea extract, mushrooms like lion’s mane mushroom and reishi, and ginkgo biloba, among other functional ingredients that help improve mental clarity, decrease stress, and balance energy levels for greater focus and mental clarity.

The key is finding a beverage and a time to sip it that works with your busy schedule. While the drink alone isn’t a cure, paired with the right lifestyle supports, functional drinks that include key ingredients that promote mental focus and clarity can work wonders for well-being.

4. Functional drinks that promote physical fitness

For health-conscious consumers looking to boost athletic performance, low-calorie, plant-based energy drinks that include phytochemicals, vitamins, and natural ingredients have become more popular for weight management and muscle recovery.

Research suggests that consuming vitamin-laden energy drinks may be associated with reduced muscle fatigue after exercise. Nevertheless, more research is needed to confirm the extent to which vitamin-laden energy drinks can support healthy muscle structures post-workout.

What’s more, other research suggests that key neurotransmitters dopamine and serotonin, two “feel-good” chemicals that help regulate your metabolism, help you concentrate, and help with keeping a consistent sleep-wake cycle, are released when drinking caffeinated functional beverages.

For example, the research continues by saying that when drinking functional energy drinks with phytochemicals, flavonoids, antioxidants, and other plant-based ingredients, individuals can experience fatigue delay and psychomotor coordination.

In other words, a relationship exists between functional drinks in their ability to delay fatigue and help with coordination. Nevertheless, functional drinks that promote athletic performance and physical recovery should never substitute proper stretching, diet, sleep, and other self-care routines.

What’s more, functional energy brews, like Ola maté, should only be used as a workout complement — never a substitute — to proper hydration, a diet full of complex carbohydrates, and a lifestyle grounded in healthy nutrition and exercise.

In other words, drinking Ola maté in addition to consuming plenty of electrolytes and nutritious food can be a recipe for functional fitness success.

5. Functional beverages for gut health (prebiotics, probiotics, and dietary fiber)

One of the last categories of functional beverages is those that help support healthy digestion. In the last decade, the functional beverage market has burgeoned with prebiotic and probiotic beverages that are loaded with dietary fiber and support digestive health.

You may have seen Poppi (purchased by Pepsi) and Ollipop, two soft drinks that include sources of daily fiber and are great for your gut. Functional beverages that are healthy for gut health include plenty of probiotics.

Probiotics have an antimicrobial effect on the body, supporting our body’s immune system in combating pathogens and other unwanted substances. Among the benefits beyond basic gut health support is the fact that these drinks include bioactive compounds that support healthy digestion.

For example, ginger juice acts as a prebiotic by decreasing pressure on key areas of the body associated with nausea and bloating to support healthy digestion. In fact, ginger juice is the foundation and star of our maté-infused Grapefruit Ginger Sparkling Maté drink.

Functional beverages like Ola maté can help provide smooth fuel, focus, and flow for your gut and your entire body by providing much needed nutrients to your body. Just don’t forget to eat plenty of functional foods high in vitamins and antioxidants with any functional beverage you consume.

Doing so will help you maximize the general health outcomes and additional health benefits that come with these sparkling drinks.

A functional maté moment

Speaking of function, we didn’t say it, but Good Housekeeping did.

🏆 Ola Mate was crowned one of the best-tasting yerba matés out there! ✨

It includes organic ingredients like coconut water and ashwagandha, is free of synthetic artificial sweeteners like aspartame and erythritol, and includes monk fruit extract and natural, non-GMO ingredients you find in your local grocery store (hello raspberries!).

It’s more than just flavor; it’s functional health for you.

Ready to taste what all the hype is about? Check out our full line of functional sparkling maté drinks here.👈🏼

The future of functional beverages is here — say Ola!

The production of functional beverages continues to rise. Research suggests that the functional beverage market is currently worth $168.32 billion.

It looks as though functional beverages are here to stay. And we’re all for it.

Whether you’re a passionate athlete fueling up before a pilates session or need a quick pick-me-up before heading out for work, grab a can of sparkling Ola maté for a functional, yet refreshing start to your day.

Packed with polyphenols, flavonoids, B vitamins, and antioxidants, our sparkling yerba maté is USDA organic, includes just 5 grams of sugar, and weighs in at 40 calories a pop.

If you’re looking for a delightfully refreshing twist on modern flavors, give Ola maté a try. Oh, and by the way, let us know what you think.

To find your flavor, check out our online shop today. We look forward to sipping with you soon! 

Note: While yerba maté shows great promise — and while the market for yerba maté is projected to grow exponentially over the next decade — the content in this article is for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider regarding any health-related questions.

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