Plant extracts are popular in European and American energy drinks
August 09, 2022
In recent years, energy drinks have shown a booming trend, both in terms of consumption growth rate, market capacity and new product launches have developed dramatically. The development of energy drinks stems from consumers' demand for health. Nutrients such as vitamins, minerals, plant extracts and other features such as preservative-free, natural, organic and low sugar are the concerns of consumers in choosing energy drinks.
Among the segmented products of energy drinks, the consumption growth of functional drinks with natural ingredients is the largest, and consumers are very interested in energy drinks with all-natural ingredients. Data show that in 2011, sales of natural and organic foods and beverages in the U.S. approached $39 billion, and in 2015, sales exceeded $78 billion.
Most of the natural ingredients come from plant extracts. Which plant extracts are the most popular energy drink ingredients in the European and American markets?
Plant extracts commonly used in functional beverages
Energy drinks are mostly used to replenish stamina and boost energy, so the added plant ingredients either contain natural caffeine or a lot of nutrients. The following are common plant ingredients for energy drinks.
Cola nut extract
Cola nuts are native to tropical Africa. The main ingredients are theobromine, essential oils, glycosides and colaine. In addition, cola nuts can accelerate the body's metabolism and achieve the effect of fat burning.
Maca extract
Maca contains alkaloids, mustard oil glycosides, vitamins, proteins, amino acids, polysaccharides, minerals and a variety of natural plant active ingredients. A variety of alkaloids of maca can regulate the adrenal glands, pancreas, ovaries and other functions, balance the body's hormone level; rich taurine, protein, etc. can regulate and repair physiological functions, improve qi and blood and relieve menopausal symptoms; iron, protein, amino acids, minerals such as zinc can help strengthen the immune system, enhance the body's resistance to disease, anti-fatigue, improve anemia symptoms.
Cistanche Extract
Modern research shows that Cistanche can improve kidney function, enhance memory, relieve Alzheimer's disease, delay aging, anti-fatigue, and regulate immune function in many ways. It mainly improves memory through four ways: 1. protects nerve cells and inhibits apoptosis of nerve cells; 2. promotes growth and repair of nerve cells; 3. increases the release of neurotransmitters in the brain; 4. improves brain circulation, which is very effective for brain workers to improve work efficiency.
In addition, ginseng extract, green tea extract, etc. are common energy drink ingredients.
Emerging plant extracts attract attention
With the concept of superfoods, some emerging plant ingredients are beginning to attract attention and are being used more and more frequently in food and beverages.
Acai Berry Extract
Acai berry is America's favorite healthy weight loss food, native to Brazil. Acai berry is rich in many vitamins and antioxidants, which have very obvious effects on the human body, mainly in antioxidant, anti-free radical, enhance skin immunity, anti-aging, maintain the oil-water balance of oily skin, lower cholesterol and so on.
It is rich in dietary fiber and high-value fats, and is also rich in many essential nutrients: potassium, calcium, iron, vitamin E and vitamin A.
Lingonberry Extract
The lingonberry is a small berry from Northern Europe that can appear purple-blue or purple-red in color and whose main active ingredient is anthocyanin. The appearance of lingonberry is very similar to blueberry, but compared to blueberry, lingonberry has 4-5 times higher content of anthocyanin and better health effects.
Lingonberries are increasingly recognized and loved for their beneficial effects on vision and prevention of vascular sclerosis. Regular consumption of lingonberries can reduce the damage of free radicals to the lens and retina of the eye and prevent retinopathy; it can also enhance the flexibility of capillaries and promote microcirculation in the eye, thus improving vision. In addition, lingonberry can prevent cancer and improve the effect on chronic hepatitis B, etc.
Chinese wolfberry extract
Goji berry is already a common health food in China, but it is a very popular and emerging ingredient in Western countries. Chinese wolfberry has been used as a nourishing herb for liver and kidney, and also has immunomodulatory effect, and has a promotion effect on hematopoietic function, as well as anti-aging, anti-mutation, anti-tumor, blood lipid regulation, liver protection and anti-fatty liver, blood sugar regulation and blood pressure regulation.
With the further expansion of functional beverage market, more natural plant extracts will be used as ingredients in beverages, bringing new vitality to the plant extract industry.
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