What is energy drink?

Energy drinks are carbonated drinks that contain various ingredients and usually high level of caffeine. The drinks are often sold in slim, bullet-shaped cans with metallic logos or graphics, in bottles that have an unusual shape or color.

Energy drinks belong to functional beverage as their stimulating ingredients promise to favorably affect particular functions of the body. Energy drinks contain stimulating ingredients, of which the main ones are caffeine, and high amounts of taurine and glucuronolactone and they induce certain positive effects in the body.

Taurine is an amino acid that contains sulfur and acts as an antioxidant. Energy drinks are stimulants, and thus make the brain more active and alert. For the most part, energy drinks considerably higher concentration of caffeine that coffee or tea or soft drinks.
What is energy drink?

Inulin as sweetener

Inulin is extracted commercially from chicory root, which has high inulin content (15%).

Inulin is a linear molecule consisting of approximately 3-60 fructose units linked by β (2-1) bonds.

Inulin is soluble in water (maximum 10% at room temperature) and forms a gel-type structure. It does hydrolyze in acid conditions over time to produce fructose.

It is suitable as dietary bulking agents. They are low-calorie and non-cariogenic. Adding inulin increases the dietary fiber content of the food. Such additions are usually in the range of 3-6 g/portion, in extreme cases up to 10 g.

It can be incorporated into a large number of different food products, which retain their intrinsic flavor without alteration of texture or appearance.

It heat stable. In soft drinks it can produce similar mouthfeel and technical properties to glucose syrup.

Inulin has no sweetness and possesses a bland taste. Physiologically inulin behaves as a dietary fiber.

Inulin may also be used to stabilize flavors. About 3 to 5% of inulin may be used in low-calories soft drinks.
Inulin as sweetener

Soft Drinks: Wellness and Functionality

Soft Drinks: Wellness and Functionality
Health issues are already influencing the dynamics of the soft drinks industry and this influence is likely to become more pronounced as time progresses.

Bottled water fruit based still drinks and fruit juice/nectars have gained volume on the back of an increased understanding of good health.

As consumers, they wish to ‘live healthy and die healthy’.

At the core of this concept of ‘wellness’ – an increasing awareness of physical well being and good health.

Wellness drinks are those beverages that aid health and well being. Consequently, a broad range of products can be said to fit the wellness mould: from bottled water to juice and tea based drinks as well as those with added ingredients to provide an additional functional benefits.

To feel good and be healthy has high importance for most consumers Although broader in scope than functional beverages, wellness drink span the naturally functional and the scientifically enhanced.

Functional soft drinks are defined as drinks providing a health benefit beyond their basic nutritional value, by virtue of their physiologically active added components.

Drinks providing a health benefit based in their inherent ingredients, such as mineral water, cranberry juice and green tea, can be said to be naturally functional, unless they are fortified with vitamins or other functional ingredients.

A functional can therefore be made between products functional by nature (water and orange juice) and those made functional by producers.

For functional soft drinks, the term ‘health benefits’ is used in its widest possible application and includes benefits such a improved sports performance, increased mental alertness and better skin, which would not normally be considered health benefits in the strictest sense.
Soft Drinks: Wellness and Functionality