blk. BLOG
6 minute read
What Is A Functional Beverage?
The beverage industry is rapidly changing to bring consumers drinks that taste great and provide them with health benefits! With the growing demand for health and wellness products, functional drinks have been booming over the past couple of years. Beverage trends show people are on a quest to find products that support their immune system and overall wellbeing. Functional beverages are products that provide health benefits through essential minerals or vitamins. Rather than only focusing on taste, functional beverages deliver the body with specific benefits, such as enhanced gut health and microbiome, increased energy, shorter recovery times, and more (blk. is packed with powerful electrolytes, antioxidants, polyphenols, and amino acids to do all of this while also tasting great!)
The History Behind Functional Beverages
Functional beverages are not new! In fact, tea and coffee have been consumed for thousands of years, and are considered the original functional beverages. According to John Harper Crandall, "Tea and coffee are packed with antioxidants and other functional ingredients that stimulate, relax or purify." The functional ingredients within tea such as polyphenols have been shown to ward off free radicals and more. Naturally packed with antioxidants, anti-inflammatory, and regulation of lipid metabolism, tea polyphenols have been used to help assist with certain medical issues.
In the 1920s the first manufactured "sports drink" was marketed to deliver athletes essential nutrients. These functional beverages were marketed for replenishing hydration, sodium, and carbohydrates that they would lose while working out or competing. The earliest traceable sports drink launched in 1927, known as 'Glucozade (later shortened to "Lucozade"). Made by a chemist of the name William Owen, he created this drink to deliver quick energy and fluids. Lucozade quickly became popular amongst athletes worldwide.
The functional beverage market has significantly grown in response to consumers' demand for health-oriented products, largely shifting during the pandemic. Mintel conducted a survey for consumers regarding their functional foods and beverages, asking them what they looked for in terms of the "functional benefits". From this study they discovered that consumers' favorited the following functional benefits:
• Hydration (34 percent)
• Energy-boosting (26 percent)
• Immunity (23 percent)
• Digestive aid (22 percent)
Top Functional Ingredients
From vitamins to minerals there are many trendy ingredients when it comes to functional beverages but each one provides different potential health benefits, and some fall short in comparison to others. Here are some of the most popular categories of functional ingredients:
•Minerals
Trace Minerals have a large impact on our body's overall wellbeing. From improving iron absorption and regulating gut health with healthy bacteria, to supporting immune health and reducing inflammation. Infused with fulvic, blk. reduces inflammation and provides optimal mineral absorption to keep your body thriving! Studies have shown that fulvic acid supports the microbiome, improves gut function, and has a yin-yang effect when it comes to these physiological states.
•Antioxidants
Mostly found in plants, antioxidants are natural molecules that assist with neutralizing harmful free radicals within the body. Electrolytes help prevent or delay cell damage caused by free radicals. When cells are damaged it can lead to certain medical complications such as heart disease, cancer, and other diseases. Antioxidants such as polyphenols can support digestion, brain and heart health. Polyphenols contain health-promoting properties that are rich in antioxidants. It is important to continuously incorporate various micronutrients into meals to reap their benefits. Although there are certain foods or supplements you can consume on a daily basis, it's good to have a convenient backup that easily gives your body polyphenols.
Our fulvic infused functional beverage gives you the ability to incorporate powerful antioxidants and over 77+ trace minerals into your diet all while increasing your body's bioavailability. Fulvic acid works with your body at a cellular level to help support or dispose of damaged cells, promote healthy cell function, and optimize the bioavailability of many of the nutrients you consume. It is loaded with soil-based polyphenols so you can stay hydrated and feeling your best. By adding blk. to your diet, your body will extract more of the nutrients from the foods you eat and easily provide your body with antioxidants. When it comes to helping you feel and perform your best, it's all about having a powerhouse ingredient in your diet.
•Amino Acids
Amino acids and proteins are the building blocks of life! These molecules combine to form proteins. They are used throughout the body for many different purposes such as breaking down food and repairing tissue, along with performing a multitude of other bodily functions. Amino acids are essential to support enhanced performance, reduced muscle breakdown, prevention of fatigue, and more. There are 11 non-essential and 9 essential amino acids. They are found in plants, meat, and dairy.
Our bodies do not naturally produce amino acids which is why it's important to incorporate them through diet. Evidence has shown that "humic and fulvic acids are composed of neutral, acidic, basic, aromatic and sulfur-containing amino acids. Low molecular weight, as compared to higher molecular weight, fractions of humic acids indicated higher abundance of amino acids." blk. is infused with fulvic and humic acid making it convenient to incorporate a higher amount of amino acids into your diet.
• Electrolytes
Electrolytes are electrically charged compounds and minerals that allow your body to properly function. You get them from the food you eat and the fluids you drink. Think of electrolytes as a conductor of electricity that allows the transmission of messages between cells. This type of communication can occur through a variety of mechanisms, such as the potassium channels. This can help recycle ATP, regulate your heartbeat, and more. They are crucial for your nervous system.
When you incorporate an electrolyte drink into your diet it allows you to easily hydrate, while giving your body the number of electrolytes it needs. blk.'s FulvicFusion™ formula is loaded with powerful electrolytes and over 77+ trace minerals. Electrolyte-infused drinks are popular among people who regularly work out or athletes that want to replace the electrolytes they lost through sweat. It also allows you to easily replenish electrolytes on the go.
blk. water: The Ultimate Functional Beverage
Not all water is created equal. When it comes to bottled water, some brands just don't stand up to blk. Our cutting-edge blend of Fulvic Fusion™ provides better hydration by delivering trace minerals directly to the cell, along with water - blk. is really far beyond just simple hydration, especially when it comes to living a healthy lifestyle. Our unique combination of fulvic and humic acids delivers revolutionary support for gut health, improved endurance, increased energy, and your overall wellbeing to keep you thriving! Supercharge your life with Fulvic Fusion™ hydration!
