Beverages have always been very popular with the public, and functional beverages not only have good taste, but also have some additional [effects], such as [anti-fatigue], etc., which are loved by some people in need.
Is functional drinks really that magical? How is it safe to drink?
Functional drinks are just [marketing concepts]
Although the expression of functional drinks is very popular and we can often see it in advertisements, in fact, according to the current national standard < < general principles of beverages > >, there is no expression of [functional drinks].
Functional beverages currently on the market should belong to [special purpose beverages], which are beverages [added with specific ingredients to adapt to all people or some people in need], mainly including:
- Sports drinks, nutrient drinks, energy drinks, electrolyte drinks and other special purpose drinks
Do functional drinks really have special effects?
At present, most functional beverages on the market contain caffeine, taurine, vitamins and some other ingredients.
1. Caffeine is the refreshing
Caffeine is found in many foods, and drinking caffeinated beverages has a certain refreshing effect.
Caffeine in functional drinks is the same substance as coffee and tea. It is safer to drink it properly. However, even if it can relieve temporary drowsiness, it should not be the sustenance of everyone. Fatigue should be relieved by proper rest. Usually, persistent exercise can ensure energy.
2. Taurine is not that magical
Taurine is a substance that already exists in the human body and will be continuously generated and consumed by normal people. However, authoritative organizations have made assessments and believe that there is no safety problem in the dosage of functional beverages.
Proper taurine supplementation does have some positive effects, but people who eat normally can already get enough taurine from food and do not need to drink drinks to supplement it.
3. Other ingredients can be [dietary supplement]
Functional drinks also contain some [nutrients], such as vitamins and some minerals.
Although it looks very nutritious, beverages are not the best source. These nutrients can be obtained through vegetables, fruits and other foods, and the nutrients in foods are more comprehensive and sufficient.
Only when there is [need] can there be [effect]
Many functional drinks claim to have multiple functions, which makes many people think they have [health care] functions, but the basis for these functions to take effect is [the body really needs].
For example:
- Sports drinks and electrolyte drinks are usually prepared for athletes and other people who consume a lot of physical strength to supplement the lost energy and electrolyte. Anti-fatigue drinks are usually prepared for people who work overtime, stay up late and other high-intensity continuous work to temporarily refresh and maintain energy.
Therefore, functional drinks should be selected according to actual needs, instead of being regarded as drinks with health care functions.
Problems Should Be Paid Attention to in Drinking Functional Beverages
Although it is safe to drink some functional drinks properly, at least the following two suggestions should be consulted:
1. Pay attention to high sugar content
Functional beverages often contain more sugar. If other aspects are not controlled, frequent drinking of beverages will inevitably increase health risks such as obesity and dental caries.
According to the latest guidelines of the World Health Organization, adults and children should reduce their daily free sugar intake to less than 10% (about 50g) of their total energy intake, and if conditions permit, it is best to reduce it to less than 5% (about 25g).
Generally speaking, a 500 ml bottle of functional beverage contains about 30g of sugar. In this way, basically the sugar in a bottle of beverage is enough for a day’s standard, so if you want to drink it, it is best not to exceed this amount every day.
2. Beverages with high caffeine content should not be drunk more.
High levels of caffeine in functional drinks also have some health risks. Excessive intake of caffeine can cause palpitations, nausea, convulsions, mental disorders and other symptoms, which may even be fatal in some cases.
According to the assessment of authoritative organizations, there is no safety problem for normal adults to consume 400 milligrams of caffeine per day, but intake of 100 milligrams of caffeine per day may have some impact on sleep.
Take a 250 ml can of Red Bull as an example, the caffeine content in it is about 50 milligrams. If you don’t want to affect sleep, it is recommended to drink no more than two cans a day.