Functional beverage

Powdered mixes may be added to boiling water or hot milk to make the drink at home. Powder mixes may be prepared at home, and are sold at grocery stores and online.

Powder mixed with liquid instantly will prevent sensitive compounds like antioxidants found in the powder to oxidize by oxygen molecules in the water.

Functional ready to drink beverages like energy drinks are commonly sold in grocery stores.

Sensitive compounds like antioxidants may oxidize when they are exposed to oxygen from water for a long time.

Table analysis:

• Cocoa solids. Homemade dark chocolate milk can be mixed instantly, which prevents sensitive compounds like antioxidants found in the powder to oxidize by oxygen molecules in the water, a problem that may rise with stored chocolate-flavored beverages.
• Fat. Theobromine is fat soluble,[8] but cocoa solid who originally consist of about 50% fat is usually fat reduced, so a table spoon of sunflower oil is added which also is rich in the essential fatty acid linoleic acid. A blender may be used to form a homogeneous mixture of the milk and the oil, which will increase the bioavalibility of the theobromine.
  • Psychoactive substances: The homemade chocolate milk contains 10 times more caffeine (24.8 mg) and twice as much theobromine (222 mg) than the chocolate-flavored milk (2.44 mg caffeine, and 122 mg theobromine). A 2005 clinical trial showed psychoactive effects in caffeine doses as low as 9 mg,[9] and a dose as low as 12.5 mg was shown to have effects on cognitive performance.[10]
  • The homemade chocolate milk may contain organic cocoa solids without common alkalized cocoa; In a single serving of cocoa, other researchers found 611 milligrams of gallic acid equivalents (GAE) and 564 milligrams of epicatechin equivalents (ECE), compared with 340 milligrams of GAE and 163 milligrams of ECE in red wine, and 165 milligrams of GAE and 47 milligrams of ECE in green tea.[11]
• Sugars. The homemade dark chocolate milk contains very little sugar, which prevent food addiction, obesity, and tooth decay. Also, unsweetened cocoa is potentially useful to lower blood pressure, but added sugar will increase it.[12]
  • Milk: The homemade dark chocolate milk is based on soy milk; Low carb milk such as skim or soy milk can be used to avoid dairy products or extra sugar (lactose).[13] The chocolate-flavored milk contains milk sugar.
  • Sweetener: The homemade chocolate milk contains 20 grams less sugars than chocolate-flavored milk that usually contains added sugar. In people who are regularly consuming dark chocolate milk in the morning and in the noon, this is equivalent up to 40 g/day, 280 g/week, 1.1 kg/month, or 13 kg/year. Cinnamon, a natural sweetener, is used in place of artificial sweeteners; Studies have shown that consuming artificial sweeteners such as aspartame, saccharin and sucralose increase chocolate cravings.[14]

A 2003 study conducted by Cornell University has shown that larger amounts of antioxidants are released when the drink is heated.[15]

Many functional drinks have high levels of sugar, even if they have other "healthy" ingredients. For example, a 20oz bottle of Glacéau's VitaminWater has been reported to contain approximately 33 g of sugar, which is similar to the sugar content of a can of Coca-Cola. This prompted The Coca-Cola Company to be sued for claiming that VitaminWater was a healthy beverage.[16]

Given their sugar content, many functional beverages may not be as healthy an alternative as other commonly consumed beverages. In addition, the sugar content of such beverages promotes dental cavities amongst frequent users.

Health experts are concerned about the increased consumption and popularity of functional beverages. Although these beverages may serve to hydrate the individual, they may not mitigate or even address today's major health issues, such as obesity, heart disease, and cancer.[1][2] Most functional beverages are sweetened, and consumption of sweetened beverages is associated with higher levels of obesity and heart disease.[1][2] Most of these drinks contain significant amounts of sugars and hence calories, which would add to discretionary and total caloric intake. As such, these ingredients pose health risks because of what they contain (sugar and caffeine) or what they replace in the diet (vitamin and mineral-rich foods).

Although a "functional" beverage may be marketed as a panacea or a performance-enhancing substance, there is no scientific evidence for any specific health effects of such beverages or for their uniform regulation internationally, as of 2020.[1][2]

Highly caffeinated, often highly sweetened "energy drinks" have become popular on the beverage market in the United States, as well as globally, in the past decade. Consumer demand has helped generate a new generation of "energy drink" brands containing similar amounts of caffeine, calories, and sugar.[21]

Various stimulants found in energy drinks may include taurine, caffeine, B vitamins, guarana, ginseng, ginkgo biloba, L-carnitine, sugars, yerba maté, and creatine. Although these ingredients have been approved by the FDA, health experts still recommend that consumers read their energy drinks' labels, as these ingredients may not improve health.[1]

As of 2008, based on dollar sales, the most popular functional beverages, in order, were:[22]

1. Health and wellness drinks, with 62.2% of dollar sales
2. Hydration drinks (28%)
3. Energy/Rejuvenation drinks (8.4%)
4. Weight Management drinks (1.2%)

In some functional beverages, particularly energy drinks, the caffeine content can be up to 141 milligrams per serving, more than an average 8-ounce cup of coffee containing 133 mg of caffeine. There have been reports to Health Canada of adverse reactions involving energy drinks.[25]