Among the subdivision products of energy drinks, the consumption growth rate of functional drinks with natural ingredients is the largest, and consumers are very interested in energy drinks with all natural ingredients. According to the data, in 2011, the sales of natural and organic food and beverage in the United States were close to $39 billion, while in 2015, the sales volume had 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 drinks

 

Energy drinks are mostly used to supplement physical strength and improve energy, so the added plant ingredients either contain natural caffeine or contain a lot of nutrients. The following are common plant ingredients of energy drinks.

 

Guarana Extract

 

Guarana is also known as Brazil cocoa. Its seeds contain 2.5% - 7.0% guaranine. It is a central nervous system stimulant. It can enhance heart rate and contractile force, inhibit platelet aggregation, promote gastric acid secretion, cause polyuria, relax extracerebral vascular and bronchial smooth muscle, promote catecholamine release, and indirectly inhibit histamine release. Different from the traditional caffeine functional health products, guarana contains natural caffeine, which can gradually and slowly stimulate the nerve, and has a long effective period of stimulation. Moreover, the stimulation is mild and does no harm to human body. Long term consumption has the effect of refreshing the mind, nourishing yin and Yang, controlling appetite, relieving abdominal pain, restoring physical strength, supplementing energy and strengthening body.

 

Cola fruit extract

 

Cola fruit is native to tropical Africa. Local aborigines have been chewing Cola Cola as a stimulant and fatigue recovery agent for a long time. The main ingredients are cocoa bean, essential oil, glucoside and cola base. In addition, cola fruit can accelerate the body's metabolism and achieve the effect of burning fat.

 

Maca extract

 

Maca contains alkaloids, glucosinolates, vitamins, proteins, amino acids, polysaccharides, minerals and a variety of natural plant active ingredients. Maca's various alkaloids can regulate the adrenal gland, pancreas, ovary and other functions, balance the hormone level in the body; rich taurine and protein can regulate and repair physiological functions, improve Qi and blood and relieve menopausal symptoms; iron, protein, amino acid, mineral zinc, etc. can help strengthen the immune system, improve the body's disease resistance, anti fatigue, and improve anemia symptoms.

 

Cistanche deserticola extract

 

Modern research shows that Cistanche deserticola has many functions, such as improving renal function, enhancing memory, alleviating senile dementia, delaying aging, anti fatigue and regulating immune function. It can improve memory mainly through four ways: 1. Protect nerve cells and inhibit apoptosis of nerve cells; 2. Promote the growth and repair of nerve cells; 3. Increase the release of neurotransmitters in the brain; 4. Improve cerebral circulation, which is very effective for mental workers to improve work efficiency.

 

In addition, ginseng extract and green tea extract are common energy drink ingredients.

New plant extracts have attracted much attention

 

With the concept of superfood put forward, some new plant ingredients have attracted more and more attention, and have been applied more and more frequently in food and beverage.

 

Brazilian Berry Extract

 

Brazilberry is the American favorite healthy diet food, native to Brazil. Brazilberry is rich in vitamins and antioxidants, which has a very obvious effect on human body, mainly reflected in antioxidant, anti free radical, enhancing skin immunity, anti-aging, maintaining oil-water balance of oily skin, reducing cholesterol and so on.

 

Brazilberry is a kind of food which can not only reduce weight but also resist aging. It is rich in dietary fiber and high-value oil, but also rich in a variety of essential nutrients: potassium, calcium, iron, vitamin E and vitamin A.

 

Bilberry Extract

 

Blueberry is a kind of small berry produced in northern Europe, which can show purple blue or purple red. The main active component is anthocyanins. The appearance of blueberry is very similar to blueberry, but compared with blueberry, the anthocyanin content of blueberry is 4-5 times higher, and the health care effect is better.

 

Blueberry is gradually recognized and loved by people because it is beneficial to vision and prevents vascular sclerosis. Regular consumption of blueberry can reduce the damage of free radicals to the lens and retina, prevent retinopathy, and enhance the flexibility of capillaries, promote the microcirculation in the eye, and improve vision. In addition, blueberry can prevent cancer and improve chronic hepatitis B.

 

Wolfberry Extract

 

Lycium barbarum is a common health food in China, but it is a very popular new ingredient in western countries. Lycium barbarum has been used as a medicinal material to nourish the liver and kidney. At the same time, it has the function of immune regulation, promoting the hematopoietic function, as well as anti-aging, anti mutation, anti-tumor, regulating blood lipid, protecting liver and anti fatty liver, regulating blood sugar and regulating blood pressure.

 

With the further expansion of the functional beverage market, more natural plant extracts will be used as ingredients in beverages, bringing new vitality to the plant extract industry.