Widely consumed beverages suitable for all ages are a good carrier for nutritional fortification to prevent micronutrient deficiencies in people. In recent years, with the improvement of people's health awareness, consumers are pursuing healthier and more functional beverages in addition to taste. The organic and efficient integration of beverages and nutrients has given beverages new functions. As a result, the beverage industry has shifted from a pure taste competition to one with a comprehensive focus on taste, convenience, safety, and nutrition. Functional drinks are becoming increasingly popular among consumers.
Fortified Beverages
Functional beverages are obtained by adjusting the composition and content ratio of nutrients in beverages. These beverages can meet the nutritional needs of certain groups and have the function of regulating body functions. According to different functions, functional beverages can be divided into three categories: fortified beverages, sports beverages and other special purpose beverages. Among them, fortified beverages contain the nutrients that the human body needs for daily activities. They are prepared by adding vitamins, amino acids, taurine, minerals, caffeine, dietary fiber and other nutritional factors to the original beverages.
The roles of fortified beverages
With the help of technology and "natural, nutritious and healthy" raw ingredients, the beverage is fortified and provided with multiple benefits.
- Improve micronutrient intake
For example, insufficient iron is largely due to the low absorption rate of the body. Nutrients that promote iron absorption can be added to beverages, such as vitamin C, amino acids, organic acids, reducing sugars, and inosine. These can chelate iron to form small soluble monomers, thereby facilitating iron absorption. Several studies have demonstrated that the consumption of multi-nutrient fortified beverages can improve hemoglobin and serum ferritin levels in pregnant women and children, and reduce the risk of iron deficiency anemia.
Dietary fiberDrinking nutrient-fortified beverages with added dietary fiber can help control weight and blood sugar levels, and some dietary fiber beverages can also improve gut health.
TaurineTaurine has the advantages of lowering high blood pressure, preventing atherosclerosis and preventing heart disease. Adding taurine to beverages can prevent muscle fatigue and muscle damage.
BCAABeverages containing branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) are often favored by body-building groups as a supplement to build muscle. It is consumed before or during exercise to inhibit protein breakdown in the muscles.
InositolAs an essential nutrient for brain and nerve cells, inositol added to beverages can lower blood cholesterol and has a certain effect on fat metabolism in the body, which can prevent fatty liver.
The ingredients in some dietary supplements can help regulate emotions. For example, caffeine can stimulate the brain nerves, which has the effect of refreshing and eliminating fatigue. Adding an appropriate amount of caffeine to some beverages such as coffee and tea can make these beverages have a certain refreshing effect.
Technologies of Beverage Nutritional Enhancement
The product characteristics of beverages (including their concentrates or solids) determine the limitlessness of their technological innovations. Especially in terms of nutritional enhancement and activity maintenance, many technologies are emerging in an endless stream.
- Novel emulsification technology.
Emulsification is a common technology in beverage production. In addition to ordinary emulsion, novel technology systems such as multilayer emulsion, microemulsion, nanoemulsion, pickering emulsion, and high internal phase emulsion, have been developed recently. Some of them have been applied to the actual production of fortified beverages.
- Microencapsulation technology
Microencapsulation is a process in which active substances are encapsulated by natural or synthetic polymeric materials to form extremely small capsules. This novel technology is widely used for beverage nutritional fortification, such as vitamin C microencapsulation, acidulants microencapsulation, vitamin AD microencapsulation.
Proteolysis is one of the necessary technologies to improve the functional properties of protein beverages and prepare beverages with polypeptides.
- Ultra high pressure sterilization technology
Ultra high pressure sterilization technology is most commonly used in juice beverages to preserve the nutritional and active components of fresh fruits and vegetables.
Nanotechnology is usually used in beverage fortification due to its ability to improve the absorption of certain nutrients.
Alfa Chemistry has a wide range of nutrient ingredients available for beverage fortification. Please do not hesitate to contact us for any of your needs and we will be happy to assist you.
Our products and services are for research use only and cannot be used for any clinical purposes.
