Nutritional beverages with natural antioxidants

CHANGSHA, China - April 21, 2016 - PRLog -- Hydrate and quench thirst - these traditional beverage traits are no longer the primary selling points in the beverage aisle. Consumers want more and through the innovative use of fortifying ingredients in today's beverages, nutrition may be added to the beverage category's list of top traits.

Beverages are a convenient and efficient delivery vehicle for many essential nutrients. The most common approach is to fortify with ingredients classified as antioxidants, either in the form of a whole food, usually a juice, or an added nutrient, such as a plant extract (http://www.naturalin.com/) .

Antioxidants help the body fight damage from free radicals, which may cause cells to grow and reproduce abnormally. Free radicals result from oxidation, a natural process that occurs when we digest food, exercise or simply breathe. Living in environments with pollution, radiation and cigarette smoke also increases free radical production. The more free radicals in the body, the more opportunity there is for illness and premature aging.

Vitamins C and E are both well-known antioxidants frequently added to beverages, as are plant concentrates and extracts high in known antioxidants such as carotenoids and polyphenols (e.g. anthocyanin, flavonoids and resveratrol). Many of the latter possess additional benefits besides functioning as an antioxidant, which further blurs the line between functional foods and fortified foods.

For example, green tea is a concentrated source of the antioxidant epigallocatechin gallate (E.G.C.G.), which has been shown to have a positive effect on immunity and chronic inflammatory disease. Green tea is also a good source of the amino acid L-theanine, which aids in the production of germ-fighting compounds from T-cells.

Brewed green tea makes a great beverage base as well as matcha, which is a finely milled powder made from shade-grown green tea leaves. It is often used in smoothies and "super" drinks, because in addition to being a concentrated source of antioxidants, matcha has been shown to provide a natural energy boost.

Grape seed extract is another. The proanthocyanidins found in grape seed extract have been shown to be 20 to 50 times greater than vitamins C and E at scavenging free radicals. Further, studies have shown that grape seed extract helps promote the structural strength of blood vessels, which in turn helps promote healthy blood pressure levels, heart health and a proper inflammation response.

The carotenoids lutein and zeaxanthin are associated with eye health and vision. They have been shown in human studies to enhance contrast acuity, reduce glare disability and protect against damaging effects of short-wave light.