The functional water trend refers to marketing water infused with added nutrients, vitamins, or minerals designed to provide specific health benefits beyond hydration, despite limited scientific evidence supporting their efficacy.
Minerals commonly added to functional water include electrolytes such as calcium, magnesium, potassium, and sodium, as well as trace minerals like zinc and selenium.
By replenishing electrolytes lost through sweating or other bodily processes, functional water aims to enhance hydration more effectively than plain water.
Many functional waters claim to provide specific health benefits due to added ingredients. For instance, some may contain vitamins such as vitamin C or B vitamins, which are touted for their immune-boosting or energy-enhancing properties. Others may include antioxidants like vitamin E or selenium, which are believed to combat oxidative stress and reduce the risk of chronic diseases. Additionally, some functional waters may contain herbal extracts, amino acids, or other bioactive compounds purported to have various health effects, such as reducing inflammation, improving digestion, or promoting relaxation.
Functional water offers a convenient way for consumers to access these added nutrients and benefits without having to take separate supplements or consume specific foods. It’s often marketed as a convenient on-the-go option for busy individuals seeking to maintain hydration and support their health simultaneously.
The body’s ability to absorb minerals from functional water drinks depends on various factors, including the type and form of minerals added, as well as individual differences in digestion and absorption. In some cases, the minerals added to functional water may be in forms that are readily absorbed by the body, such as electrolytes like sodium, potassium, calcium, and magnesium. However, other minerals may be present in forms that are less bioavailable or poorly absorbed, potentially limiting their effectiveness. Additionally, the presence of other compounds in the beverage, such as vitamins or amino acids, may influence mineral absorption.
The marketing of functional water heavily influences consumer perception and acceptance. Manufacturers often employ strategies to emphasize the health benefits of their products, using terms like “natural,” “organic,” “enhanced,” or “fortified” to convey the idea of superior hydration or specific health advantages. Eye-catching packaging and labelling may further enhance the appeal of functional water to health-conscious consumers.
While the idea of functional water sounds promising, the scientific evidence supporting its efficacy varies. Some ingredients, such as electrolytes for hydration or certain vitamins and minerals, have well-established roles in the body and may indeed offer benefits when consumed in adequate amounts. However, the effectiveness of other additives, particularly those with more obscure or exotic claims, may be less supported by rigorous scientific research.
Critics argue that many functional waters are marketed based on pseudoscience or exaggerated claims, and they caution consumers to approach such products with scepticism until more robust evidence is available.
Other Beverages
Functional water as a trend developed similarly alongside other beverage fads such as MCT Coffee.
MCT coffee is a beverage consisting of coffee blended with medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs) from sources like coconut oil or MCT oil, often consumed for purported energy-boosting and cognitive-enhancing effects.
Many of these beverage trends take ideas from cultural drinks such as Nepali tea, known as chiya, which is a traditional beverage enjoyed in Nepal, typically made by boiling tea leaves with milk, sugar, and spices like cardamom or ginger, offering a flavourful and comforting drink deeply embedded in Nepalese culture.
Nepali tea, is rich in polyphenols and antioxidants derived from tea leaves, potentially offering benefits such as improved heart health and reduced risk of chronic diseases. Its caffeine content can enhance mental alertness, while herbal additions like ginger may aid digestion.
Summary
In summary, the notion that functional water works is based on the premise that augmenting water with additional nutrients, vitamins, minerals, or other substances can provide enhanced hydration and targeted health benefits. While some ingredients have solid scientific support, the efficacy of others may be more uncertain.
It’s very likely that many of the products on offer in this trend are simply fads and have tried to ride the marketing coat-tails of various healthy cultural drinks such as nepali tea or green tea.
Many are simply selling mineral water at a premium price. In this respect, many of these drinks are completely fraudulent and it’d better to drink tap water.
Adding electrolytes to your water when you need them during illness is however a good idea but it can be sourced for much less than many of the functional water products trying to convince people of their miraculous benefits.
