Functional Drinks are all the rage at the moment, and if you've watched Dragon's Den or been on Facebook, you'll have seen the sudden surge in nootropic blend coffees hitting the market.
There's a big reason for Functional Drinks gaining popularity across the UK. They're packed with a variety of ingredients that provide health benefits that go way beyond simple hydration.
From boosting energy levels to improving cognitive function and supporting overall well-being, Functional Drinks are now one of the most convenient ways to live a healthier lifestyle.
But, we're not a health store, so we're not stocking the 1,000s of brands out there. You can go to Holland & Barratt if that's your jam.
At this store, we're about functional drinks that replace your alcoholic equivalent.
What does that mean?
It means we've switched Prosecco out for Sparkling Kombucha. Nootropic brewed beers, lager & ales for the tepid tasting dishwater sold by the known brands in supermarkets. CBD blend spirits for the non-alcoholic whiskies & gin equivalents now hitting the shelves.
I mean...what's the point in buying a non-alcoholic whisky or gin. It just doesn't make sense, especially when they're getting sold at the same price as the real deal.
So, if you're deciding to cut out or reduce down your alcohol consumption, then we'd highly recommend swapping it out with Functional Drinks. Browse our own kombucha range to see where to start.
It's what we've done at Functional Drinks Club, and it's made all the difference knowing that we won't be drinking watery zero % Heinekens at social events while our friends enjoy full flavour, full body alcoholic drinks.
Luckily for us all, there's a lot of great Functional Drinks now coming to market, like the Fungtn non-alcoholic range available from our store.
And that's why we love functional drinks. Because you can be watching the football with the guys, or enjoying the sun in the garden with your friends knowing that you're having great tasting, low calorie drinks with amazing health benefits.
So, in this article we'll give you a quick run through of all things Functional Drinks, the benefits, and how they can play a big role in optimising your health and lifestyle.
We call it non-alcoholic drinks without compromise.
And the hangover.
Understanding Functional Drinks
We're not going to go into this like a scientific report, the aim of this article is to give you an overview of Functional Drinks so you can make the right choices for your lifestyle.
In a nutshell, functional drinks are made with specific ingredients, such as vitamins, minerals, herbs, or other bioactive compounds, to provide additional health benefits beyond hydration.
Unlike traditional drinks, they're designed to target specific areas of the body or address particular health concerns. They also often combine the goodness of natural ingredients with scientific research to deliver a range of benefits, such as improved energy, enhanced cognitive function, boosted immunity, and better digestion.
The Benefits of Functional Drinks
Enhance your Energy and Vitality
Many functional drinks contain ingredients like caffeine, B vitamins, and adaptogenic herbs, which can help increase energy levels, improve focus, and reduce fatigue.
They can definitely be a healthier alternative to sugary energy drinks, and they come with the added bonus of sustained energy without the crash.
Plus, as you get older, do you really want to be drinking Relentless or Prime Energy drinks?
Especially when it's made by scientific geniuses like this:
It's worth mentioning right now that we don't sell these types of drinks at Functional Drinks Club.
Cognitive Support
Certain functional drinks are formulated to enhance mental performance and support brain health. Ingredients like omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants, and herbal extracts can help improve memory, concentration, and overall cognitive function.
If you have a look at all the different nootropic drinks, you'll see that a lot of them focus on cognitive function.
I love drinking them when I've got to focus and get stuff done, and normally the stuff that I've been putting off because I don't want to do it. You know those tasks, they're the ones you'll happily clean the bathroom over doing. It's actually part of why we now have our own Lion's Mane kombucha, Mane Event, under our own Gut Feeling range.
Note: If you're knowing as the person in your group with no banter, then Functional Drinks could help you. There's no science behind this, but why not up your game by giving it a try.
Boost your Immune System
Functional Drinks often include immune-boosting ingredients such as vitamin C, zinc, and elderberry extract meaning regular consumption can strengthen your immune system.
In a nutshell, they could be great in helping you fight off common illnesses and infections. Something we can all do with a little more support on in recent times.
Improve your Digestive Health
Some functional drinks contain probiotics and digestive enzymes that promote a healthy gut microbiome and aid digestion. They can alleviate bloating, support nutrient absorption, and contribute to overall digestive wellness.
This is one of the reasons why we love Kombucha. I've not suffered from bloating since I started to drink Kombucha on a regular basis.
I also stopped wearing skinny jeans at the time, that may have also played a part in it all.
When you reach a certain age, a man needs to do what a man needs to do.
Stop wearing skinny jeans and start wearing cargo pants.
Unless you're Mick Jagger.
Then you can wear whatever you like.
Stress Relief and Relaxation
Functional drinks may feature calming herbs like chamomile, lavender, or ashwagandha. These ingredients can help reduce stress, promote relaxation, and improve sleep quality. It's exactly why we put Ashwagandha into our own Zero Drama kombucha, part of our Gut Feeling range.
Yes please to this, especially with everything going on in the world right now.
Worth noting that we're also big advocates of trying to resolve the root cause of your sleepless nights, especially if it's something within your control. If it's not in your control, then Functional Drinks could support you in getting a good nights sleep.
Choosing the Right Functional Drink
When deciding on a functional drink, it's really important to consider your specific health goals and needs.
Not all Functional Drinks are the same, and there's a lot of them out there.
The question you need to ask yourself, what are you trying to achieve?
Here are a few factors to keep in mind (sorry if some of it is sucking eggs, but it's best to cover everything and you can decide if it's relevant to you or not):
Ingredients:
Read the label and ensure that the drink contains the ingredients you are looking for.
Goes without saying really.
However, we'll give one piece of advice here.
Avoid Functional Drinks with excessive added sugars, artificial flavours, or preservatives.
Yep, it goes without saying again.
Unless you like sugar and actively seek out drinks containing loads of the white stuff. Be free, that's what we say. Or, is it what dentists say...
Writing that last paragraph just reminded me of the very first cigarette ads where they had doctors promoting the health benefits of smoking.
Yes, that is a real ad from back in the day.
Research and Transparency
This article may be a quick overview to get you up to speed, but when it comes to selecting the right drink we'll always tell you to look at the science behind it.
You can be safe in the knowledge that anything we sell in Functional Drinks Club has past our test. But, when you're out in the wilds foraging for your own Functional Drinks we would always advise to look for brands that back their claims up with scientific research or clinical studies.
I get it. You just want a non-alcoholic drink that won't kill you, or you don't have to research beforehand.
So, top tip. If the brand has transparent ingredients labelling, and clear information about the product's benefits, then it's normally enough for you to make an informed choice.
Now, if the product doesn't have any of the above. Stay clear.
Once again, I use the Prime Drink as an example of having none of the above.
Quality and Safety
The craft market is filled with small, independent brewers.
They might not have come from a long line of brewers with the sacred knowledge passed down from generation to generation. Most probably, they're an accountant who started brewing in their shed at the bottom of the garden.
Brewing is their love, their passion.
Cool. But still check for brands that have prioritised quality control and safe manufacturing processes.
Really easy way to do this is to check their certifications, like in the movies when someone asks to see some ID when questioned by a detective.
One to look out for is Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), to ensure the product meets high standards.
If they don't have that, ask about it.
I've found that the craft drink community is filled with amazing people who are happy to talk to you about the great drinks their making.
Taste and Preference
This is where we get personal.
Taste and preference is in the eye of the beholder, and when you're not slowly getting drunk, taste matters.
There's nowhere for it to hide. It's front and centre all the time.
And this is the problem with the non-alcoholic market at the moment. Most of the drinks taste like dishwater, especially some of the more well-known brands. And unfortunately, those are the ones on the supermarket shelves.
We love Functional Drinks because they come with more flavour and body, and the added health benefits results in us loving it for our non-alcoholic drinks of choice.
So, we say experiment to find your flavour. And, never stop experimenting as the market is still in the early stages with so much more innovation to come.
Just remember what we said about finding reputable brands.
Incorporating Functional Drinks into Your Lifestyle
To make the most of functional drinks, consider these tips:
Daily Routine
Think about how they can become part of your daily life.
We drink Kombucha every day, and have a CBD drink mid-afternoon or in the evening a couple of hours before bed to aid relaxation.
But, the game-changer for us is when we started to use Functional Drinks as our alcohol replacement.
Let's face it. There's no enjoyment in drinking non-alcoholic wine, and most taste so sugary that you can only stomach one glass before your teeth start screaming for help.
And that's where Sparkling Kombucha comes in. It's a Prosecco killer for us, and even if I decided to start drinking again I don't think I would switch back to how we did it before.
Yes, we called it "Prosecco Friday" and it was the first thing we opened when getting home from work.
Now, we crack open a bottle of sparkling Kombucha.
But this isn't about us, it's about you.
However you want to do it, Functional Drinks Club has got you covered with the best range of drinks to choose from.
Probably worth mentioning that sparkling Kombucha can be drunk at any time of the day without being frowned upon.
Unless you insist on still drinking it from a brown paper bad so people still think it's wine.
Personalisation
No, we don't mean calling your Kombucha "Boochy".
We mean choosing the right functional drink to address your unique needs.
At the end of the day, we're all unique individuals with our own things going on. What worked for one person might not work for you.
So explore, explore and explore.
And, you can call Kombucha what were you like.
Balanced Diet
Right, I'm going to give it to you straight.
Washing down a dirty kebab from the local takeout with a glass of Kombucha isn't going to improve your gut health or help you lose weight.
Only not eating kebabs can do that.
Functional Drinks should complement a well-rounded diet, not replace it or compensate for all the bad things you're doing.
A really simple thing is to switch alcohol for functional drinks.
Boom!
The key is finding out what works for you and then go from there.
And we say, if you want to wash down kebabs with kombucha then go for it.
Wrapping it all up
We use Functional Drinks as part of our "not drinking alcohol" journey.
You can do that, or you can do another way.
Whatever works for you.
Functional drinks can support your well-being, improve your energy levels and cognitive function, boost your immune system while promoting digestive health.
Just remember to choose high-quality products that align with your goals and tastebuds.
Most importantly, just have fun in exploring a market that is still full of innovation and new brands.
You can buy most of them at Functional Drinks Club, or visit our Otley shop to taste before you buy.
