The growth in popularity of “functional beverages” in the UK and worldwide have been nothing short of stratospheric in recent years. Whether it is prebiotic soda, meal replacement drinks, energy drinks or CBD-infused drinks, there is huge variety of options out there for the healthy minded individual to ensure optimised health for those with busy lives on the go who are ready to kick the ass out of the week!
This week T7L is looking at some of the best prebiotic sodas and functional drinks in general that are available in the UK currently (For those not sure, a “functional drink” is a non-alcoholic drink which benefits specific bodily functions in addition to providing general nutritional benefits).
Here’s our Top 7 that we are loving right now…
Poppi has been nothing short of a revolution in the States. A great tasting, low sugar fizzy drink with the considerable gut health benefits of Apple Cider Vinegar? Sign me up! Poppi’s unique differentiator is that is has one tablespoon of apple cider vinegar in every can, outlining why it is considered as a prebiotic soda.
Prebiotics are fibers that feed the natural probiotics in your digestive system, which in turn boosts the body’s natural immunity. This benefits skin complexion, lowers cholesterol, stabilises blood sugar, boosts energy and promote a healthy metabolism. In short it is a nutritional powerhouse. And it tastes great; while the prospect of drinking apple cider vinegar would be an unappetising prospect, the makers have done an amzing job in masking the Apple Cider Vinegar with fresh and delicious flavours. These include Orange, Strawberry Lemon, Ginger Lime, Raspberry Rose, Grapefruit and Watermelon.
The downside; they ain’t cheap, and while they taste great and make you feel even better, they could grow into an expensive habit. Nonetheless, they made me feel so good afterwards I would highly recommend them. You can decide for yourself, they are on sale in the UK here at UBuy.
Another type of sparkling prebiotic (arguably a prebiotic soda) that has got some huge hype in recent years is Kombucha. However not all Kombucha’s are made equal, and top of the list for us at The 7 Lists is Remedy.
Remedy Raw Kombucha is full of live cultures, organic acids and antioxidants. Remedy is an elixir brewed fresh daily in small batches the traditional way, where cultures are added to room temperature water, fermented for 7-10 days, and vigorously carbonated through a secondary fermentation process. Remedy comes in Plain, Ginger, Hibiscus Ginger, Rose Hibiscus and Strawberry Mint flavours amongst others.
It’s a one-of-a-kind cocktail of live and active cultures and it tastes delicious! It promotes a healthy digestive system and is certified raw, vegan and gluten free. This delicious, fermented tea is a yummy treat that you can drink any time of day, whether you’re looking to increase energy, boost the immune system or just relax.
You can get Remedy in bulk and at great value from Amazon.
Away from Prebiotic Soda drinks, one other big area of growth for Functional Drinks is in the Energy Drinks space. Popularised by gamers, Sneak is leading the way in energy drinks with a far healthier approach compared to the big names in the market.
Sneak delivers a smooth, long-lasting energy boost without the crash. Its natural formula includes vitamins, minerals and essential amino acids including L-Tyrosine to heighten your alertness. Available in powder form or cans, Sneak’s secret ingredients give you long lasting focus with zero sugar and 12 calories per serving
Sneak delivers a natural, clean energy buzz with 40 super-effective servings. Each serving contains 150mg of caffeine from a secret blend of natural ingredients, including guarana, combined with amino acids and vitamins to increase reaction time and concentration, and delivering a powerful burst of hydration thanks to its electrolyte mix.
Sneak is available in many places including Amazon.
The brain-sharpening effects of Sneak also push it closer to the Nootropic category, and another Functional Drink that also utilises natural Nootripc qualities is Four Sigmatic Mushroom Coffee with Lion’s Mane.
For centuries Scandinavian healers have turned to natural mushroom elixirs to support digestion and boost overall health. Four Sigmatic Mushroom Coffee blends roasted coffee with chaga mushrooms and lion’s mane, which together create a powerful formula for increasing focus and concentration.
Mushroom Coffee is the worlds first coffee blend featuring two unique medicinal mushrooms. The combination of chaga mushrooms and lion’s mane, coffee beans and organic prebiotic fiber creates a synergy that delivers a boost for busy minds. Nootropic benefits are the result of using Chaga mushroom which powers up the central nervous system to give you an initial energy lift. Lion’s Mane mushroom which helps promote healthy brain function and mood support by improving communication between nerve cells in the brain.
You can get hold of Four Sigmatic’s Mushroom Coffee with Lion’s Mane at Amazon, along with several other of their coffee products.
Recovery drinks for post-workout recharging are another growing area in the functional drinks space. There are a raft of options out there but in terms of value and quality, in the UK you will be hard pushed to find a better option than Bulk’s Aftermath Recovery drink.
Aftermath is a superior post-workout recovery drink designed to help build muscle and aid muscle recovery. It contains 40g of whey protein isolate and all the essential post-workout nutrients (amino acids, glutamine peptides, Creapure creatine monohydrate, HMB and rapid-digestion carbohydrates) to optimize muscle protein synthesis, lean muscle mass and strength. Every batch of Aftermath has been validated by an independent third party laboratory for banned substances and impurities so you can supplement with it safe in the knowledge of the quality that you are consuming.
Aftermath is available on the Bulk Website (and if you sign up through this link you get a 35% discount – please note that this is a referral link, so T7L will receive a small payment for any sign-ups)
Meal Replacements are about as functional as drinks get. Healthy meal replacement shakes are a great way to cut your food intake and contribute to weight loss, whilst ensuring that you are on top of your required daily nutrient intake, but it can be tricky finding the ones that will actually make a big difference. Until recently, the undisputed leader in this space has been Huel, but since launching in July 2021, MyProtein’s new BeNu product has made a huge splash and is a firm favourite at T7L.
With each serving providing 34g of protein, fibre, 33g of carbohydrate and omega-3 and omega-6 fats in just 400 calories – BeNu has it all and fits into a balanced diet. It’s an easy and convenient way to make sure you’re fuelling your body correctly when time for breakfast and lunch is limited. And, packed with inulin and Wellmune – a yeast beta glucan – to support digestion and immunity.
BeNu is available on the MyProtein Website (and if you sign up through this link you get 3 months of free next day deliveries – please note that this is a referral link, so T7L will receive a small payment for any sign-ups)
Last up on the list is our favourite CBD Drink. These days CBD is everywhere, CBD (also known as cannabidiol) is a molecule from the cannabis or hemp plant similar to ones naturally produced in our bodies. These are responsible for keeping the body in balance – or to use the technical term – homeostasis. In other words, it can balance the body and mind, regulating everything from anxiety and mood. It can also boost concentration, reduce inflammation, and aid sleep through relaxation.
Trip has been flying off the shelves recently, and for good reason. Going live in 2019, Trip was created when the co-founder’s husband underwent knee surgery just before their wedding. CBD was attributed to a miraculous recover for him in time for the wedding, and this was the inspiration behind making a CBD product that fits into people’s everyday lives. Intended to balance functionality with flavour, the range uses no added sugar, is vegan-friendly, gluten-free, low calorie, and is enhanced with adaptogens to support immunity, focus and stress-relief.
It’s delicious, refreshing and whether it is placebo effect or not, it has defintely had a great effect on quality of sleep.
Trip is available to buy in bulk on Amazon.
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