The “functional beverage” market – that’s drinks with additional health benefits – is booming, with British supermarkets seeing sales jump by 24.5% in the last 12 months, according to one market research firm. Almost 30% of UK households now buy these functional drinks, Worldpanel by Numerator says.
So, what’s actually in them that’s supposed to help you feel more mellow or give your health a boost? Well, that’s where things can get complicated, as each brand takes a different approach.
Along with Trip’s Mindful Blend, other companies like Rheal, Grass&Co, Goodrays and supermarket own-brands, advertise that their drinks contain supplements including:
Lion’s Mane extract – a type of mushroom found in east Asian countries
L-theanine – an amino acid found primarily in green and black tea
Ashwagandha – a herb cultivated in areas of Asia, Africa, and Europe
Magnesium – a mineral the human body needs to function properly
These supplements are all commonly found in many health and wellbeing products and are associated with enhancing mood, boosting energy, supporting cognition, and helping with stress.
But how robust is the evidence for that? It’s tricky because there are many studies of varying credibility each suggesting different levels of efficacy.
Trip’s advert, which suggested its ingredients were stress and anxiety busters, breached the Advertising Standards Agency’s (ASA) code, with the ASA ruling that Trip’s claims their drinks could “prevent, treat or cure disease” were a step too far.
Trip told BBC News the ruling related to “a single page on the website” and it has made the “changes requested”. It says it’s confident it’s ingredients permit the use of the word “calm” which is “widely and lawfully used by many brands”.