Different types of energy drinks available in the UK market – Guires Food Research Lab

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WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF ENERGY DRINKS
AVAILABLE IN THE UK MARKET?
An Academic presentation by Dr. Nancy Agnes,
Head, Technical Operations, FoodResearchLab Group
  www.foodresearchlab.com Email
info_at_foodresearchlab.com
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INTRODUCTION

• Energy drinks are a class of beverages believed
  to stimulate the Central Nervous System (CNS) to
  increase energy, enhance mental and cognitive
  performance and help stay awake.
• They were introduced in the market in 1987,
  although they may appear as a recent phenomenon.
  The principal constituent of energy drinks is
  caffeine, an alkaloid found in tea, coffee and
  soft drinks, a stimulating agent.
• Other sources of caffeine include guarana, cocoa,
  koala nut and yerba mate, and they are the other
  constituents of energy drinks. The caffeine
  content may vary from 50 to 500 mg per bottle,
  depending on the beverage manufacturer.

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ENERGY DRINKS IN THE UK

• The consumption levels and the market size of
  energy drinks have been burgeoning 1. In the UK
  alone, the energy drink market increased by 155
  between 2006 and 2014, estimated at 1.48 million
  pounds 2.
• Factors causing this growth are urbanisation,
  rising disposable income and growing health
  awareness, which drive consumers to prefer energy
  drinks over soft drinks.
• A changing lifestyle of the consumers that makes
  them participate more in sports activities is
  another factor in the growth. Innovations in
  beverage formulation for energy drinks also
  catalyse change in the energy drink market 3.
• There are many different types of energy drinks
  available in the UK market. They are

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Figure 1 Energy drink types in UK
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• Standard energy drinks These are the most common
  energy drinks and typically contain caffeine,
  taurine, B vitamins, and other ingredients to
  help boost energy and alertness.
• The combination of glucose and caffeine showed
  the maximum benefits on cognitive performance
  4.
• Sugar-free energy drinks These are similar to
  standard energy drinks but do not contain any
  added sugar. They are popular with consumers
  watching their calorie intake or having dietary
  restrictions. The thermogenic effect is
  attributed to caffeine alone, which is shown to
  increase energy expenditure 5.
• Natural energy drinks These are made with
  natural ingredients such as green tea, guarana,
  yerba mate and ginseng instead of synthetic
  caffeine and taurine. They are promoted as a
  healthier alternative to standard energy drinks.
• Yerba mate is gaining popularity since it is rich
  in antioxidants and is proven to improve lipid
  metabolism. It also has cardioprotective and
  anti-diabetic properties 6.

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• Sports drinks These are designed to help
  athletes, and active individuals rehydrate and
  replenish electrolytes lost during physical
  activity. They may also contain caffeine and
  other ingredients to help boost energy and
  performance.
• Innovations are occurring in beverage products
  for sports nutrition they have become more
  specific concerning age, gender and the sports a
  person is involved in. In addition, beverage
  industries are formulating sports drinks using
  all-natural ingredients to meet consumers
  demands 7.
• Energy shots These are small, concentrated
  drinks that contain high levels of caffeine and
  other ingredients to provide a quick energy
  boost. They are marketed as a more convenient and
  portable alternative to standard energy drinks.
• Consuming energy shots have led to a subjective
  improvement in mood and performance. However,
  more studies must be conducted to determine their
  effects on humans 8.
• Relaxation drinks These are marketed to help
  consumers relax and reduce stress. They may
  contain melatonin, L-theanine, and chamomile 9.
  

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CONCLUSION

• Energy drinks are a group of beverages known to
  increase energy, stamina and performance in
  sports. The principal ingredient is caffeine,
  which can vary greatly, depending on the brand.
  In addition, energy drink consumption is rising
  among the youth, and the side effects are more
  profound in this age group. Therefore, consumers
  must pay attention to the ingredients before
  consuming the product

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HOW THE FOOD RESEARCH LAB CAN HELP

• The Food Research Lab is a state-of-the-art
  facility offering services in beverage
  formulation.
• It has a team of experts with over five decades
  of combined experience that assists its clients
  at every step of product development, from
  selecting natural ingredients and formulating the
  beverage that is minimally processed to pilot
  manufacturing, which enables the client to
  increase their efficiency in product development.
  
• It also assists in product packaging and
  marketing, ensuring that the product formulated
  is successful.

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