NoThey are neither detoxified nor flavored waters and are distinguished from herbal teas. Functional waters are a mix of mineral salts, vitamins and active ingredients, summer drinks that help keep the body hydrated in the summer but not only. Also widespread in Italy, the real boom, however, is being experienced in the United Kingdom and the United States. From colourless, odorless and tasteless, the latest generation of water evolves, enriching itself with further precious elements for the body.
Summer drinks, what are functional waters
The advice is always the same: when temperatures rise, you need to drink water. Already naturally rich in essential elements for the body, in recent years the most consumed drink in the world has made a leap forward by enriching itself with further active ingredients. These are functional waters, summer drinks perfect to be consumed after sports or to replenish the salts lost during the hottest days.
«Very widespread in the United States and in the United Kingdom, in recent years also in Italy the so-called ‘functional waters’ have entered the market, different from bottled mineral water, of which our country is a large consumer and producer, and from flavored. These are waters enriched with functional ingredients, perfect to be taken when our body is lacking them» explains the Prof. Sergio Noviello, doctor and cosmetic surgeon, medical director of Sergio Noviello Cosmetic Surgery & BAT Centre.
From vitamins to collagen, what they contain
These natural mineral waters are therefore enriched with vitamins, mineral salts and other ingredients, such as collagen, so as to give extra help to the body. They also usually contain flavorings and very little sweetener. Their strong point is that all the elements that compose them are perfectly proportioned and calculated precisely, according to European standards, for functional water to be considered functional, it must contain 16% of minerals and vitamins of nutritional value, so as to meet the objectives set: «In fact, they perform different functions depending on the case. According to the composition and content it is possible to distinguish relaxing, vitaminic, draining or detoxifying waters» explains the expert.
What are the most present ingredients? «The offer today is very varied, there are among the main elements present potassium, calcium, zinc, magnesium, aloe vera and in some also collagen and hyaluronic acid. Without forgetting the vitamins, the most common are B, C and E». Each of these ingredients performs specific functions and is therefore designed for particular deficiencies, which is why it is important to choose the most suitable one.
Functional water or supplement: what are the differences
hybrids, functional waters are halfway between traditional mineral water and supplements. What distinguishes them, especially with the latter, is the precision of the nutritional elements they contain, as well as being extremely thirst-quenching and inviting to consume: «Although there are still no reliable studies on some functional waters, in particular those enriched with collagen and acid hyaluronic, others already conducted have shown that the assumption of one of these calcium enriched drinks actually has a beneficial function for bonesproving to be very useful for example for women in menopause and who are starting to be deficient in this element».
Better functional water or herbal tea?
The difference with herbal teas, one of the most requested summer drinks, is more substantial. Habits aside, in addition to being fresh, functional waters are also more moisturizing because they have been designed to give benefits to the body: «It must be considered that these waters are prepared following complex processes and processes that they offer and guarantee the presence of a greater quantity of nutrients than simple infusion. The latter, on the other hand, does not guarantee all assets, firstly because they are not present in such a precise way and secondly because during infusion teas and herbal teas physiologically lose part of their active ingredients» explains the expert.
Beware of sugars: the contraindications of functional waters
In general there are no particular contraindications in taking these particular waters. However, we must be careful of the amount of sugar present: «It is essential check the real presence of the nutrients mentioned on the label, but above all the percentage of sugars. Some products on the market contain in a bottle, quantities of sugars that do not differ much from those present in carbonated drinks can be classified as healthy drinks. However, in the cases in which we find ourselves faced with not negligible percentages of sugars, a moderate intake should be recommended like other products of the drink that we all know”.
For this this their recruitment should follow a discussion with the nutritionist or doctor not only to take the most suitable functional water for one’s deficiencies but also to avoid choosing those with too much sugar.
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