Gone are the days when choosing a soda (or a “pop” as I grew up calling them) simply meant cola or not-cola, diet or regular. If you or your family drinks soda, you’ve probably noticed a lot of new choices at the grocery store. And you may be wondering how these colorful new arrivals differ from traditional sodas. Read on to see if popping the lid on one of these modern sodas is worth your while.
What are Wellness Sodas?
You might hear them called “wellness sodas.” But the beverage industry refers to them as “functional sodas,” a sub-group of the much larger functional beverages market sector. Functional sodas are fortified with ingredients we don’t usually find in traditional sodas. And that’s because their target consumers aren’t just looking for tasty hydration. They enjoy carbonated drinks, but also want some health benefits along with their bubbles. Functional sodas are currently enjoying popularity in certain functional beverage categories: gut health, cognitive and mental wellness, and immune enhancement. It started out as a fringe category populated by tiny, new brands. But it has quickly grown into a force that’s convinced even traditional big-brand soda companies to join in. Wellness sodas aren’t woo-woo, they’re big business.
Functional Sodas vs. Traditional Sodas: How Do They Differ?
Traditional soft drinks consist mostly of carbonated water, syrups, and sugars or high-intensity sweeteners, acids, and artificial flavors. Their overall purpose for well over a century has been to provide tasty, refreshing hydration. But that’s not enough for the consumers who purchase functional sodas. They desire better-for-you sodas—something beyond simply hydration—and that shows up in the ingredient lists.
Unlike their traditional counterparts, most functional sodas are low in sugar. And they typically don’t contain synthetic non-caloric sweeteners, either. For sweetness and flavor, many modern sodas rely on fruit extracts or fruit juice. When they need additional sweetness, you’ll sometimes see the addition of a low-calorie sweetener like stevia or monk fruit sweetener.
The wellness approach of functional beverages means they include bioactive ingredients aimed to appeal to health-conscious consumers. Things like an array of vitamins and minerals (some positioned as electrolytes), adaptogens, functional mushrooms, and a variety of botanical compounds.
Here are a few examples of ingredients that might be found in functional sodas created for different health effects:
Gut health Prebiotic fiber, probiotics, ginger, apple cider vinegar, live active cultures
Stress management Herbs, functional mushrooms, adaptogens
Focus/mental health Caffeine, nootropics, functional mushrooms
Immunity Zinc, vitamin C, antioxidants (such as from tea leaves or fruit)
How Do Functional Sodas Taste?
Along with innovative ingredients, modern sodas have a reputation of giving consumers something new in terms of taste. Maybe you’re looking for international influences, creative fruit flavor combos, a tropical vibe, or just a more sophisticated flavor profile. If so, functional sodas might be your new beverage besties. And if throwback flavors are more to your liking, you’ll find plenty of cream sodas, root beers, and ginger ales to enjoy. These drinks are not just for use as alternatives to traditional sodas, either. Many people use them in mocktails or as alternatives to alcoholic beverages. Part of the reason they work well for that is because they aren’t overly sweet. And the botanical elements, such as herbs and spices, fit right in with mocktail culture.
Do Functional Sodas Earn Guiding Stars?
Yes, there are plenty of brands and flavors of functional sodas that earn Guiding Stars. They are evaluated using the Guiding Stars beverage algorithm. Like the other algorithms, beverages are credited or debited for ingredients and characteristics that impact their healthfulness. To earn stars, the soda must be low in sugar, salt, and any of the additives we aim to limit. Many of these sodas also have added vitamins, minerals, and fiber, which count as a credit toward the product’s final score. Currently, there are lots of functional soda brands and flavors that earn two or even three Guiding Stars, indicating better and best nutrition.