Interesting Ingredients Found in Healthy Drinks

There are a growing number of beverages which advertise themselves as healthy drinks. Looking at some of the ingredients included in these beverages most people will find quite a shock. While there is no arguing the ingredients are incredibly healthy, they simply aren't items typically associated with beverages.

One such ingredient found in healthy drinks is kudzu. Kudzu is a plant that has traditionally been used in Chinese medicine to treat a variety of issues. It has shown to include a number of useful isoflavones which provide anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties. It is also been shown to be beneficial in treating migraine and cluster headaches. This particular item is most well-known as a food rather than a healthy drink ingredient because the roots contain a healthy starch and the flowers are often used to make jellies.

A less shocking ingredient found in healthy drinks as honey. Honey has long been known to have a variety of nutritional and medicinal qualities. From a nutritional standpoint, honey contains invert sugar which is excellent at providing instant energy while also acting as a useful food supplement. From a medicinal standpoint, honey has been tied to helping heal wounds, controlling allergies, and including powerful antioxidants that can help kill drug resistant biofilms.

Black garlic is another ingredient commonly found in healthy drinks. While it is not as well-known as the more popular white garlic, it has seen an increase in popularity over the past few years. Garlic becomes Black garlic following a month-long process of fermentation under strictly controlled heat and humidity. There are a variety of potential health benefits that it offers. One such benefit is high levels of S-allylcysteine. While it is found in white garlic, it appears in much higher concentrations in Black garlic. Black garlic also offers antimicrobial and antibiotic properties via its active ingredient allicin.

Ginger has also become more popular in healthy drinks. It not only helps manage the appetite, but also enhances the body's ability to absorb essential nutrients. Some circles believe that Ginger has the ability to clear micro circulatory channels of the body which is why it is often used to help clear up sinuses. Ginger also has anti-inflammatory properties which can help relieve joint pain.

The final surprising ingredient found in healthy drinks is jujube. Jujube is a unique fruit because there are at least 400 different varieties and each has a distinctive characteristics. For example, some are best to eat fresh while others should be dried. Jujubes are not added to healthy drinks because they have a particularly high level of any particular nutrient, rather they contain a wide variety of different nutrients. Medical studies have shown that it can help lower blood pressure, treat anemia, and potentially inhibit the growth of tumor cells.