Adaptogens and Fermented Drinks

Adaptogens are trending. A 2022 report by Intellectual Marketing Insights Research shows a projected 14.42 billion USD market size by 2028, a whooping CAGR 8.64% growth from 2021.

What’s fueling this growth? Undeniably, the increased awareness around the potential of these ancient remedies for modern healthier living.

Adaptogens are not considered as drugs, but because of their beneficial properties, they find applications in many industries, from Food & Beverages to Pharmaceuticals to Cosmetics, and even Animal Feed.

Most consumers take these natural stress-relievers and hormone balancers as powders, capsules, or as additives in food and beverages.

Fermented drinks and foods also trending

A similar movement to the adaptogen trend is the growing popularity of fermented beverages and foods. In fact, the market for fermented drinks is bigger as A Future Marketing Insights survey puts the estimated market size at a jaw-dropping figure of 989.2 billion USD by 2032.

This is not surprising, though. Like adaptogens, fermented drinks and foods can offer several health benefits. Many people consume non-alcoholic fermented drinks like kombucha, kefir, and yoghurt as rich sources of probiotics for improved gut health and other benefits.

Note that not all fermented drinks are prebiotic or probiotic-rich. For example, beer is a fermented drink, but the live culture doesn’t survive the brewing process. That’s unlike non-alcoholic fermented drinks like kombucha and kefir.

The surge in the popularity of fermented drinks is also thanks to pop culture. After the highly acclaimed Glass Onion featured a fictional brand, Jared Leto Hard Kombucha, the search engines have since seen thousands of monthly queries around the non-existent brand.

As more people get aware about the potential benefits of adaptogens and fermented drinks, the trends and market sizes are only expected to grow.

But are these not just fads? Do adaptogens really work?

Adaptogens do have health benefits as physical and mental stress relievers and also as bioregulators. Scientific studies have proven that adaptogens influence the immune-neuro-endocrine system and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, two multi-channel pathways that play crucial roles in the body’s stress response.

A 2018 literature review of studies on adaptogens uncovered evidence of their positive effects in improving adrenal fatigue, arthritis (both rheumatoid and osteoarthritis) and sleep disturbances. Adaptogens also enhance mental performance and mood, reduce the risk of cancers, as well as regulate the internal environment of the body through the endocrine system.

The best times to drink adaptogens is during seasons of intense stress. It is worth noting however that they are different varieties of plant-based adaptogens and synthetic adaptogens, with differing effects on the body. Many supplement sellers offer single-ingredient products.

Also worth noting is the fact that adaptogens can have adverse effects, like every other substance we consume, and may not be suitable for everyone. It is also not recommended to use adaptogens as standalone treatments for health conditions.

While the claims around adaptogens can sometimes come across as ‘faddy’, these substances do actually work. Their benefits can be traced back to traditional Chinese medicine and ayurvedic medicine. One could say that adaptogens only found their way into the mainstream and now benefit from modernization and globalization.

READ ALSO: Can you Replace Caffeine with Adaptogens?

What are the Benefits of Fermented Drinks?

Depending on the type of beverage, it is quite healthy to drink fermented drinks for the general population. Non-alcoholic fermented drinks like kombucha and kefir have several health benefits, the most talked about being improvement in gut health with probiotics.

But that’s not all. Fermentation as a food processing technology offers more advantages to individual fermented foods than just probiotics or longer shelf life. During fermentation, microorganisms, especially lactic acid bacteria (LAB), remove antinutrients, synthesize vitamins, and produce bioactive compounds like peptides that enhance their health benefits beyond gut microbiome.

Drinking fermented drinks has been shown to have potential benefits for many health conditions.

• Improved gut health (constipation and indigestion)
• Lower risk of heart disease
• Stronger immunity
• Improved mood and lower symptoms of anxiety

When delivered together in a single product, the benefits of adaptogens and fermented drinks are more than just combined. The end result is value-added food.

Synergy in a Bottle: How Fermented Drinks Amplify Adaptogenic Power

Not only can fermented drinks like kombucha act as carriers for adaptogens, thereby supplying their dual health benefits simultaneously, but the fermentation process itself also increases the bioavailability of phytochemicals found in adaptogens. This is more than just synergy.

A 2021 review published online in the National Library of Medicine reveals how fermentation can be a tool to increase the functional properties of food plant materials.

• Fermentation increases the availability of bioactive compounds.
• Fermentation results in the production of antioxidant compounds.
• Fermentation encourages the breakdown of plant cell walls, which helps to release the various antioxidant properties.

These benefits of fermentation make it possible to present fermented drinks like kombucha beyond nothing more than the inoculated versions of their base ingredients.

When taken individually, fermented drinks and adaptogens each provide health benefits. But when delivered together in a single product, their benefits are more than just combined. The end result is value-added food, from both perspectives.

Adaptogens and Fermented Drinks & Foods, the Future

As modern wellness trends nudge health-conscious consumers towards more natural remedies for lifestyle disorders or general well-being, food and beverage producers can exploit the beneficial intersection of fermented foods and adaptogens.

While these are not recommended standalone treatments for many metabolic illnesses, they can act as adjunct to professional treatment where not contraindicated. Healthy consumers can add fermented drinks, foods, and adaptogens into their diet for overall well-being.

Sea Salt + Cacao Juice + Kombucha = Boocha

Boocha, sold in packs of 6, is part of Bantu Chocolate’s drive at upcycling cacao fruit waste products and adding value to the kombuchas already in the market.

Buy a pack of 6 cans

Boocha, sold in packs of 6, is part of Bantu Chocolate’s drive at upcycling cacao fruit waste products and adding value to the kombuchas already in the market.

It is a refreshing fermented drink that simultaneously harnesses the health benefits of kombucha, cacao pulp juice, and sea salt. Think antioxidants and flavonoids, essential minerals, and vitamins, supporting digestive health and promoting a healthy heart.

Combined with the benefits of probiotics and detoxifying properties of kombucha, every sip contains a delightful fusion of taste, nutrition, and sustainability.

References

https://www.intellectualmarketinsights.com/download-sample/IMI-001649

https://www.healthline.com/health/stress/smart-girls-guide-to-adaptogens

https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/fermented-foods-and-beverages-market

https://www.healthline.com/health/stress/smart-girls-guide-to-adaptogens

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/8-benefits-of-kombucha-tea

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6723656/

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/fermentation