In this blog post, we will discuss the various types of beverages and their uses. There are various types of beverages including:
Non-alcoholic beverages such as:
- Tea
- Coffee
- Cocoa
- Fruit juices-They are produced by extracting juice from fruits such as pineapples, mangoes, oranges. Some water may be added with little sugar. They are good sources of vitamins, minerals and energy. They can also be mixed with milk to form milk shakes.
- Dairy beverages-These are milk products that come in different flavours i.e. strawberry, pineapple, chocolate etc. They may contain preservatives and sugars etc.
Alcoholic beverages -These beverages have ethyl alcohol, which is produced either through natural or controlled fermentation. They include:
- Beer-Produced by fermenting barley.
- Wine-Produced through the fermentation of grapes using micro-organisms, particularly yeast.
- Whisky -It is fermented from grains.
- Brandy-Produced by fermenting fruits such as apples, grapes etc.
- Gin-It is produced from pure ethyl alcohol.
Carbonated beverages-The process of fermentation produces carbon dioxide in certain beverages like beer. Carbonation is done for various reasons. soft drinks, cola or lemonade beverages are exemplars of carbonated beverages.
Malted beverages-These are beverages produced by fermenting the seed of barley. Malted beverages can either be alcoholic or non-alcoholic. The non-alcoholic types tend to have more sugar and are less bitter than the alcoholic ones. Examples of alcoholic beverages are beers while the non-alcoholic types have different names, which may vary with culture and geographical location.
Other beverages- These include energy drinks, herbal drinks, sports drinks etc. Sports beverages (electrolyte drinks) are intended for the replenishment of electrolytes and fluids lost during a sport or exercise activity. They are usually used by athletes. They come in different types including: Hypotonic drinks, which are utilized to instantaneously replace the fluids lost through sweat. Hypertonic drinks -Are utilized for the replenishment of energy and as such contain high quantities of solutes-particularly carbohydrates. They are mainly used by marathoners. Then there are isotonic drinks, which cater to the replenishment of both energy and fluids lost during intense physical activities.
Energy drinks are those beverages intended to boost energy levels and usually contain vitamins, sugar and stimulants i.e. caffeine. Herbal drinks are beverages formulated through the mixing of herbs such as thyme, aloe vera, ginseng etc with water.
Advisably, aim to limit your intake of beverages with artificial flavours and alcohol. Excessive intake of alcohol is linked to increased risk of developing liver cirrhosis, poor cardiovascular health etc therefore limit its intake. The high consumption of sweetened drinks also poses health risks as it can lead to weight gain and health problems such as heart disease etc.