The Wellness Mirage: Parsing Hype from Health in the Functional Beverage Boom

The Wellness Mirage: Parsing Hype from Health in the Functional Beverage Boom

Walk through a grocery aisle or scroll TikTok’s “wellness” corner, and hydration has never looked so stylish—or so expensive. Rows of functional beverages boast neon labels and lofty claims: “hydration at the cellular level,” “focus without the crash,” “restorative adaptogens,” and “electrolyte optimization.” From sleek aluminum bottles of electrolyte-infused spring water to adaptogenic non-alcoholic aperitifs with names like “Mind Bloom” and “M…