An increasing awareness to ensure overall good health has brought a new category to the beverage industry: functional beverages. These beverages come from the notion that drinks should not only quench thirsts but also provide additional health benefits such as replenishing nutrition, providing energy, preventing ailments and promoting healthy lifestyles. The trend toward sipping functional beverages on a regular basis is likely to continue to grow as the population makes dietary alterations to be more healthful. Historically, soy was never a significant part of the American diet, although soybeans were second to corn as the nation's most valuable crop. Soy beverages were a niche market with a small consumer base, mainly vegetarians and people with specific health needs, such as lactose intolerance.
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