September 2011/NutraSolutions -- A recent BENEO research study about functional beverages shows that consumers, no matter their nationality, expect prolonged and balanced energy, as well as mental performance enhancement from their functional beverages. The quantitative research, carried out across the U.S., UK and Germany, focused on the benefits consumers expect from their energy, sports and functional water drinks. Results show that “prolonged energy,” “balanced energy” and “mental performance” are ranked highest, as the benefits respondents expect from their sports, energy and functional water drinks. BENEO, www.beneo.com NS