Sammy Nasrollahi, Hydro One Beverages

Hydro One CEO, Sammy Nasrollahi, is a genial functional beverage enthusiast with a health mission. The South Carolina-based entrepreneur’s firm recently won a US patent for its healthy soft drinks line REVd.

This uses a special cinnamon extract to tackle problems associated with high blood sugar such as diabetes and hyperglycemia.

The company’s ‘diabetic and dental friendly’ beverages are composed of distilled water, a cinnamon extract and are sweetened with tooth-friendly polyol xylitol – which has 40% fewer calories than sugar and reduces blood spike and insulin response.

Nasrollahi, who is horrified by the US obesity and diabetes epidemics, has put the hard yards in to develop his drinks: “It took us six years. But this is the first such patented product that has ever been made in the world,”​ he told us in March.

“Specifically, it’s not just for a diabetic – it’s a natural, vitamin-rich beverage. Even a five year-old kid could drink it because of the stevia and xylitol, with the latter excellent to fight against cavities,”​ he said.

In March, Hydro One told us it recently began working with wholesaler Sam’s Club as well as Walmart, while it also sells the drinks online, and via Whole Foods Market and The Fresh Market.

http://www.beveragedaily.com/R-D/Diabetes-busting-cinnamon-Hydro-One-drinks-score-US-patent-triumph​