Massive consumer-goods companies are delving into an exciting and potentially lucrative new consumption trend: food and beverages with supposed health-enhancing or healing properties.

Coca-Cola (NYSE: KO) is launching a new Japanese tea called Sokenbicha in the U.S., envisioning initial distribution through Whole Foods Market (Nasdaq: WFMI). An unsweetened and calorie-free drink, Sokenbicha is intended for folks who dig the idea of alternative health remedies. Coke's also looking into other related products, like drinks based on traditional Chinese medicines.

Meanwhile, Swiss giant Nestle plans to shell out $500 million over the next decade to make food and drinks with big-time health benefits. It hopes to develop products that could prevent or even treat diabetes, obesity, and Alzheimer's, among other maladies. Not so coincidentally, products like these also tend to command healthy margins.

Even PepsiCo (NYSE: PEP) plans a drive into "good-for-you-products." The sultan of soda and snacks wants to grow that segment of its business from $10 billion in annual sales now to $30 billion in 10 years.

Many consumers love the idea of "natural" products with major health benefits. Wouldn't it be gratifying to eat and drink oneself to wellness, instead of paying up for Big Pharma products to fix what ails you?

Still, the natural and alternative health category has plenty of risks. While it can feel good to believe you're consuming something that's benefitcial for you, many of these concoctions may not actually do anything beyond stimulating the placebo effect.

The FDA hasn't evaluated the health claims of many of these substances' effectiveness. Similarly, the FTC reprimanded Kellogg (NYSE: K) for unsubstantiated health claims about its Rice Krispies cereal. The federal government also plans more research into the safety and effectiveness of many herbal supplements, whose producers tout their supposed wide range of health benefits.

These products could face brutal consumer backlash if science proves that some have no health benefits -- or actually hurt their users. While Coke, Nestle, and Pepsi's possible new growth channels look promising, they could also backfire, wasting a lot of shareholder capital on product duds that fall far short of the promise.

Are these companies on the right track for future growth, or are they making a major mistake that might be unhealthy for their shareholders? Sound off in the comment box below.