Once again, Prepared Foods, under its NutraSolutions brand, offers the “Ingredients for Health Reference” to provide market data and information on commercially available ingredients that assist in the development of products targeting various health benefits. From ingredients such as chia seed and red tomato for antioxidant supplementation, to the colors, flavors and textures used to make nutraceutical products attractive and palatable, this section offers a comprehensive range of information.
The categories are as follows:
• Antioxidants for Health
• Bone and Joint Health
• Cancer: Reducing Risk
• Cardiovascular Health
• Cognitive Health
• Diabetic Benefits
• Digestive Health
• Energy and/or Sports Performance
• Eye Health
• Immunity Enhancement
• Weight Management and
• General Health
Cancer: Reducing Risk
“Raw” food product launches are gaining momentum worldwide, whereby ingredients contained within are not processed and remain intact for superior nutrition benefits. The “superfood” notion also continues to be used by many food and beverage companies to convey foods which have high phytonutrient content and that may confer health benefits, such as cancer risk reduction. Consumers gravitate to foods with high inherent nutrition attributes, such as goji berries, blue algae, blueberries, broccoli and chia, for optimal health benefits and as a natural means to fight disease. The word superfood is being used as part of product branding and/or for claims purposes. Analysis from the Innova Database revealed that the most popular market categories in 2011 in which superfoods were used were breakfast cereals (8.5%), juice and juice drinks (5.7%), vegetables (5.2%) and chocolate (4.3%).
—Lu Ann Williams, Innova Market Insights, helpdesk@innovami.com, www.innovadatabase.com
It’s the Berries
Aronia berries are poised to become the new superfood in 2013! With significantly higher antioxidant power than other berries, the aronia harnesses health and wellness benefits that have experts hailing the ingredient as a superfruit. Case in point: According to a recent MSN report, aronia berries are one of the “superfoods you’ve (probably) never heard of.” In comparison to other berries, “Aronias contain three times as many disease-fighting antioxidants as blueberries.” What’s more, “raspberries and goji berries can’t compete when it comes to the aronia’s ability to prevent oxidative stress and cell damage.” To try aronias, check out the Superberries product line consisting of 100% Pure Aroniaberry Concentrate that contains a full 7lbs equivalent of aronia berries in every bottle. Other options include Aroniaberry Gummy Chews for a great-tasting antioxidant snack; and Freshly Frozen Aroniaberries that can easily be incorporated into any formula calling for berries. Superberries, Tammy Ross, 877-819-6881, Tross@WestinFoods.com, www.Superberries.com
Breast Cancer Fighter
Already one of the world’s most popular fruits, mangos might also be one of the healthiest. New research, presented at the FASEB Experimental Biology 2012 meeting, not only suggests people who eat mangos have a better diet, but note that the fruit also contains a substance that could have an effect on breast cancer cell proliferation. An exploratory study conducted by researchers at Texas A&M University and presented at FASEB, disclosed that a polyphenolic compound found in Keitt mangos has a toxic effect on breast cancer cells. The study—done in vitro and in mice—found decreased proliferation of breast cancer cells treated with the polyphenolic extract and reduced tumor size and weight in mice. Although more research is needed, including human clinical trials, researchers hypothesize that the effects of the polyphenolic extract might extend to the consumption of fresh mango. National Mango Board, www.mango.org NS
