Holistic health Photo ©
Holistic health Photo © : Fi Global Consumers understand the blessings of preventive nutrition and are increasingly considering products that provide them with several benefits at once. Holistic approach to human health Julien Bonvallet The days when healthy nutrition was mostly about obtaining enough vitamins, counting calories and avoiding fat are long gone. That’s because today, many people view nutrition from a preventive and personal perspective: we eat what is good for us as individuals, and take more of a holistic approach to our health — a trend that will be a key theme at this year's Fi Europe combined with Hi Europe. According to the World Health Organisation, “Health is a stage of complete physical, mental and social wellbeing, and not merely the absence of disease and infirmity”. The fact that physical and mental wellbeing go hand in hand, and that Juvenal’s “Mens sana in corpore sano” also applies the other way around, should be indisputable. But mental health has gained tremendous importance once again, largely as a result of the pandemic: For during the lockdowns and many weeks of reduced social contact, psychological discomfort increased in many people. i In the UK, 65 % of consumers say mental and emotional wellbeing is just as important to them as diet and physi cal exercise, with only 8 % seeing it as less important. ii The stage is set, then, for holistic health as a megatrend that can also offer enormous potential for manufacturers of functional foods and nutraceuticals. But what exactly can nutrition do for mental wellbeing? And what sub-trends are opening up for the industry? Trends in holistic health Blood glucose management The fact is that rapidly fluctuating blood glucose levels are not conducive to good health and can lead to NCDs such as obesity, type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Furthermore, keeping blood glucose levels in check can have a significant impact on overall wellbeing: If blood glucose levels rise sharply and quickly, we feel fit and productive. But if there’s a sudden drop – such as that often experienced after carbohydraterich meals – fatigue can affect concentration 48 No. 3 November/December 2021
Holistic health and overall performance levels. The solution is low-glycemic carbohydrates that, when used as an ingredient in functional foods, can ensure that blood glucose levels rise more slowly after consumption, whether in beverages, confectionery or dairy products. Gut health Studies have revealed a connection between our intestine and nervous system, known as the gut-brain-axis. In animal analyses, scientists came to the conclusion that the intestinal microbiome and its specific composition influenced animal behaviour. Many of us can no doubt confirm this from our own experience: If the intestine is affected, so is the rest of the body. This and the fact that in recent years, popular scientific literature has shone a spotlight on the formerly taboo subject of intestinal health, has led to the development of numerous innovative pro ducts based on dietary fibres, prebiotics and probiotics — all suitable for a holistic health approach. In August 2020, Perennial launched “Gut & Brain,” a plant-based drink made from pea, soy and rice protein that’s fortified with DHA omega-3 fatty acid, folate, choline and vitamins B6, B12 and E. The product also contains prebiotic fibres to promote gut microbiota and cognitive health via the gut-brain axis. Immune health According to FMCG Gurus, 17 % of people worldwide say they have adjusted their diet — often with nutraceuticals — to focus on immune health. Mintel states that most claims related to immune health originate in the European Union, followed by Asia, North America and Latin America. In Europe, for example, 12 immune-related health claims exist for products containing vitamin A, B6, B12, C and D, and the minerals folate, copper, iron, selenium and zinc. But it’s not just about products that directly support normal immune function; it’s also about those designed to support “softer” factors (such as better sleep, stress reduction and inner peace). Research shows that the body’s ability to fight infection — and even the efficacy of its response to vaccines — is impaired if the individual is stressed or sleep-deprived. iii, iv As such, the link between immunity, sleep and stress is becoming ever-more established in consumers’ minds. Yet in the past five years, only 5 % of global immune supplements made a functional claim relating to sleep or stress management. v ENDLESS HYDROLYZED COLLAGEN POSSIBILITIES ProTake, is a versatile hydrolyzed collagen ingredient that combines dietary and nutritional benefits with advantageous formulation functionalities stable under a wide variety of processing protocols and different conditions. Rousselot’s experts offer an array of recipes and knowledge on how to incorporate collagen in your application. Discover more! Scan me! @RousselotHealth Rousselot rousselot.com/health Rousselot is a brand of Darling Ingredients
