• Starting from the words of Hippocrates: "Let food be your medicine", nutraceuticals offer you, in a concentrated form, everything your body needs for proper functioning.
• Although there is naturally beneficial ingredients in foods, the deliberate incorporation of nutraceuticals into food products may be an alternative approach to maximize health-enhancing properties.
right Medichub, nutraceuticals are products that contain nutrients in high concentrations, extracted from whole natural sources, perfectly compatible with the human body, with direct health benefits.
The role of nutraceuticals is an adjuvant one, contributing to maintaining a general state of well-being from a physical and psycho-emotional point of view. They may contain one or more types of nutrients that complement those obtained through food, with a role in supporting biological processes, such as the reduction of excess free radicals or cell renewal.
In category nutraceuticals include: probiotics and prebiotics present in fermented dairy products (yogurt, kefir), antioxidants, dietary fibers, essential fatty acids, vitamins, coenzyme Q10, herbs and spices with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
Studies have shown that certain bioactive compounds or products that have nutraceutical compounds can protect consumers against certain cancers, hypertension, depression, heart disease, obesity, arthritis and diabetes.
Thus, in recent years, there has been a significant development of the nutraceutical products market, with companies launching numerous types of food supplements and functional or healthy food products.
The nutraceutical industry is expected to grow significantly
The nutraceutical industry is expected to register a CAGR of 5,2% between 2022 and 2030, due to the increase in the number of sporting events and awareness of the role of health-supporting products in nutrition, it says Global Market Insights Inc. in a recent report, the estimated value of the market to cross USD 636 billion by 2030.
Increasing awareness of the benefits of health supplements for various medical issues will further drive the demand for nutraceutical products. The high prevalence of infectious diseases and the emergence of new conditions will further drive consumers to purchase preventive care products and functional foods and beverages. In this sense, the pandemic that humanity has gone through has also led to increased sales of nutraceutical products and supplements.
"Nutraceuticals" and "functional foods" are terms used to define health-promoting foods or components that are extracted from them. Deadline "nutraceutical" is commonly used to refer to any compound that is consumed for health reasons.
Nutraceutical products provide benefits physiological or protect against chronic disease, while functional foods are broadly defined as foods that provide the consumer with additional physiological benefits over the usual diet beyond their basic nutritional functions.
Nutraceuticals in baking
Among bakery products, bread is the most consumed staple food worldwide. Depending on the grains used and the processing methods, bread, as a fermented product, is known to offer certain benefits to human health on its own.
The global baking industry is currently facing opportunities as well as challenges created by the current economic landscape, influencing the way bakers approach their businesses.
A notable change was observed, namely the offering on the market of natural and healthy bakery products, rich in vitamins, whole grains and fiber. Manufacturers in the sector have introduced several organic bakery products, breakfast cereals, breads and biscuits, enriched with nutritious and natural ingredients, in portable packaging or in the single-portion version.
Several companies have removed preservatives and artificial flavors from their products in an attempt to rebrand themselves as producers of healthier and more natural bakery products, but also under the influence of the wave of trans fat bans and the effects of fad diets.
The tendency of consumers to adopt healthy diets and the recognition of their benefits for well-being and longevity is increasing. But foods that contain healthy substances such as vitamins, fiber, antioxidants, etc. they are often laborious to prepare and consume, discouraging those with little time to devote to cooking. For these reasons, the formulation of products for quick and easy consumption, such as baked goods, is gaining more and more ground in the niche market.
Substances important for health
Among the substances that recent research has defined as important for our health, there are some that lend themselves very well to being added to bakery products, due to their chemical-physical and organoleptic qualities.
Beta glucans (ß-glucans) are non-starch polysaccharides composed of glucose molecules, which are part of the so-called "soluble fibers". They are present in many cereals (especially abundant in barley and oats), but also in the cell walls of common yeast.
These fibers, if consumed in adequate amounts (at least a few grams per day), can have important, scientifically proven beneficial effects, including reducing blood cholesterol levels, cardiovascular disease, allergies, glucose levels in blood, but also supporting the immune system. Moreover, in 2012, beta glucans were approved as safe by EFSA (European Food Safety Authority), which certifies the existence of solid scientific evidence regarding their benefits.
Fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS) are carbohydrates that are also part of soluble fiber because they are made up of small chains of fructose. They have a prebiotic effect, that is, their presence stimulates the growth of beneficial intestinal flora, consisting mainly of bifid bacteria.
The consumption of FOS is particularly important especially in children and ensures not only a better intestinal balance, but also seems to be linked to a better absorption of some minerals, such as calcium and magnesium.
In addition to the health benefits, FOS can be easily incorporated not only into foods where the probiotic-prebiotic combination is exploited (such as dairy products, such as yogurt and various fermented milks), but are also ideal for beverages and bakery products, given their resistance to high temperatures.
Impressive nutritional profile
In addition, in the case of low-sugar products, the presence of FOS not only gives the typical sweetness of these substances, but can also help to mask any unpleasant flavor due to the presence of sweeteners.
Cereal flours, especially wheat and rye flours, already have some FOS content. To increase this content, FOS extracted from the richest sources, especially chicory and Jerusalem artichoke, is added to bakery products.
Folic acid (also known as vitamin B9 or folacin) is a water-soluble vitamin required for DNA synthesis and repair, as well as for many other important biochemical reactions, particularly involving the intensive phases of cell multiplication.
For these reasons, folic acid intake is particularly important during pregnancy and childhood, to such an extent that various countries have undertaken governmental campaigns to fortify basic foods, including bakery products. This practice is quite widespread, with concerns that overexposure to this vitamin could occur despite its high safety profile.
Currently, nutraceuticals enjoy high interest due to their nutritional profile, food safety, ease with which they can be integrated into a wide range of products and therapeutic valences. The manufacturing companies are aware of the market evolution according to the consumer behavior and recognize the advantages of these compounds. Thus, studies dedicated to a better understanding of nutraceuticals and the potential beneficial impact on global health through their integration into the diet are constantly being conducted.
Article written by Gabriela Dan, Editor of Arta Albă
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