Nutraceuticals: what are the uses and benefits?
The agri-food market is constantly evolving, driven by consumers who are ever more concerned about eating health food for their health and well-being. Against this backdrop, nutraceuticals are logically positioned as a growing market. But what exactly are they?
Metarom, a specialist in the creation of flavor signatures and caramels for the food industry, offers an overview of nutraceuticals, from their uses to their benefits, and explains why this is a market of the future.
What are nutraceuticals?
The term"nutraceutical" comes from the fusion of "nutrition" and "pharmaceutical". It refers to any food, or part of a food, of industrial origin that has beneficial effects for health over and above its basic nutritional value. Nutraceuticals are consumed in the form of conventional foods enriched with active ingredients or as dietary supplements, which are generally in capsule or tablet form.
Nutraceutical products therefore include vitamin-enriched drinks, energy bars containing antioxidants and yogurts fortified with probiotics to support intestinal flora. The idea is to offer functional nutrition through health foods developed by the agri-food industry, i.e. foods enriched with components that have positive effects on health, well-being and disease prevention.
Nutraceuticals: what are the uses and benefits?
Nutraceuticals are becoming increasingly popular for their positive effects on health. Their aim is to prevent certain diseases, improve general well-being, or even optimize physical and mental performance.
The most common uses include:
Boosting the immune system with a food product enriched with vitamins C and D
Supporting digestive health with foods rich in fiber or probiotics
Improving cognitive performance with drinks or snacks containing plant extracts such as ginkgo biloba or omega-3
Promoting muscle recovery and fatigue reduction for athletes with protein bars containing amino acids
These products therefore offer a dual advantage: they meet specific health expectations while offering a pleasant taste experience. For manufacturers, nutraceuticals represent a great opportunity to differentiate themselves on the market by offering high value-added foods that respond to new food-related issues, such as:
Consumers' growing concern for their health
An ageing population, increasing demand for food products designed to prevent age-related illnesses
Wellness
Better eating
Growth forecasts for this food market are very promising, and manufacturers who position themselves today have a great chance of becoming tomorrow's leaders.
Metarom: your partner in developing original nutraceuticals
At Metarom, we understand the challenges of the nutraceutical market and we put our expertise at the service of your innovations. We work with you to create unique flavoring signatures, adapted to meet your needs for taste and functionality. Our caramel and filling solutions enable you to add a gourmet touch to your products without detracting from the benefits they offer consumers.
Whether you want to enrich a drink with fruity notes, develop a gourmet energy bar with a functional caramel core, or create vitamin-fortified snacks, Metarom is there to provide you with tailor-made solutions. Thanks to our expertise, we can help you combine health, taste and pleasure in products that appeal to consumers while meeting the demands of the nutraceuticals market.
The future of agri-food lies in the combination of well-being and indulgence, and with Metarom, you have the ideal partner to make this transition a success.
