Wellness Foods - August 2008 - (Page 8)

Formulating for Boomers chronic joint inflammation, pain and stiffness. The National Institutes of Health sponsored a clinical trial – “Glucosamine/Chondroitin Arthritis Intervention Trial” – between 2000 and 2004 that concluded the combination of glucosamine and chondroitin provided significant pain relief for sufferers of osteoarthritis. Despite that, glucosamine chondroitin failed to win an FDA health claim in 2004. Still, legions of fans take pill supplements several times a day. Supplemental glucosamine provides the building blocks for cartilage production. Chondroitin sulfate, another component of the cartilage, helps it retain water and prevents it from becoming brittle. Cargill offers Regenasure, a selfaffirmed GRAS ingredient, available as HCl glucosamine and in a sulfate version. Formulating with Regenasure is facilitated by the fact that it is highly soluble and clean tasting. The drop-in formulation is attractive to formulators as is the fact that it is shellfish allergen-free, vegetarian source and Kosher/Halal certified. Drinks seem to be particularly good carriers of glucosamine chondroitin. The popularity of joint relief is obvious from the recent rollout of products. They include the mainstream Minute Maid Active Pure Squeezed Orange Juice from the Coca Cola Co.; to juice drink Elations from Elations Co., Cincinnati; to Fitness Water from aptly named Joint Juice Inc., San Francisco. Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) similarly has been used in pill form for joint health. At the June IFT Food Expo, TandemRain Innovations, Vancouver, Wash., launched ActivMSM, what it claims is the first MSM product to have GRAS (generally recognized as safe) designation for food and beverage formulations. Calcium has a very important role in boomer nutrition. Understanding its role and effects are essential for ingredient selection and formulation. NutraFlora, a fructooligosaccharide ingredient primarily developed as a prebiotic (more on that later), also has the ability to significantly enhance calcium absorption, notes Trina O’Brien, marketing manager for Golden, Colo.-based GTC Nutrition (www. gtcnutrition.com). “Natural vitamin K2 actually directs calcium to the proper place and helps build a stronger, more flexible bone,” says Rodger Jonas, vice president of technical sales at PL Thomas (www.plthomas.com), Morristown, N.J. The self-affirmed GRAS vitamin K2 brand MQ7 is credited with activating the deposition of calcium in the bones and inhibiting the calcification of vascular systems. Jonas predicts market penetration in 2009 and claims that several food product launches are planned this year with MQ7, which he says already is popular in dietary supplements. Even without an FDA claim, glucosamine has a faithful following, and it’s showing up in more food products. Digestive and immune health Probiotics, a gauge of a healthy intestinal tract and naturally found in dairy products, are now being formulated into a variety of products across all categories. Probiotics and prebiotics are finding their way into the vocabularies of the baby boom generation. “The short-chain fructooligosaccharides (scFOS) in NutraFlora are ideal for the probiotics naturally occurring in the gut,” according to GTC Nutrition’s O’Brien. The natural prebiotic fiber, derived from beet or cane sugar, is reportedly the highest concentration of pure scFOS obtained from a natural Spice Up Aging Taste Buds With aging comes some degeneration of olfactory nerves and a diminished sense of smell and taste. But boomers, with broad life experiences and a greater zest for life than ever before, seek spicier, higher-flavor foods to tickle their dulled senses. Some spices that have both nutraceutical properties and high taste impact: Turmeric – the super spice – and its active compound curcumin lend a beautiful yellow richness to foods and beverages and may help keep the brain young and help improve memory. Cinnamon, with its insulin-like properties, may help boomers control blood sugar levels. Cumin, with anti-carcinogenic properties and a very good source of iron, is traditionally noted for its benefit to the digestive system and stimulation of pancreatic enzymes necessary for proper digestion and nutrient assimilation. Garlic is a source of anticancer compounds including allicin, allixin, allyl sulfides and quercetin, and does wonders for practically any savory food product. Green herbs – dill, oregano, peppermint, rosemary, sage and thyme – come with generous amounts of phytochemicals and antioxidants, often exceeding the antioxidant activity of many fruits and vegetables. Scientific evidence is pouring in that spices and herbs do more than just flavor our food – they add color, variety, flavor, aroma and help with preservation. Potent herb extracts such as Inolens4 from Vitiva (of Slovenia) are labelfriendly protection against rancidity, taste change and color alteration, instead of synthetic antioxidants that are also associated with allergies, sensitivities, plus possible links to carcinogenity and mutagenicity. 8 | August 2008 www.wellnessfoodsonline.com Food Processing’s Wellness Foods™ http://www.gtcnutrition.com http://www.gtcnutrition.com http://www.plthomas.com http://www.wellnessfoodsonline.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Wellness Foods - August 2008

Wellness Foods - August 2008 Balance for Boomers Vitamins for Eye Health Nutraceutical Spirits New Views on Fiber

Wellness Foods - August 2008

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