Wellness Foods - December 2007 - (Page 17)

hops, mangosteen, muscat, polyphenols, pomegranate, proanthocyanidins, Note to Marketing: Careful Branding Datamonitor (www.datamonitor.com) believes the “superfood” label has been effective in adding “much needed vibrancy to healthy eating messages.” A “superfood” diet is unusual and refreshing in that the focus is on general health promotion rather than losing weight. But analysts are cautious about the future, especially vis-à-vis explicit superfood-branding initiatives. While predicting consumers will continue to demand more “good-for-you” products that provide both health and taste benefits, Datamonitor recommends manufacturers and retailers focus on incorporating good content into their products and not overly promote on the basis of superfood branding. management and cancer and heartdisease protection to fighting cavities. The foremost benefit, though, was cranberry’s “anti-adhesion” effect on certain bacteria via compounds called proanthocyanidins. Because of this, cranberries and cranberry juice gained popularity as fighters of urinary tract infection and, a few years ago, H. pylori-induced stomach ulcers. However, emerging science is showing cranberries could help protect against flu and lung conditions. According to the Ocean Spray Ingredient Technology Group (www. oceansprayitg.com), cranberry juice offers a non-specific anti-viral effect toward different viruses. The world’s largest cranberry co-operative, Lakeville-Middleboro, Mass.-based Ocean Spray, noted an exponential global demand for cranberry products, especially sweetened dried cranberries which saw sales rise 30 percent in 2006. Decas Botanicals Inc. (www. decasbotanical.com), Carver, Mass., has kept pace with both the accelerating science and consumer demand for berry-derived nutraceuticals. Tart camu camu is another emerging rainforest fruit with an impressive health profile. The company expanded its expertise beyond cranberries to a full line of berry extract powders and combinations for multiple food and beverage applications. This is in addition to its growing production of enhanced dried cranberry combos and omegarich cranberry seed oil. Tart cherries are another domestic red fruit being remarketed for their health properties. According to the Cherry Marketing Institute (www. choosecherries.com), Danville, Calif., they’re not only a strong antioxidant, but cherries also possess powerful anti-inflammatory properties and are a significant source of melatonin, the hormone-like compound known to regulate sleep and mood. While available fresh for only about eight weeks out of the year, manufacturers and consumers can get tart cherries year round in dried, frozen or juice forms. Grapes also are loaded with polyphenolic compounds, including anthocyanins, flavonoids (such as quercetin) and stilbenes (such as resveratrol). Resveratrol is believed to protect against cancer, vascular disease and osteoporosis. It also may help regulate cholesterol, glucose and blood pressure, and has antiinflammatory, antibiotic, antiviral and antifungal capacity. San Joaquin Valley Concentrates (www.activin. com), Fresno, Calif., provides ActiVin water-soluble resveratrol powder, a heat-stable product that can be added to beverages or the liquid portion of a food formulation. Blueberries, including wild blueberries, have become core players in the Food Processing’s Wellness Foods™ December 2007 | 17 http://www.activin.com http://www.datamonitor.com http://www.activin.com http://www.choosecherries.com http://www.choosecherries.com http://www.oceansprayitg.com http://www.oceansprayitg.com http://www.decasbotanical.com http://www.decasbotanical.com http://www.activin.com http://www.activin.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Wellness Foods - December 2007

Wellness Foods - December 2007 Well Noted Healthbites New Ingredient Profiles Wellness Trends in 2008 On the Shelf Expert Opinion

Wellness Foods - December 2007

For optimal viewing of this digital publication, please enable JavaScript and then refresh the page. If you would like to try to load the digital publication without using Flash Player detection, please click here.