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Food supplement ingredients are key to the success of a product in this growing category. Natural ingredients such as beehive products are being used to fulfill the demands of the consumer, and represent a great opportunity for new formulas entering the market.
Food supplements market: growth and trends
As confirmed by a recently published Forbes’ article on powerful consumer trends to watch out for this year, food supplement sales are booming as consumer commitment to a healthy living grows. While the European nutrition and supplements market is expected to reach USD 52.9 billion (around 45 thousand million euros) by 2021 (Grand View Research, Inc), people are awakening to the direct effect that food has on health. Therefore, increasing the importance of selecting great quality food supplement ingredients.
Organic natural ingredients are becoming a plant-based and sustainable option for food supplement solutions. They are proposing overall wellness to consumers in a time of global health challenges. The huge spikes in demand for a variety of natural ingredients has demonstrated how deep and full of opportunities the increase in demand for supplements is.
How to incorporate beehive products as food supplement ingredients
Nutraceuticals trends previously outlined are prompting the food sector to offer more and more well-supported products that can nourish the body when becoming part of a balanced diet, helping us cover nutritional needs without interfering with our body functioning. Food supplement ingredients of high quality are important to achieve these formula’s goals.
The bioactive components that beehive products possess can be integrated as food supplement ingredients to increase their nutritional value and provide consumers with functional foods that optimize physiological functions, promote health and minimize the risk of developing chronic diseases.
Beehive products can be incorporated as food supplement ingredients to provide a concentrated source of nutrients. These can be presented in different forms:
- Tablets
- Capsules
- Powders
- Liquids
- Drinks
- Energy bars
- Or even gummies!
In order for users to incorporate them optimally to their diets, they are usually marketed in ‘dose’ forms.
Including Propolis as a food supplement ingredient
As a food supplement ingredient, propolis can be used for specific applications including the prevention and reduction of upper respiratory tract infections, the prevention of gastrointestinal disorders, the promotion of energy and sports performance, the lowering of blood pressure and the nurturing of strong bone tissue.
Honeybees collect the Propolis. This product is a vegetal source of tree resin, essential oils, phenolic acids, waxes and bioflavonoids. These components give propolis strong antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and antibiotic properties.
This resin-like material is usually blended with honey and other ingredients for the development of oil drops (to be diluted in water and other liquids), oral sprays, syrups and capsules amongst others, as well as it being a value-adding active ingredient in functional foods.
Download our propolis catalogue to find out more about the benefits and applications of the raw, powder and block forms of propolis!
Including Royal Jelly as a food supplement ingredient
Another food supplement ingredient available in the market is Royal Jelly. Royal Jelly is the result of the secretion of 5 to 14 days old bees’ pharynx glands. It is commonly known to be a royal superfood. Note that it is the bee queen’s exclusive meal for life. Moreover, it is a natural source of bioactive substances such as proteins, carbohydrates, amino acids, fatty acids and minerals.
As a powerful antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and healing agent, royal jelly is a natural source of vitamins in group B, acetylcholine and phenolic compounds. Its antioxidant activity reduces the risk factor of heart diseases; lowering blood cholesterol levels, blood pressure and blood sugar.
If taken on a daily basis, royal jelly has demostrated to improve memory by attenuating the progression of age-related motor function decline. It is usually consumed blended with honey, in the form of caps, sprays, sweets, vials and tablets; providing with a minimally invasive remedy apt for different age groups and conditions.
Download our royal jelly catalogue to find out more about the benefits and applications of the frozen, fresh and lyophilized forms of royal jelly!
Including Manuka Honey as a food supplement ingredient
Positioned as a one of the winning food supplement ingredients, New Zealand’s native Manuka Honey is produced from the nectar of the Leptospermum flowers. Its main compound, MGO, largely determines its value in antimicrobial properties.
Large research has proved how this organic natural ingredient can strengthen body defenses, reduce heart attack risks and slow down oxidative stress and inflammation, as well as anti-aging effects. Manuka honey is now starting to prove how it can even be useful for antibiotic resistant infections.
In the form of oral drops, it provides a super-effective defense against viruses and bacteria, while palliating coughs, colds and asthma. Incorporated into different food supplements, it will favour consumer’s digestion and immunology.
Download our manuka honey catalogue and find out more about manuka’s benefits and antibacterial activity!
Including Bee Pollen as a food supplement ingredient
Bee pollen is a mix of pollen collected by bees from flowers with nectar and salivary substances. As a food supplement ingredient, bee pollen is an organic source of selenium, bioactive substances. Including proteins, enzymes, sterols, carbohydrates and many more healing agents.
As an impressive neutralizer of free radicals’ activity, it can help improve hepatic function through its detox capacities, also improving nutrients absorption and accelerating metabolism while reducing risk factors of heart diseases.
Worthily used in functional foods, syrups, sweets and honey blending, bee pollen’s use as a food supplement ingredient goes from human consumption to pet food. Its integration into the nutraceutical market has provided with strong capacities for hormonal balance, boosted athletic performance and weight loss.
Download our bee pollen catalogue to find out more about the benefits and applications of fresh, dried and powder forms of bee pollen!
Willing to take advantage of ready to use natural ingredients to win over consumer nutraceutical trends? At HoneyGreen, we go beyond supplying the best quality food supplement ingredients. Our aim is to provide you with a product development consulting strategy. Contact us to know more!
