Neutraceuticals Market Assessment 2008 Out Now

The nutraceuticals market comprises the combined functional foods and vitamins, minerals and supplements (VMS) sectors. The larger functional foods sector encompasses principally the four areas of: breakfast cereals fortified with fibre and sometimes with vitamins
and minerals; probiotic yoghurts and yoghurt drinks; cholesterol-lowering margarines; and soya milks. A newer and growing segment is fortified breads. Fortified breakfast cereals and probiotic yoghurts/yoghurt drinks are claimed to aid digestion, and cholesterol-lowering margarines are targeted at heart health. The use of the cholesterol-lowering active ingredients has been extended to probiotic yoghurts and yoghurt drinks, and to milk and cheese.

The smaller VMS sector is dominated by single and multivitamins, fish oils (mainly cod liver oil), plant oils (largely evening primrose oil), minerals and glucosamine supplement products.

The functional foods sector increased by 8.3% in value terms in the year ending 8th September 2007, a substantial slowing of growth from the 22.1% rise shown in the year to 9th September 2006. This slowdown was accounted for by a decline in sales of probiotic yoghurt drinks (which appear to have peaked after strong previous growth), while sales of cholesterol-lowering margarines and spreads experienced only a slight rise. However, some positive growth was achieved through increased sales of fortified breakfast cereals, probiotic yoghurts and soya milks.

To read more of this press release from PR-inside.com, click here.

Bacteria Help Boost Immune System

Eating food infested with bacteria is not always a bad a thing.

Oak Park triathelete Karen Steward-Nolan does just that to keep her body going while training, which sometimes requires running 10-20 miles on a treadmill during the Chicago winter months.

One of Steward-Nolan’s favorites is yogurt, a good choice of snack because it contains “good” bacteria.

To read more of this content on Med Reports Chicago, click here

Probiotics Ward Off Flu in Elite Athletes

Marathon runners may be less likely to get sick if they dose up on good bacteria, according to Australian research which may help give elite athletes the edge they need.

A study by the Australian Institute of Sport found endurance runners given a probiotic supplement suffered less severe flu and cold symptoms than other athletes.

Their illness also generally lasted only half the time of those not taking the supplement, lead researcher Dr David Pyne said.

To read more of this content in The Age, click here

Probiotics: Friendly Little Germs

Until a few years ago, Ted Gallinat couldn't tell you the difference between kefir and yogurt or antibiotics and probiotics.

He was a fast food junkie. Then he attended a health conference in Davisburg.

"I was a little skeptical," admitted the Richfield Township resident and former Flint Township supervisor. His thinking had always been when you're sick, you go to a doctor and get a prescription. Preventive medicine wasn't on his radar.

( read more)