Consider it the new metabolic blueprint for health. There’s a new health breakthrough that emphasizes metabolic health and consists of several functional food ingredients that every manufacturer would be wise to prioritize.
This discovery involves specific functional ingredients such as soluble fibers, plant-based proteins, resistant starches, botanical extracts, medium-chain triglycerides, prebiotic fibers, magnesium compounds, and antioxidant-rich ingredients that can help promote health while lowering the risk of disease.
The main purpose of utilizing these functional food ingredients is to change our direction to being more proactive when it comes to our health. By focusing on blood sugar, hormonal balance, and energy, our bodies can become healthier overall.
The following eight primary functional ingredients will provide the sources for weight loss and nutrition by including high-fiber, high-protein, and nutrient-dense filling foods.
Soluble Fibers
When we ingest soluble fiber, it slows the glucose absorption process, which results in enhancing insulin sensitivity and ultimately reducing LDL (the bad) cholesterol. A few examples of soluble fiber include: oats, barley, flaxseed, and almonds.
The benefits of soluble fibers include the following:
- Better blood sugar control – Soluble fiber slows sugar absorption, which further helps to manage blood sugar levels.
- Increased feelings of fullness – Soluble fiber helps you feel fuller for longer, and that can be extremely beneficial for weight management.
Plant-Based Proteins
Consuming non-animal-based proteins provides sustained energy release, as well as a feeling of satiety, which helps with appetite control and the maintenance of muscle mass. Some examples include: lentils, chickpeas, edamame, and quinoa.
One of the underrated benefits of plant-based protein is that it promotes heart health. The fiber and antioxidants in plant-based proteins help to protect arteries and enhance cardiovascular function. Diets high in plant proteins are associated with lower cholesterol and reduced blood pressure.
Resistant Starches
Resistant starches are a type of carbohydrate that function as prebiotics by nourishing the good bacteria in your gut and supporting digestion. These resistant starches will also help with satiety and thus appetite control. Examples can include: brown rice, sweet potatoes, beans, and whole grains.
A few of the benefits of resistant starches:
- Improve gut health – Because resistant starches act as a prebiotic, they feed the beneficial gut bacteria, which improves overall gut health.
- Enhance blood sugar control – Resistant starches slow carbohydrate digestion and absorption, which helps normalize blood glucose levels.
Botanical Extracts
These concentrated substances are extracted from plants and take on the form of liquids, pastes, or powders and are known for their therapeutic properties. These emerging natural alternatives help aid in improving insulin sensitivity and reducing blood sugar. Examples that can be found in teas and wellness capsules include: green tea extract, turmeric (curcumin) extract, ginseng extract, and ashwagandha extract.
Botanical extracts offer benefits like improved immune support, digestive aid, and stress and anxiety relief.
Medium-chain Triglycerides
These triglycerides are a type of fat that is derived essentially from palm kernel and coconut oils, and are known for their distinctive metabolic properties and their inherent health benefits. Examples of medium-chained triglycerides include: dairy products, coconut cream, MCT oil, and full-fat yogurt.
A few of the noteworthy benefits provided by MCTs:
- Digestive health – Many people have digestive issues or malabsorption problems, but MCTs can be easier to digest, providing calories without digestive distress.
- Source of energy – MCTs can be metabolized quickly, and that means they provide a rapid source of energy, which can be beneficial to athletes needing quick fuel for physical activities.
- Weight management – Because MCTs provide feelings of fullness, caloric intake is lower, especially when compared with LCTs, and that will ultimately aid in weight control.
Prebiotic Fibers
These non-digestible plant fibers help nourish and promote the growth of beneficial gut bacteria, which ultimately help to influence the management of hormonal regulation of appetite. A few examples of prebiotic fibers are: inulin (found in onions and asparagus), galacto-oligosaccharides (found in dairy), fructo-oligosaccharides (found in bananas).
Prebiotic fibers tend to help individuals with enhanced digestive health and improved immune function.
Magnesium Compounds
Magnesium is a crucial mineral for overall health that supports heart, muscle, bone, and nerve function. Magnesium can be found in supplemental and food forms, including: nuts and seeds, beans and soy products, fatty fish, leafy greens and fruit.
A few of the benefits of magnesium compounds:
- Muscle function – Magnesium is essential for muscle contraction and relaxation. It also helps prevent fatigue and muscle cramps.
- Nerve transmission – Magnesium helps to transmit signals between the brain and the muscles.
- Bone health – Magnesium is a strong contributor to bone density, reducing the risk of osteoporosis.
Antioxidant Rich Ingredients
Antioxidants protect the body from oxidative stress that leads to chronic disease. Foods rich in antioxidants can help reduce the risk of heart disease and age-related macular degeneration. Examples include: berries, nuts, spinach, and beans.
Antioxidant rich ingredients help reduce the risk of chronic disease and promote heart health. They also offer cellular protection; free radicals are molecular species that are generated during normal metabolic processes, and antioxidants neutralize these free radicals, which support cellular protection.
Ultimately, the most eye-opening element of functional foods is that they not only taste great, but they are truly good for you and provide the body with essential nutrients. Functional foods offer health benefits beyond their nutritional value by helping to prevent nutritional deficiencies, and by providing protection against diseases.
We’re in a new era, with a healthier shift toward holistic metabolic management. Manufacturers who utilize functional, science-backed food ingredients will help lead the way to the next phase of food innovation.
Food for Thought Leadership
This Episode is Sponsored By: Tibersoft
Foodservice manufacturers might develop option paralysis with all the data available in the current day, but what kind of focus can really help drive marketing returns? Suzanne Cwik of Tibersoft and Eric Anderson of Conagra help break down data best practices to develop a foodservice marketing engine for food away from home manufacturers.
