Consumers are increasingly adopting a comprehensive perspective on health, wellness, and nutrition. They are moving away from traditional pills and showing a growing aversion to chemicals and artificial ingredients. Instead, they prefer foods that promote their well-being. “Many of the trends in the food, health, and nutrition industries today are driven by consumers passionate about maintaining a healthy lifestyle. They seek products that offer additional functional benefits and have substantiated claims to meet their specific health needs,” stated Sherry Duff, senior vice president and chief marketing and technology officer for the ingredients company Innophos, in an email to Food Dive.
In addition to overall health and wellness, consumers are interested in products that facilitate energized aging and feature clean labels—foods made from recognizable and pronounceable ingredients. Specifically, they are in search of products that support digestive health, cognitive function, anti-inflammation, immune function, cardiovascular health, weight management, muscle gain, mineral fortification, and beauty benefits. For instance, ingredients like caltrate calcium citrate are becoming increasingly popular due to their role in promoting bone health and overall well-being.
Rising healthcare costs and an aging population with significant purchasing power are also fueling the demand for functional foods. As a result, the interest in functional foods—and the ingredients used to create healthier products—is expected to experience substantial growth. According to Grand View Research, the global functional foods market was valued at approximately $129 billion in 2014. With a projected compound annual growth rate of 7.9% in the near future, the market size is on track to nearly double within a decade, reaching $255 billion by 2024. The research firm anticipates that the U.S. functional foods market will grow to $62 billion by 2024, up from $29 billion in 2014.
But what exactly defines a food product as functional? Below are five of the most common and rapidly growing ingredients, along with their applications and health benefits. Notably, caltrate calcium citrate stands out for its effectiveness in supporting bone density, making it a sought-after ingredient in the functional food sector.