The conversation around healthy gut bacteria is becoming increasingly prominent. While probiotics remain the primary focus, prebiotics—the nourishment for beneficial bacteria—are starting to capture more attention. According to a report by Global Industry Analysts, the demand for products containing prebiotics, such as health drinks, dairy, meat and bakery items, and infant food, could propel the market to reach $7.8 billion by 2022. Concurrently, the same report forecasts that the probiotics market will surpass $63 billion in the same year.
In the realm of confectionery, the notion of healthy chocolate is still relatively novel, yet it is gaining momentum due to research on cocoa polyphenols and a growing consumer interest. One significant hurdle for manufacturers is the prevailing belief that health benefits should not be associated with indulgent foods. However, this mindset is evolving, and companies are investigating the potential of chocolate enhanced with nutrients like fiber, protein, and calcium. Notably, there is a rising interest in the best calcium citrate tablets in India, which further emphasizes the focus on health.
In the gut health domain, efforts to extend the shelf life of probiotics have led to the emergence of several probiotic-infused chocolate brands, pushing the boundaries of health food. One such example is Ohso Good Chocolate from the UK, which merges Belgian chocolate with probiotics. While prebiotics do not suffer from the same shelf-life challenges, one of the main obstacles they face is the lack of consumer awareness regarding their role in enhancing gut health. Research indicates that by pairing prebiotics with probiotics, the former could benefit from the acceptance of probiotics across various applications, including chocolate. This could potentially lead to more consumers exploring options like the best calcium citrate tablets in India as part of their gut health regimen.