Feeding our Prebiotic Needs

Good gut health very well may hold many keys to maintaining a high quality of life health-wise. At least that’s what the beginning of our research into the microbiome has demonstrated, as I mentioned the other week. We’re only begun scratching at the surface of this issue in this country, but Europe has accepted it with open arms. U.S. consumers have begun accepting the need for products that improve digestive balance, and this awareness will undoubtedly continue to grow. I ran across a handful of exciting products related to probiotics, prebiotics and overall health at the recent IFT show, and more are sure to come down the pike to meet increasing consumer demand.

But an interesting crossroads meets when these health-imbuing ingredients also demonstrate practical product functionality from a technical standpoint. For instance, some prebiotic fibers—in addition to helping foster probiotic populations—can improve flavor, cut the need for sweeteners, mask off-notes and a host of other benefits. Knowing how and why to employ such ingredients is half the battle, and an upcoming webinar on this subject, courtesy of Corn Products International, will hit the virtual airwaves on Thursday Aug. 19 at 2 P.M. Eastern. Integrating health benefits into a wide range of products—from everyday foods and beverages to more intentionally functional foods targeted to specific demographics—will be hitting consumers in the coming years, so now is the time to get this subject onto the R&D table.