In the recent past there has been explosive interest by consumers in health and wellness resulting in remarkable development of the market for Functional Foods and Nutraceuticals. Functional foods are formulated to offer health benefits beyond provision of basic nutrition, whereas nutraceuticals are products derived from foods that provide medical or therapeutic outcomes. A common denominator for many of these clever products are dairy components, which have contributed to these products by their nutritional and bioactive content and their functionality.
Dairy Components for Heathy Eating
Milk protein, whey, casein, and lactose are important in dairy ingredients which are one of the major sources of essential nutrients like protein, vitamins, minerals, and bioactive peptides. Side dishes that serve both as staples and as addition to health, however.
For instance, whey protein, which is famous due to its excellent amino acid profile and high digestibility, and consequently is the preferred choice in sports nutrition and weight management products. Casein however, is much slower to digest, allowing for a continuous release of amino acids throughout the day which promotes muscle recovery and satiety.
Functional foods for bone health and cardiovascular function also are appropriate target populations for dairy ingredients, since dairy also is a natural source of minerals, including calcium and potassium, involved in these areas of health management.
Bioactive compounds and health effects
In addition to the fundamental nutritional properties, dairy components include bioactive compounds that are responsible for the functional behaviour of foods and nutraceuticals. There are also the peptides released during protein digestion which are demonstrated to possess antioxidant, antihypertensive and immune-modulatory properties.
Fermented dairy products made with yogurt or kefir production also provide probiotics and prebiotics that assist gut health and the immune system. These attributes combine to position dairy as an attractive vehicle for products designed to deliver digestive health and demonstrate positive impact on health.
Additionally, the presence of CLA (conjugated linoleic acid) in dairy fats is supported by a significant body of research investigating its potential impact on weight and body composition as well as metabolic health, making dairy ingredients even more attractive to include in a range of functional formats.
Flexibility in New Product Development
Dairy ingredients are attractive not only because they deliver the functionality to impart texture of the pretzel extruded snacks, but also due to their capacity to be offered in multiple food forms. They can be used in beverages, snacks, dairy applications, bakery items and supplements with no implications in texture or taste.
From a functionality viewpoint, dairy ingredients offer various functional contributions including emulsification, water binding, gel formation that enhances sensory and physical attributes of functional foods or nutraceutical products. This flexibility allows for development of products, which satisfy consumer needs for both health and indulgence.
Further, development of processing technologies has increased the availability of a broad range of dairy ingredients such as concentrated proteins, hydrolysates, and isolates that have unique functional and nutritional benefits to the product.
Trends for Sustainability and Clean Labels
Today, consumers demand transparent sourcing and clean labels as well. Highly topical are the trends towards the use of naturally derived ingredients as well as ingredients that have a long-established safety history. “Many dairy producers put a focus on sustainable farming practices, and traceability will drive more added value in functional and nutraceutical foods containing dairy.”
Conclusion
Milk based components are key elements of functional foods and nutraceuticals innovation and success. The rich nutrient profile, bioactivity and processability of this organic material provide a unique opportunity to deliver health benefits in targeted consumer product applications. With the rising consumer trend of health, wellness and sustainability, dairy will remain a cornerstone of the functional nutrition future.
This article represents is a guest opinion piece and doesn’t necessarily coincide with the positions of the company. For more information about our company’s stance, please get in touch with us directly.