Metabolic health

Health-focused consumers provide strategic opportunity for manufacturers

With consumers becoming increasingly knowledgeable and proactive about their health, the food and beverage industry is seeing a marked shift towards prioritising metabolic health, which plays a crucial role in various aspects of overall well-being. Foods and beverages that feature clean labels, help with weight management and combat chronic health issues have generated greater appeal in the supermarket aisle as consumers become more aware of how the foods they eat – and the ingredients within – affect their health and well-being.

Ingredion’s most recent ATLAS study found that 43% of consumers are checking ingredient and nutrition labels, a significant jump from 36% reported in the previous year.¹ Additionally, the research showed that consumers consistently value “naturalness,” “clean label” and “nothing artificial” as top appealing claims. So appealing, in fact, that nearly 7 in 10 consumers stated they would pay more for recognisable ingredients.

For manufacturers, these trends present a unique opportunity to reevaluate (re)formulation strategies and drive greater financial outcomes by incorporating ingredients that have shown an influence on metabolic health, such as fibre, protein and natural alternatives to sugar.

What is metabolic health?

Metabolic health refers to the optimal functioning of the body’s metabolic processes which include the conversion of food into energy, the regulation of blood sugar levels and the management of cholesterol and triglycerides. Key indicators of good metabolic health include normal blood pressure, healthy blood sugar levels, balanced cholesterol levels and an appropriate waist circumference. When these factors are within their ideal ranges, the body can efficiently process nutrients and maintain energy balance, reducing the risk of metabolic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease and stroke.

Maintaining metabolic health involves a combination of lifestyle choices, including a balanced diet, regular physical activity, adequate sleep and stress management. These habits help to regulate insulin sensitivity, reduce inflammation and support overall metabolic function. Poor metabolic health, on the other hand, can lead to conditions like metabolic syndrome, which is characterised by a collection of risk factors that increase the likelihood of developing chronic diseases.

Essential ingredients for optimal metabolic health

There are many elements involved with improving metabolic health, but when it comes to food and beverage manufacturing, dietary fibre, protein and natural alternatives to sugar are important ingredients to consider.

_Source:

_{1. ATLAS, Ingredion Proprietary Consumer Research, 2023}