Digestive health
Enriching ingredient solutions to support digestive wellness
Create consumer appeal with foods and beverages that support digestive health
Digestive health is a mainstream need, not just for people managing health problems such as inadequate digestion, nutrient absorption, defecation issues, damaged intestinal barriers and leaky gut problems. Choosing food and beverages that reduce symptoms and alleviate discomfort is incredibly important. Even for consumers lucky enough not to experience these issues, promoting gut health is top-of-mind.
- 71% of consumers see digestive health as “very” or “extremely” linked to immune health1
- 8 out of 10 consumers say fibre, prebiotics and probiotics are “very” or “extremely” relevant to their diet1
- 2 out of 3 consumers see gut health as a key part of holistic well-being2
Furthermore, a growing body of scientific research suggests that a healthy gut microbiome is closely linked to overall well-being, with implications for weight management3, metabolic health4 and overall health4 — opening up new opportunities for food and beverage brands to deliver products offering digestive health benefits consumers seek.
Partner with Ingredion to enhance food and beverages with digestive health benefits
Want to find an effective way to increase your growth in the digestive health market? Our solutions for dietary fibre, prebiotics and early-life digestive health bring digestive health benefits to yoghurts, baked goods, beverages, smoothies, bars, snacks, soups, ready meals and more.
Review our ingredients and some common digestive health questions below, and then contact our experts for help in identifying a solution that’s right for your product. Together, we can find new ways to strengthen your brand in the health space and create value for consumers who want to optimize their digestive health and fibre intake.
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Understanding digestive health
There are three notable components that contribute to digestive health, and considering each allows for a better understanding of consumer needs and corresponding ingredient solutions:
- Optimal digestion, nutrient absorption and regularity
- An efficiently functioning intestinal barrier
- A healthy gut microbiome
Optimal Digestion, Absorption and Regularity:
Chewing thoroughly, eating slowly and consuming foods that can be easily digested allows for increased satiety and improved breakdown of food. Fiber can improve the absorption of minerals like calcium and magnesium and also promote regularity.
An Efficiently Functioning Intestinal Barrier:
The intestinal barrier can prevent harmful substances from entering the blood stream. Dietary fiber, prebiotics, balanced nutrients and phytonutrients can support an adequately functioning intestinal barrier.
A Healthy Gut Microbiome:
The gut microbiome is comprised of both helpful and potentially harmful microorganisms in a person’s GI system. A healthy diet high in fibers and prebiotics can support a diverse and healthy microbiome.
What do today’s consumers want in digestive health?
Our infographic dives into consumer insights and digestive health trends impacting in-store purchases.
Digestive health solutions
With today’s standard diet, it can be a real challenge to meet recommended nutritional needs. There is global recognition that most individual diets fall short, and increased fibre intake is beneficial. For instance, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration recommends adults consume 28 grams of dietary fibre per day, even as the average intake for U.S. adults aged 20 years and over is just 16.9 grams per day.5
Through Ingredion's holistic formulation approach and by using the right specialty fibres, starches and nutrient-rich, plant-based ingredients, our developers can help you improve the gut-health aspects of products without sacrificing taste and texture.
Necessary for appropriate digestion, nutrient absorption and defecation, our digestive health and fibre enrichment ingredients promote function of the digestive barrier and a healthy microbiome. Our full digestive health ingredient portfolio includes prebiotics (scFOS, GOS), soluble and insoluble fibres and low FODMAP ingredients from different raw material sources.
Our digestive health toolkit includes:
- Prebiotics – scFOS (short-chain oligosaccharides) and GOS (galactooligosaccharides)
- Fibre Fortification – scFOS, inulin, resistant starches (tapioca, potato, corn & high amylose corn, wheat and rice) and hydrocolloids
- Low-FODMAP – tapioca and potato-resistant starches
Prebiotic ingredients
Prebiotics such as scFOS fibers and GOS fibers are important for increasing levels of good bacteria in the gut and promoting digestive function. In fact, product launches that claim prebiotic ingredients have risen 10% in the past five years6.
Prebiotics for infant nutrition
Support infant digestive health with high-quality ingredients.
Dietary fibre ingredients
These versatile, clean-tasting and resistant starches offer high digestive tolerance and minimal sensory impact to help you differentiate products with higher fibre content and consumer-friendly claims.
HI-MAIZE® 260 Resistant starch
Replace refined or whole wheat flour on a one-to-one basis in a wide range of recipes.
Low-FODMAP ingredients
FODMAPs (“Fermentable Oligosaccharides, Disaccharides, Monosaccharides and Polyols”) can trigger occasional digestive discomfort. Ingredion’s Monash University Certified Low-FODMAP ingredients can reduce these issues while delivering just-right taste and texture in fibre-rich foods7.
Ingredients to support digestive health
Learn about how our innovative fibre ingredients, including scFOS prebiotic fibres, resistant starches (types 2 and 4) and GOS can provide your consumers with digestive health benefits and help them meet their daily fibre goals.
Webinar: Fibre’s role in nutrition, health and wellness snacking
Formulating snacks with a fibre focus can have a positive impact on your brand growth and appeal. Learn more consumer insights and healthy snacking trends from Ingredion experts.
Frequently asked questions about gut health
How do you improve gut health?
Gut health is often described by a combination of characteristics, including appropriate digestion, nutrient absorption, defecation, adequately functioning intestinal barrier and a healthy gut microbiome. High-fibre diets have been linked to gut health. Dietary fibres are a group of non-digestible carbohydrates that can reach to the gut, which helps maintain bowel movements and a regular stool frequency. Certain fibre types, such as scFOS and GOS, promote calcium absorption. In addition, fibres such as resistant starch, gums, pectins, scFOS and GOS can nourish the gut microbiota as their main energy sources to expand the population and form a healthy ecosystem. Studies have shown that short-chain fatty acids that are byproducts of fibre fermentation may enhance the intestinal barrier, which is critical to maintaining appropriate nutrient absorption and defending pathogenic molecules and bacteria.
What is a leaky gut?
A “leaky gut,” characterised by loose gaps in the intestinal walls, is usually caused by a disruption to the gut microbiome (dysbiosis) and impaired tight junctions, which restrict the intestinal permeability. Dietary fibres such as inulin, resistant starch, gums, pectins, scFOS and GOS can nourish the beneficial gut microbiota and promote the release of short-chain fatty acids. Butyrate, one of the short-chain fatty acids, has consistently shown benefits in improving tight junctions in various studies. Foods including fruits and vegetables, legumes and whole grains are generally good sources of dietary fibres. However, note that patients with gastrointestinal sensitivities such as irritable bowel syndrome should reduce high-FODMAP foods to avoid side effects such as bloating and flatulence7.
What are the best foods for gut health and digestion?
Overall, fruits, vegetables, legumes, cultured dairy products and whole grains that are high in fibre are best in promoting the beneficial gut microbiota and maintaining a functional intestinal barrier. Fully cooked foods are more easily broken apart and, thus, more digestible.
What ingredients are good for digestion?
Certain fibers such as inulin, resistant starch, gums, pectins, scFOS and GOS can nourish the “good” gut microbiota and be metabolised by them into short-chain fatty acids. Short-chain fatty acids play an important role in maintaining the intestinal barrier, the intactness of which enables a proper digestion of food and absorption of nutrients and water.
Solutions for nutrition, health and wellness
Our portfolio of science-backed solutions for enhancing nutrition, delivering health benefits and enabling wellness lifestyle choices is designed for manufacturers and brands looking to deliver winning consumer products.
Find a solution for your specific food or beverage application
Whether you’re trying to simplify labels, ensure products are delicious or help consumers make healthier choices, Ingredion has the ingredients and expertise to help.
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1Ingredion Proprietary Research, Digestive Health Study (U.S.), 2021
2Innova Trends Survey, 2021
3Collins, Stephen M., Michael Surette, and Premysl Bercik. "The interplay between the intestinal microbiota and the brain." Nature Reviews Microbiology 10.11 (2012): 735-742.
4Cani, Patrice D. "Gut microbiota—at the intersection of everything?" Nature Reviews Gastroenterology & Hepatology 14.6 (2017): 321-322.
5USDA; GTC Nutrition Data; What We Eat in America, NHANES 2017-2018.
6Innova Market Insights (CAGR 2017-2022).
7Only products that have formally applied to Monash University’s Low FODMAP certification program may claim to be Monash Low-FODMAP Certified. The application process to Monash University includes undergoing lab analysis to confirm FODMAP compliance. Monash University Low FODMAP Certified Trademarks are used under license in the United States by Ingredion Incorporated. The information described above is offered solely for your consideration, investigation and independent verification. It is up to you to decide whether and how to use this information. Ingredion Incorporated and the Ingredion group of companies make no warranty about the accuracy or completeness of the information contained above or the suitability of any of their products for your specific intended use. Furthermore, all express or implied warranties of noninfringement, merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose are hereby disclaimed. Ingredion Incorporated and the Ingredion group of companies assume no responsibility for any liability or damages arising out of or relating to the foregoing.