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 prioritizing 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 may help reduce the risk of long term 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 recognizable 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 fiber, protein and naturally derived 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 characterized by a collection of risk factors that increase the likelihood of developing chronic diseases.
Be the catalyst for metabolic health improvement
There are multiple aspects of metabolic health that formulators could consider during product development. They are based on the global consensus definition of Metabolic Syndrome (MetS) and other risk factors associated with metabolic disorders, including:
- Healthy weight
- Waist circumference
- Blood glucose management
- Blood lipid profile
- Blood pressure
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 fiber, protein and naturally derived alternatives to sugar are important ingredients to consider.
Dietary fiber
Increased dietary fiber can provide various benefits that support digestive health and can help maintain metabolic health. Fibers can be used as fat replacements and texturizers, offering versatility in their application and more closely aligning with consumer preferences.
HI-MAIZE® 260 resistant starch
Ingredion's H-MAIZE® can aid in the regulation of blood blood glucose levels following a meal.
Exploring the power of ingredients: A healthful solution for supporting metabolic wellness
Take a deep dive into metabolic health and see how food and beverage manufacturers can deliver the products that today’s consumers demand. Download our whitepaper to:
- Better understand the relationship between ingredients and metabolic health
- Discover consumer trends shifting manufacturer priorities
- Learn (re)formulation strategies that can enhance product appeal at the shelf
Pulse proteins
Protein is a cornerstone of nutrition and offers distinct advantages in the pursuit of better metabolic health. Consuming more dietary proteins, including from pulse-based sources, contributes key health benefits, including the growth and maintenance of muscle mass and the maintenance of normal bones.
VITESSENCE® pea protein isolates
The VITESSENCE® pea protein isolates family offers our highest levels of protein to enable nutrient content label claims, such as “good” or “high” source of protein, that appeal to more consumers.
VITESSENCE® pulse protein concentrates
Deliver in-demand plant protein with fiber and micronutrients from lentils, peas and faba beans.
Sugar alternatives
Reducing sugar intake is critical in preventing insulin resistance, managing blood sugar, maintaining healthy blood pressure and controlling appetite. One promising approach is to substitute some or all of a formulation’s sugar content with plant-based, non-nutritive sweeteners like stevia. The stevia plant contains steviol glycosides, which are sweet-tasting and noncaloric.
PureCircle™ Clean Taste Solutions
PureCircle™ Clean Taste Solutions can provide clean-tasting sweetness across many categories, including beverages, dairy, tea, coffee, sports nutrition, bakery, confectionary, savory, sauces and dressings.
Reb M stevia ingredients
Reb M is the most sugar-like molecule (steviol glycoside) found in the stevia leaf, and enables helps support great tasting zero added sugar formulations
Elevate your brand with Ingredion’s expertise in metabolic health
Ingredion’s advanced knowledge in plant-based and clean label ingredients, fiber, and protein fortification and sugar reduction can help you optimize your product offerings to meet the demands of a growing number of consumers concerned with metabolic health.
1. ATLAS, Ingredion Proprietary Consumer Research, 2023