Global demand for nutraceutical ingredients expected to rise sharply

 

Nutraceuticals are food components, which are made from botanical and herbal raw materials. They possess medicinal properties and are used as cures to various acute and chronic diseases and may even help in preventing some of them. They are also called functional foods. 

 

As per reports the maximum increase in demand will be experienced by the products rich in Soy Protein nutrients, lycopene, omega-3 fatty acids, probiotics, sterol esters, lutein, calcium, magnesium etc. the products with herbal extracts and green tea will also see a surge in demand.

 

 The increase in demand of herbal as well as non-herbal extracts will also increase by 6.2 percent to stand at $2.2 billion by 2013. Garlic is fast gaining the reputation of being a beneficial herbal product for cardiovascular ailments, just like saw palmetto is for benign prostatic hyperplasia. Other popular ingredients are green tea, famous to restrict cancer growth and black cohosh for its useful effects on post menopausal symptoms.

 

The reason for this increase in demand is the established safety of these products with minimum side effects. The faith of people in these Nutraceutical ingredients is increasing by the day. US is, and will remain the biggest global consumer for these products, while India and China too will see a growth in the market for these ingredients. China will remain the largest producer.