Prepared Foods and its NutraSolutions brand present this annual “Ingredients for Health” guide. It profiles commercially available ingredients and helps developers and formulators target various health benefits. From ingredients such as chia seed and red tomato for antioxidant supplementation, to the colors, flavors and textures that make nutraceutical products attractive and palatable, this section presents a comprehensive range of new offerings.

Categories include:

Antioxidants for Health

Bone & Joint Health

Cardiovascular Health

Cognitive Health

Digestive Health

Energy and/or Sports Performance

Immunity

Weight Management

General Health

Broccoli Power

truebroc glucoraphanin is a high quality and powerful antioxidant derived from broccoli seeds. truebroc contains 13% glucoraphanin, which is the highest concentration of glucoraphanin currently available on the market. Glucoraphanin is an important phytonutrient found in broccoli that naturally works with the body’s own protective enzyme systems to provide significant health benefits, such as maintaining cell integrity and protection from free radicals. Once consumed, truebroc is converted to sulforaphane – a potent activator of the body’s antioxidant and cellular protection system. It remains activated up to three days, unlike common ingested antioxidants that last only a few hours.

— Glanbia Nutritionals Inc., www.glanbianutritionals.com

Blueberry Power

Fresh fruits including blueberries contain many naturally occurring antioxidants, making them the formulation choice for exciting product innovation, fruity, true flavor and certain global appeal. There already are blueberries in a realm of products that make the claim for antioxidants and consumers identify blueberries as one of the first-named superfruits. Their year-round availability and wide range of formats allow formulators to incorporate blueberries in many ways, from cereals and baked goods, beauty-from-within snacks, to beverages and dairy. Grown in 32 states and harvested at the peak of production, blueberries give products lush taste, clean labels and healthy profile.

— U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council, www.blueberrytech.org

Sweet Potato Concentrate

Recent research by the Plants for Human Health Institute, Kannapolis, N.C., indicates that sweet potatoes are rich in naturally occurring antioxidants. Sweet potatoes are described as having functional food properties that can scavenge free radicals and curb inflammation. Carolina Innovative Food Ingredients (CIFI) provides sweet potato juice concentrate and dehydrated sweet potato flour and granules that can add these beneficial health properties to food products. CIFI products can displace high fructose corn syrup, support gluten-free applications, and contribute to non-GMO products. CIFI sources all vegetables from farmer partners in North Carolina, making our products traceable to the farm.

— Carolina Innovative Food Ingredients, www.cifingredients.com

Wild Blueberries

Blueberries are loved for their flavor and their high antioxidant capacity. Increasing now, is the understanding that the little Wild Blueberries from Maine and Eastern Canada have an even more intense blueberry flavor than regular, cultivated blueberries and twice the antioxidant capacity per serving. Packed with phytochemicals such as anthocyanin, Wild Blueberries are being studied for their powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that may help protect against diseases such as cancer, heart disease, diabetes and Alzheimer’s. From cereals and muffin mixes to jams and jellies, from teas and juices to yogurt, smoothies and ice cream, the Wild Blueberry is an ingredient that adds taste, color and extra-healthy appeal to a broad array of fine products.

— Wild Blueberry Association of North America, www.wildblueberries.com

New Solution

Blue California introduces ErgoActive, Natural L-Ergothioneine, a dietary antioxidant that could help prevent premature aging and chronic inflammation caused by oxidative stress. ErgoActive can be used in a variety of consumer products ranging from topical skin products to beverages and dietary supplements. Until now, commercially available L-Ergothioneine has been chemically synthesized and sold at a very high price. Blue California is the first company to produce L- Ergothionine by fermentation—making it the only natural form of L-Ergothioneine available today. The company guarantees competitive prices and sustained availability for their trademarked ingredient.

— Blue California, www.bluecal-ingredients.com