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The term superfoods were formulated for marketing purposes to influence food trends and sell products. The superfood industry is providing the superfood label to nutrient-rich products with a supposed potential to have a beneficial impact on health. Although many foods can be described as super, it's important to understand that there is no single food that holds the key to the prevention of good health or disease.

There is more to achieving overall health through food and nutrition than concentrating on one or two of the current food trends. Instead, eating a variety of nutritious foods each day best supports good health. High demand leads to high consumption barriers for both superfood sellers and customers alike. The first thing customers have to face up to is the price. Superfood is expensive while superfood quality is hard to find, too. Many obstacles need to be addressed for superfood sellers.

What are superfoods?

The word "superfood" is a fairly new term referring to foods that provide minimal calories with maximum nutritional value. They're packed with minerals, vitamins, and antioxidants. At this time, no standard criteria or legal definitions are classifying any food as a superfood. Many of the superfoods are plant-based, however.

Superfoods are nutritionally high-density foods. This means they have significant nutrient content and very few calories. They are high in minerals, vitamins, and antioxidants. Antioxidants are natural molecules present in many foodstuffs. They support our bodies to neutralize free radicals. Free radicals are natural by-products of generating energy that can wreak havoc on the body. Antioxidant molecules mitigate or reverse the effects of free radicals that have strong connections to a variety of health issues.

Some of the popular applications of superfoods:

Bakery and confectionery

Health and nutrition remain a customer's priority. They need baked goods, loaves of bread, and treats to enjoy but they want safe ingredients in those products. The term superfood is potentially polarizing. Description of nutrient-dense foods has been invented for marketing purposes.

Nevertheless, some think it is controversial to describe food as "super" implying that it is associated with "extra powers" compared to other healthy foods. From fruit to seeds, whether we consider them superfoods or healthy ingredients, our favorite baked goods, loaves of bread and treats offer bakers the opportunity to innovate with these foods.

Snacks

Health experts have celebrated the benefits of healthy snacking near and far. Snacks consisting of nutrient-dense whole foods such as nuts, fruits, vegetables, and superfoods help maintain your body's energy levels stable with their quality fuel, while at the same time helping you escape nagging food cravings that can lead to unhealthy food choices notoriously.

More customers are searching for products that provide nutritional benefits so ingredients like protein and fiber have had great success in bars and other snacks, but the possibilities are just around the corner for the next wave of botanicals and superfoods.

Beverages

Probiotics have made their way into the mainstream rather than just being something healthy-conscious individuals kept a secret. Not only did they grow in vitamins, but also chocolate and yogurt. Making it much harder for us to improve the gut flora and sustain a balanced digestive tract, gut-friendly waters is gaining rapid prominence across the worldwide.

Emerging trends in the superfood industry

Superfood oils

Consumers are becoming more aware of how much oil they use when cooking. Although hydrogenated oils indeed have certain potentially harmful consequences, superfood oils are natural oils. Extra virgin olive oil is well known for its anti-inflammatory effects and high levels of antioxidants. However, we are now seeing olive oil taking a backseat as other oils take the spotlight, especially avocado oil and its skin-enriching properties.

Nut oils like macadamia and almond have exhibited benefits such as high omega-3 levels, monounsaturated fats and vitamin E. CBD oil has also recently experienced a rise in popularity as it gains momentum within the health and wellness sector, with results ranging from pain relief and anti-inflammatory to mental health issues such as anxiety being mitigated.

Proteins

We all know how important protein is for the human body, for example in helping to repair tissue, producing chemicals from the body such as proteins, building bones, muscles and skin, and even helping to grow hair. Meat and eggs have long been recognized as primary sources of protein, but with now emerging vegan, vegetarian, and even flexitarian diets, 2019 paves the way for plant-based proteins. Plant-based meat substitutes in particular have become a major favorite.

In direct contrast to this, puffed or roasted pork scratches have also been glued as one of the biggest food trends of 2019. Not only are the salty snacks high in protein, but they also contain mono and polyunsaturated fats which help keep the heart safe. The so-called 'new quinoa,' Freekeh wheat, is also worth noting. Recently, the grain has gained prominence as it contains about twice the amount of protein and fiber than quinoa does.

Clean-label and naturally derived products

As customers are increasingly involved in recognizing the ingredients found in the food and drinks they eat, the development of the demand for clean-label ingredients has been stimulated. It is due to questions about the long-term effects of the ingredients used in foods and drinks, their dietary quality, and their bearing on well-being and environmental sustainability.

Several consumers in Asia-Pacific are worried about the long-term health impacts of chemical ingredients, and 70 percent of consumers are aware of any ingredient in their food. This leads to a constant introduction of new products with a strong positioning for superfoods.

Superfoods: Are they worth it?

Superfoods are filled with nutrients and have additives and serve to improve the human bodies in several ways. Superfoods may sound like a wonderful choice, but there are some adverse elements. This is very important to keep in mind when assessing dietary changes. First of all, these nutrient-packed foods are not a quick fix.

On the other hand, other people who undergo lifestyle changes find that they enjoy the benefits of health and vitality so much that they don't want to go back to their prior meal schedule.  They’re selling themselves on the way of living because of their own unique experience. Second of all, superfoods can be pricey-at least they seem to be at the beginning. If a person is on a minimal spending plan, that’s something they need to learn and plan properly.

To conclude

With so much buzz around, superfoods simply can’t stand aside.  A growing understanding of the side effects of synthetic cosmetics allows customers to choose natural beauty products rather than traditional beauty products. Consumers tend to buy personal care products made with super-food ingredients such as avocado, turmeric, coconut oil, and honey.

Free Valuable Insights: Global Superfoods Market to reach a market size of USD 209.1 billion by 2026

This inspired manufacturers of personal care products to concentrate on producing natural beauty products with superfood ingredients. The increasing use of superfood ingredients in beauty and personal care products will be one of the key trends that will have a positive impact on the growth of the superfood market.