Page 26 - Food&Drink magazine July 2021

HEALTH & FUNCTIONAL FOODS
Awareness of the importance of dietary fibre intake has been growing steadily in recent years and heightened during COVID-19. Beneo Asia Pacific MD Christian Philippsen considers the role
digestive health plays
when it comes to immunity and staying healthy.
Following your gut
Chicory root fibre is the only proven plant-based prebiotic.
especially crucial to consumers who are actively looking for natural products when making food purchase decisions.
There are also technical benefits from the addition of these prebiotic fibres. Oligofructose has a mild and pleasant taste, and its fat- mimicking properties can be used to replace part of the fat content in foods, creating healthier indulgent food without any major changes to texture and taste.
Consumers have already begun to make the link between gut health, and overall health and well-being. They are more motivated to improve their digestive health to improve specific health issues like their body’s natural defences and therefore their long-term health.
There is clearly an appetite for products that promote good digestive health among consumers, and functional ingredients manufacturers such as Beneo are creating real ways for food and drink producers to make the most of this trend.
With so many consumers looking at ways to promote their digestive health, the market is wide open for new product development without compromising on taste and texture. ✷
ACCORDING to recent research, the global dietary fibre market is set to be worth $9.6 billion by 2025, with the Asia Pacific region expected to witness the largest growth. With rapid modernisation and urbanisation across Asia, lifestyle choices are increasingly being driven by convenience. Higher affluence brings about more food choices and demand for fast and hassle-free options.
A lifestyle driven by convenience has also led many consumers to increase their consumption of processed foods as they choose easy-to-prepare meals and on-the-go food. But it does not mean processed food or any other pre-prepared food has to be unhealthy. With the right choice of ingredients, a healthy digestive system can be achieved, even with a busy lifestyle.
We know that sufficient fibre intake supports bowel function and general well-being,
contributing to weight management, and
better blood sugar management. It can also help lower
blood
cholesterol and reduce the
risk of coronary heart diseases.
Immunity and digestive health are also closely linked, with 70 per cent of our inner defence system situated in the small and large intestine. It is no surprise that good health and inner protection starts with promoting beneficial gut microbiota, which can be nourished by prebiotic fibres.
Even though all dietary fibres are non-digestible, they differ in the way they function in the large intestine. They are either excreted or fermented to short-chain fatty acids by the large intestine’s microbiota. When the fermentation of fibres allows a selective increase of healthy microbiota, they are classified as prebiotic fibres.
Prebiotics are non-digestible fibres that impact the composition and/or activity of the gut microbiota, resulting in tangible health benefits to the gut. In other words, prebiotics act as the fertiliser for the good bacteria already present in the gut — helping to contribute to a healthy gut environment as well as good digestive health.
Research has demonstrated that short-chain fatty acids, achieved through this prebiotic fermentation, can reach the brain and other organs directly through the blood, or indirectly via the stimulation of immune
cells, the hormonal or nervous system and the release of messenger substances. As a result, the gut microbiota can influence digestive health, overall health, and an individual’s inner well-being.
Only very few dietary fibres are scientifically and clinically
A DAY OF DIETARY FIBRE, OR AT LEAST 400 GRAMS OF FRUITS AND VEGETABLES.
proven to have this capability. Chicory root fibre (inulin, oligofructose) is part of this exclusive group and the only plant-based proven prebiotic. Beneo’s chicory root fibres
– inulin and oligofructose – can be easily used in most food and drink applications to increase their health benefits. They are obtained from the chicory root via a gentle hot water extraction method and classified as ingredients from natural origin, which can be labelled as fibre from a natural source. This is
WHO RECOMMENDS
25g
26 | Food&Drink business | July 2021 | www.foodanddrinkbusiness.com.au