Food vs. Supplements

Food vs. Supplements

Consumers around the world are more likely to address some
health conditions via foods, while preferring dietary
supplements for others, finds a new survey.

According to global research by Ipsos Marketing, food and beverages rival
supplements when it comes to digestion, energy, weight and blood sugar levels.
However, dietary supplements were by far the most popular option for
benefits linked to immunity, brain health and memory, bone and joint health,
cancer prevention, hormonal balance and eye health.

Established health links
The key differentiation, according to Ipsos, comes down to consumer
awareness of well-established health links, which is what prompts
them to go for foods or supplements.
The survey, which tracked responses from 21,623 adults in 23 countries,
also identified a mid-way category of health conditions, which people are
more likely to address with supplements.

Supplements
These are used for heart health, cancer prevention and immunity benefits,
increased brain power and memory, and bone and joint health which
most people would first turn to supplements for.

A wide range of countries participated in the survey: Argentina,
Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany,
Hungary, India, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Poland, Russia, South Korea,
Spain, Sweden, the Czech Republic, the Netherlands, Great Britain,
the United States and Turkey.

Consumer interest in health and wellness on the rise.

Consumers are continuing to increase spending on
products for health and wellness –

According to the report, Reimagining Health 2010 which
carried out an online survey to find out about US consumers’
attitudes toward health and wellness and triggers for
changing behaviours. It found that the average household
spends $148.48 a month – or 19 percent of all monthly spending –
on fortified foods, those that are lower in cholesterol,
saturated fat, trans fat, and salt and supplements.

The report found
“Aging and changing health are key triggers for older cohorts,
while energy and stress trigger awareness for younger cohorts,”

And the organization said that the first ‘significant’
realization of a need to participate in health and wellness
occurs between the ages of 40 and 50 with changes in appearance,
the onset of minor health complaints, having less energy, or weight gain.

“They are looking for products and services that help them
meet their wellness goals and aspirations. With virtually all consumers
involved in wellness on some level, this represents tremendous
opportunities for manufacturers and retailers.”

Sport Nutrition

Non-sporty consumers drive
Sports nutrition market.
As global sales of sports nutrition products maintain
healthy growth rates, one distinct – and unexpected –
group of consumers is emerging as the main driver for the market,
made up of people who are not necessarily interested in sports.

Sports nutrition consumers can be split into four main groups:
body builders, athletes, recreational users (who pursue sport as a hobby)
and an emerging group of lifestyle users.

Lifestyle users, are not necessarily very athletic, but are
choosing to consume sports nutritional products as an initial
building block in leading a healthier lifestyle.

People within this group mainly consume sports nutrition products
in order to provide a refreshing beverage, a quick meal
replacement or simply a healthy snack. Consumers within the group
may also use sports nutrition products to provide an
energy boost during illness, or even when feeling tired.

Most Beneficial

Study: Anti-aging Supplements Most Beneficial When Taken Earlier In Life
June 4, 2010 by Personal Liberty News Desk
Results of a new University of Florida College of Medicine
study suggest anti-aging supplements are most effective when
taken before the onset of old age.

Using an animal model, lead author Christiaan Leeuwenburgh
and his colleagues tested a mixture of anti-aging supplements
on a group of middle-aged and late-aged subjects. The supplements
contained antioxidant coenzyme Q10, creatine and ginseng.

After six weeks, the younger subjects—whose age corresponded to
50-year-old to 65-year-old humans—improved their grip strength
by 12 percent and their neurological function by 66 percent compared
to a cohort of control group participants.

In contrast, older subjects—whose age was comparable to 65-year-old
to 80-year-old men and women—experienced no statistically relevant
improvement in physical or cognitive function.
"It is possible that there is a window during which these compounds
will work, and if the intervention is given after that time it won’t work,"
said researcher Jinze Xu.
However, older subjects who were given the supplements did lower their
levels of oxidative stress and improve their energy levels.

Supplements for Everyone

Doctors and Vitamins
.
Clinical research is leading to increasingly wide acceptance of supplements among Doctors and other health professionals. Many now recommend supplements to their patients and clients.
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) recommends we eat 7 to 13 servings of fruits and vegetables every day. Most people don't come anywhere close
Nutritionists and doctors are beginning to discover that it doesn't matter how old you are, whether you're male or female, whether you have ailments or are as healthy as an ox…
More Doctors Take Vitamins than Get a Flu Vaccine:
72% of Physicians and 89% of Nurses take vitamins each year. 51% of physicians and 59% of nurses classify themselves as regular consumers of dietary supplements.
Building A Solid Nutritional Foundation Is Vital To Your Overall Health…
and today is the best time to start.