Nutritional science for mind health products
DSM Nutritional Products
“The health benefits received through food is increasingly becoming more important to consumers, and establishing healthy lifestyle behaviour early in life is one factor that can contribute to healthy aging,” said Reinhart Schmitt, managing director of Solae Europe.
“Our study results point to an opportunity for food manufacturers to focus more on healthy ageing foods and take opportunity of the fact that 2012 will be the European Year of Active Ageing.”
The survey focused on the UK, France, Germany, Spain and Italy and asked about the health concerns that protein or fiber could impact for 45-74 year-olds.
It found 40-50% of consumers in this age bracket are concerned about heart, energy and muscle and nearly 70% rated their diet ‘healthful’, with older consumers rating their diet as more healthful.
But protein intakes dropped as people aged, even though it was rated as , “extremely or somewhat important to their overall health”.
UK consumers had the highest heart health concerns (63%).
“Soy protein is the perfect ingredient to meet these two UK top concerns. It’s a complete protein and it is cholesterol free,” said Reinhart Schmitt. “Educating adults on the importance of choosing adequate and appropriate levels of macronutrients, like protein, in their diet is a critical component of healthy aging.”
There are more than 650 elderly people worldwide – a figure expected to exceed two billion by 2050.