The amount of information available on diets is increasing by the day. Today’s consumers are looking to be healthier and are open to trying different healthier options, which shows flexibility to change eating habits.
Consumers are re-evaluating their diets, paying more attention to nutritional components in an attempt to take control of their health. They define their own concept of “healthy” and create their personalised diet with an exercise chart.
Dietary habits are changing and trends are re-invigorating the world of healthy eating. Today’s consumers appeal for “free-from” products that look free from components like gluten, lactose or other food intolerances. The “fit for” claim is also progressively increasing by targeting people who are intolerant to lactose and gluten, have vegetarian, vegan, halal and kosher diets and for those who suffer from diabetes.
Percentage of global food and drink launches with the “fit to” claim, per year, from May 2010 to April 2015. (Source: Mintel)
The world of healthy eating fits well into today’s society, creating different types of diets that are increasingly adapted to each type of consumer. At Innofood we highlighted the following, it is important to take these diets into account especially when launching new products:
– Detox Diet. Bad eating habits, a stressful lifestyle, or exposure to pollution has created an opportunity for products that appeal to the consumer’s need to “detoxify” and cleanse from within. Most “detox” claims can be found in beverages from teas and juices, which represents an opportunity in the market in where these types of products could be more and more in demanded.
– Diet 5.2. Fast-acting diets like 5.2 have been advertised as a way to cleanse the body, both physically and spiritually. The implementation of this diet involves the intake of less than 500-600 calories on two non-consecutive days and eating normally the remaining five days. Diet 5.2 induces fat loss, cholesterol reduction and improves blood pressure and insulin sensitivity.
– Eco-Atkins Diet. It points towards a vegan version of the Atkins diet. It promotes a diet rich in proteins derived from vegetables, including gluten, soy and nuts. The main source of fats is concentrated in vegetable oils, including some carbohydrates from oats, barley and low starch vegetables. The Eco-Atkins diet is gaining much popularity due to the increase in the vegan and vegetarian population.
– “Paleo” Paleo. It forms its base in the foods that existed in the Palaeolithic era. It is a diet that is essentially high in protein and low in carbohydrates. It supports that eating what our ancestors ate is the healthiest, based on raw or minimally processed foods. Legumes, grains (rice), dairy products, refined sugar and processed foods are not allowed in this diet.
– Low-carbohydrate and high-fat Diets (LCHF). They focus on reducing carbohydrates by restricting the intake of sugars and starches. This type of diet promotes a large intake of fats, unlike others that focus on proteins. This practice forces the body to use fat as the main source of energy, a psychological state known as ketosis.
– Variants of the Mediterranean Diet.
o Anti-inflammatory Diet. The goal of this diet is to reduce chronic inflammation to prevent diseases caused by it. It involves eating products rich in phytonutrients, omega-3s, vitamins, minerals and water, which help to improve physical and mental health and reduce age-related diseases.
o The Nordic Diet. LThe Nordic diet emulates the Mediterranean diet, but uses local Nordic ingredients such as fish, nuts, legumes, fruits, berries, raw vegetables, game meats and oats.
o The MIND Diet. It is a combination of the Mediterranean diet and a food aspect focused on stopping hypertension, focused on eating good foods for the brain and to avoid those that limit it. It has been proven that this type of diet reduces the risk of future Alzheimer’s in a greater proportion than the Mediterranean.
At Innofood I+D+i we recommend keeping up to date with dietary trends, especially if you are looking to launch of a new food product because all these trends are focused at the consumer and in the end, it is there opinion that matters. For any questions, do not hesitate to contact us on +34 958 750 607 or email us at info@innofood.es.