Did you know that food supplements history goes back to ancient times? Even then people used herbs, spices, and other plants for supporting their health and the improvement of their physical performance. In the Traditional Chinese Medicine ginseng was already used as tonic for example.
Food supplements in modern science
It wasn’t until the end of the 19th century that the interest in food supplements grew and scientists started identifying single nutrients and their role in the human body. Later in the 1930s, the mass production of food supplements began as they were used for the soldiers’ nutrition during the second world war. In the 1960s the first sports nutrition products like protein shakes became popular.
The use of food supplements has been significantly increasing in the last decades. On the one hand, there is a much bigger variety and thus, a bigger target group, on the other hand, more and more people focus on their health. As newest research activities show, it’s challenging to satisfy all nutritional needs only with healthy eating, what’s also pushing supplement business. According to a survey of the „Bundesverband der Verbraucherzentralen und Verbraucherverbände“ from 2020 59 % of all respondents indicate using food supplements.
Food supplements aim to provide the body with certain nutrients, that it’s not able to absorb in sufficient quantity only by nutrition. Usually, they are taken in as capsules, tablets, powder, or fluids containing various substances like vitamins, minerals, trace elements, amino acids, fatty acids, or plant extracts.
Food supplements are not used as substitute for a balanced and varied diet but more like an addition to that. They can be useful as special nutrients can’t be absorbed sufficiently because of special life circumstances like pregnancy, an increased athletic activity, or diverse diseases.
In Germany, supplements need to be graded as food and are subjected to the food legislation which regulates the products’ safety and the absence of health risks. Therefore, there are strict legal rules regarding the composition, labelling, and promotion of food supplements. But don’t worry, thanks to our extensive knowledge we are glad to navigate you through this jungle of regulations and laws, support the development of the perfect recipe and inspect it for its marketability.
Popular food supplements
At the present time, the following supplements meet current trends:
Vitamins: the most used food supplements are vitamin products. Particularly popular are vitamin C, vitamin D, vitamin B12 and folic acid.
Minerals: mineral supplements are often used as well, particularly calcium, iron, magnesium, and zinc.
Omega 3 fatty acids: these are essential fatty acids occurring in fatty fish, flaxseeds, walnuts, and other foods. Omega 3 preparations are highly favored by people whose diet lacks fatty fish.
Probiotics: The living microorganisms support intestinal health and are available as capsules, tablets, or yoghurt.
Plant extracts: plant extracts like curcuma, green tea, ginger, and milk thistle are known as great antioxidants and anti-inflammatories for many people.
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