Personal health has been at the front of mind for the
general public since the COVID-19 pandemic began, positioning the nutraceuticals industry for further expansion and success that has carried throughout 2022.
Here, we at Insights Care considered overviewing the nutraceuticals industry in general and found disruptive trends that have changed the face of the sector altogether. And as we all know, when innovation acts as a catalyst to disrupt any industry, there is only one possibility that is—influential and inclusive leadership. Looking at what the future holds for nutraceutical manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors, and, of course, innovators in 2022 and beyond, we categorized specific parameters like what is driving the growth of the industry, the current state of the industry, and more.
And while doing so, we came across standout leaders who have changed the tides of the nutraceutical industry.
In order to feature their mindboggling work, we at Insights Care came up with our special edition, "Top 5 Influential Nutraceutical Leaders to Follow in 2022".
The nutraceutical leaders have proven to have room for growth, especially as the population ages and healthcare rises – and as people develop more concern with their health and wellbeing due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
They continue to thrive in the industry as they have been a guiding light of innovation and distribution, making them stand out in the limelight. In order to know more about them, kindly scroll through and delve into their inspiring stories.
While immersing through the journeys of these influential leaders, make sure to have a quick rundown of the articles written by our in-house editorial team and a piece of CXO advice.
In order to commence your curiosity, delve in and flip the pages!
- Shrutika KhedekarLeaders have put in an unparalleled effort to change the face of the nutraceutical industry.
Source Nutraceutical, Inc. sourcenutra.com
Desgagnés and his teams in Manitoba and Ontario are in the business of helping nutraceutical companies reduce their risks in the market, make appropriate and accurate claims, comply with Health Canada regulations, and enter the market with confidence.
Brent Laffey promotes and offers the Food meets Nutrition notion.
McKenzie credits a more tech-savvy, better informed, better educated and more traveled population that is driving the growth of the nutraceutical market worldwide.
Lipa Pharmaceutical lipa.com.au
Ferngrove Pharmaceuticals ferngrovepharma.com.au
Rob Tanna is a seasoned Chief Operating Officer in the Food and Beverage sector having spent the last 22 years in executive leadership positions with Cerbos and Suntory Coffee.
William has made it to the top of the leader board and transformed the nutraceutical market with agile development and an inclusive approach.
Brief Organization Featuring Bernie Desgagnes President and CEO Brent Laffey President Armada Nutrition armadanutrition.com Kevin McKenzie CEO Alpex pharma alpex.com Rob Tanna CEO William Tang Managing Director
Alpex merges pharma with forward-looking nutraceuticals to meet increased demand for preventative options
In a post-COVID world, to health and longevity.
The devastation of COVID was a turning point for many in how they viewed their health and lifespan. While the scientific community ultimately developed more than a dozen effective vaccines against the virus, the pandemic also laid bare the limitations to a treatmentbased approach. The result was a huge shift towards more nature-based preventative care (nutraceutical) options, and a recent look at the post COVID-19 marketplace estimated the global market for nutraceuticals at almost half a trillion dollars by 2026.
For Kevin McKenzie, that marketplace is catching up to his ownlifelongpassionsfornatureandexploration,andhowhe is positioning Alpex Pharma, to lead the way in life sciences research and product development.
Canadian by birth, Kevin grew up in the Northern wilderness, where he developed a lifelong appreciation for the outdoors, nature and adherence to health and an active lifestyle at an early age. His childhood was spent camping, canoeing, and hiking and he believed as much in developing his mind as his body. He learned Chinese by age 20, and relocated to Asia, where he would spend the next two decades.
McKenzie credits his time in Asia, where he discovered ancient practices like Buddhism, meditation, and fasting, in opening a new dimension to his West-informed dedication
“Eastern medicine is rooted in the belief that the key to longevity – to a better healthspan and a longer lifespan – is in nature and preventative medicine. And that also includes lifestyle choices. That’s the essence of nutraceuticals – to help prevent the life-shortening malaises that pharma products are designed to treat.”
Before McKenzie and partner Carey Kurtin acquired the company, they encountered Alpex as a customer, looking along with their longtime team to develop and market their own nutraceutical products.
“Switzerlandisrecognizedastheglobalhubandinnovation centerforlifesciences,withanestablishedglobalreputation for quality and precision,” saysMcKenzie.
“We knew we could develop Swiss products to the most exact standards and introduce them to the whole world.”
Alpex had established a decades-long reputation in Swiss precision and quality, and had both pharmaceutical (treatment) and nutraceutical (prevention) expertise under one roof, working in tandem to create a complete healthcaresolution.
The company’s existing infrastructure and technology, along with its history and ingenuity, laid out a new path for McKenzie and Kurtin. Never one to shy away from scaling a new height, after a year of traveling from Asia to Switzerland and working with Alpex, the partners acquired the company and McKenzie became the company’s ChairmanandPresident.
Theglobalnutraceuticalmarketcontinuestobedwarfedby pharma, which is expected to reach $1.7 trillion in 2025 and willremainafocusofAlpex’soperations.
Nonetheless, McKenzie credits a more tech-savvy, better informed, better educated and more traveled population that is driving the growth of the nutraceutical market worldwide, and that even pharmaceutical companies will seethevalueinputtingtheirresourcesintonutraceuticals.
“We’ve seen progression on every front: scientific knowledge, technological and manufacturing capabilities, even governments and international trade. Those are all the result of new generations demanding better and more options in taking care of their health and extending their lives.”
In addition to growing the legacy Alpex developed over the past 37 years, McKenzie has focused on expanding the company’scapabilities.
Switzerland has again been ranked the world’s mostinnovative economy by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), and like many Swiss Companies in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology sectors, Alpex has increased its investments in recent years, putting over $60 million toward new computational and other technologies, facilitiesandequipment,andworld-classpersonnel.
“It has been an interesting process of fusing nextgeneration thinking with established business winfrastructure in order to access and cultivate the next generation of customers and products,” saysMcKenzie.
“We are dedicated to maintaining this focus going forward while continuing to innovate and push the envelope in providing end-to-end solutions in innovative pharmaceutical and nutraceutical products, using our patented and complementary technologies.”
“Pharma and healthcare are virtually the last frontiers of industry that have withstood change – and the most in need of fundamental disruption,” saysMcKenzie.
McKenzie says pharmaceuticals will always have a firm foothold in medical treatment now and in the future, and willremainafocusofAlpex’swork.
“Many natural and novel medicines are just entering our understanding, and there is often no alternative today yet for many serious
medical conditions. While I truly believe in the value of preventative medicine and nutraceuticals as the key to longevity, I also want to help people live better lives now. Alpex is a forward-looking company, and there will always be a place for pharmaceuticals in healthcare.”
With time, McKenzie believes that many existing pharmaceuticals can be replaced with healthier alternatives that can be more effective with less adverse effects.
In recent years Alpex successfully developed several drug products on its own initiative and commercialized them globally, bringing in third-party Big Pharma partners as needed.
“This model yields a higher margin for Alpex – from the IP to the production to the royalties linked to end-consumer sales – while also being highly profitable for our partners,” saysMcKenzie.
In addition to its reputation for high-quality products and innovative delivery systems, Alpex has a proven track record of long-term success in the pharmaceutical and nutraceuticalverticals.
“A key Alpex advantage is our ability to complete both R&D and manufacturing under one roof, allowing us to commercialize and deploy a product after in-house development,”. saysMcKenzie
“We take the same approach to a nutraceutical product as we would a pharmaceutical product, using similar technologies to ensure optimal results. We work with our clients to understand their customer and their needs and then bring their ideas to life.”
That purposeful collaboration and attention to detail create an effective product ready for long-term competition in the global market. Alpex leverages its decades of experience as well as constant innovation and proprietarytechnologiesinthechangingworldlandscape.
Looking ahead to the future of healthcare, wellness and longevity, McKenzie is determined to position Alpex as the leading edge of next-generation pharma and nutraceuticals,usingallresourcesatitsdisposal.
“APIs (active pharmaceutical ingredients) and delivery methods are constantly evolving, and Alpex will continue to innovate and collaborate in order to complement our growing portfolio of products,” hesays.
The world is also changing, and McKenzie names Asia and Africa as two areas becoming increasingly important alongside the established North American and European markets, which includes the use of ingredients non-native toAlpex’sownenvironment.
Regardless of a product’s APIs, exotic ingredients or final destination,McKenziestandsbehindeveryoneasameasure ofAlpex’sSwiss-bornexcellence.
“When you’re buying a Swiss-made product, you’re getting a little bit of Switzerland too,” saysMcKenzie.
“An Alpex-made product is a perfect representation of the broader Swiss market ecosystem: quality, precision, innovation, and trust that is at home anywhere in the world.”
If you want to get under Bernie Desgagnés's skin, point him toward a nutraceutical product making a false claim or misleading consumers about the ingredients in the bottle.
“Just recently, we were approached by a client who had concerns about a competitor's label, ” says Desgagnés, President and CEO of Winnipeg-based Source Nutraceutical, Inc. (SNI). “It turns out the product had 400% more sugar and 50% more sodium than what was listed on the label. That is extremely dangerous for type 2 diabetics and people on low-sodium diets.”
Careless labeling indiscretions like this can lead to fines, product recalls, and orders to stop selling—very expensive outcomes to go along with potentially irreparable damage to a company's brand and reputation.
Desgagnés and his teams in Manitoba and Ontario are in the business of helping nutraceutical companies reduce their risks in the market, make appropriate and accurate claims, comply with Health Canada regulations, and enter the market with confidence.
“Health Canada has a very rigorous structure and very stringent regulations. For the health and safety of the
consumer, this is a good thing, but the process to get onto a shelf with legitimate health claims can be complicated,” says Desgagnés, originally from Rimouski, Quebec. “Our job is to help clients navigate the complexities. We work with Canadian companies, but a real focus for us is helping American, and other international clients understand the Canadian regulatory environment and enter the market as seamlessly as possible.”
SNI, incorporated in 2004, offers its clients turnkey solutions for taking their products from concept to consumer. This includes consultation on regulatory affairs, health claim compliance, product labeling, and more. The company includes an in-house graphic design department that produces bilingual (English and French) labeling, positioning product claims, and listing ingredients according to regulations. They also design and print compliant point-of-purchase displays and marketing materials when products are ready to enter the market.
To further support its clients, SNI has recently started to provide clinical trial services. In 2021, the company acquired a new space and designed a state-of-the-art clinic that meets the new health and safety requirements to operate under pandemic conditions. SNI just completed a clinical trial for a client looking to enter the market with a
Desgagnés himself became a fitness enthusiast, starting in northern Manitoba at the age of 18 when he began pumping iron.
nutraceutical to help prevent the onset of type 2 diabetes. And now, Desgagnés is looking to expand SNI's clinical trial services to include mobile operations to reach rural areas.
“The key for us is to be nimble. We are working with clients to customize what we can offer by way of clinical research and other regulatory support,” he says. “As the public becomes increasingly knowledgeable and enthusiastic about nutraceuticals, facilitating high-quality research in support of Health Canada applications is becoming more important. Consumers are looking to purchase effective products that deliver what they promise from companies with integrity. Our job is to protect the brand, help the brand owners differentiate their products in an increasingly competitive market, and make sure all their health claims are properly validated so the consumer can buy with confidence.”
There probably aren't a lot of young kids and teens who say: “When growing up, I want to be a regulatory affairs consultant in the nutraceutical industry.” The field certainly wasn't on Desgagnés's radar when he moved from Rimouski to northern Manitoba.
“My brother came to Manitoba to work in the forestry sector,” says Desgagnés, who used to tour with his dad and brothers to compete in lumberjack competitions. “I followed him, mostly to learn English.”
He was only 18 at the time, and there were no jobs in forestry or mining—his preferred sectors. So, the young man took a job with the provincial government as a machine operator and then moved south to Brandon to get his Red Seal and his ticket to work as a heavy-duty diesel mechanic.
After a while, he transferred to another government department—Workplace Safety and Health. This job offered his first exposure to regulatory affairs, compliance, and standards. He was hooked.
“I was fascinated by the relationship between regulation and public well-being. I still am,” he says. “It was always rewarding to work with companies toward compliance.”
In total, Desgagnés spent about 18 years working for the government. On the side, he sold supplements to athletes. Desgagnés himself became a fitness enthusiast, starting in northern Manitoba at the age of 18 when he began pumping iron. He was a competitive bodybuilder for a while and still works out at home (and at the office) several times a week.
While still working for the government, Desgagnés was offered a Director of Regulatory Affairs position with a Winnipeg-based natural health products company. Eight years later, when that company moved to Toronto, Desgagnés decided to stay in Winnipeg, hang a shingle, and provide consulting services from his home office. He hasn't looked back.
“It was 2004, and Health Canada was starting to implement some new guidelines for the growing nutraceutical market. Until then, the line between foods and drugs was often blurry, and products with ridiculous claims were getting into the market,” says Desgagnés. “When Health Canada tightened the rules, I saw an opportunity to help ethical companies thrive in an environment that had suddenly become more regulated.”
To this day, that is his mission, and with the expanding interest in nutraceuticals, the contribution he makes to the sector is more important than ever before.
“Over the last 20 years, I have seen a growing interest in natural health products. There are many factors,” explains Desgagnés. “People hear about them more and see all sorts of ads on the Internet, that's for sure. And I think that with the stresses on the health care system, many people—older people in particular—are getting more interested in preventative medicine. They want to avoid illness, and nutraceuticals can play a key role in that. COVID has been an influence, too. People want to be healthy so they can be more resilient to viruses of all types.”
While Desgagnés and his colleagues meet the needs of their commercial clients, they never lose sight of the fact that real people benefit from their work when they do their job right.
“We recognize that responsibility, and we take it seriously. When nutraceutical companies invest in adhering to regulations and only make the claims they can scientifically support, all people benefit. It's humbling,” says Desgagnés. “We always advise clients to take their time, get it right, enter the market with integrity, and hold their heads high. That's how brands succeed.”
SNI, incorporated in 2004, o ers its clients turnkey solutions for taking their products from concept to consumer.
In the new normal, everybody is health-conscious. And why
not one should be. These days, the disease risks are increased tenfold. Whenever you are out of the safety of your home, you constantly fear that you might catch a cold, cough, flu, or that virus. It is easy to advise that stay home and stay safe. But how much you will be sitting on that couch, eating snacks, looking at that dumb screen and fat yourself up. Some people are used to that routine, and they have stopped going out and began working from home.
However, not everyone can stay and work from home. People have to go out, get things done, and get involved in physical activities like exercising, hanging out, working in the field, and participating in various events, including professional or competitive sports one. Sports events are significantly increasing in number, competitiveness, endurance testing and performance at all the levels such as local, county, national, and international.
Immense physical activities demand tremendous exertion. And for exertion, you need long-lasting energy which will save you from fatiguing out. In other words, you need more stamina, strength, power and a strong immune system for long exercise and training hours so that you could prepare for a professional competitive event or rather stay always healthy and fit. This is where something extra instead of healthy, nutritious food is required to add to your bodily fitness. This extra is called dietary or health or nutrition supplements.
If consumed with the advice of your physician, trainer or doctor, these nutritional supplements can do wonders in improving your strength, increasing your power, boosting your energy, strengthening your immune system, and enhancing your endurance.
Preliminary research is done by us and provided here for enhancing your knowledge. However, it is further advised that you must consult your doctors first before going for any one or combination of dietary nutritional supplements.
Dietary or health supplements may include several nutritional elements like proteins, probiotics, calcium, iron, vitamins, minerals, enzymes, herbs, and different types of amino acids. You might have read them as ingredient lists on the labels covering products such as energy bars, energy or power drinks, tonics, immunity-boosting snacks, corns, cereals, pills, tablets, and powders.
They crowd the shelves of the supermarket stores. You also might have seen many people buying them from those shelves to bridge the nutritional gaps in their own diet or in the hope of disease prevention and immunity-boosting to accomplish particular wellness or fitness aims.
Those who create and sell dietary or health supplements claim that they provide the consumer with the following kinds of benefits.
ü Filling in the gaps occurred due to nutritional incompleteness of your regular diet by offering those nutrients through these supplements
ü Fulfilling whatever deficiencies you may have like iron deficiency, vitamin, protein deficiency etc., by providing you with additional nutrients through the easy intake
ü Aiding your normal, medium as well as heavy exercise and training routines through precise combos of nutritional supplements
ü In cases such as you are recovering from an injury or an illness, then these supplements may act as complementary immunity boosters to your primary medical treatment
ü In some cases, if advised by your doctor then acting as an optional therapeutic supplements
ü Improving your overall immunity, strengthening your stamina, and enhancing your endurance
The variety of these dietary supplement products is mindboggling. As you could get your basic protein bars, vitamin tablets, and calcium pills, the market is flooded with several types of brands that sometimes it get fizzy. Let us first divide them and then understand each in detail.
Overall Immunity Boosters : They are the series of your probiotics, enzymes, protein-rich, multivitamins added to multimineral formulas, Rather than addressing specific health issues, these daily doses aid you in maintaining dayto-day physical and mental activities, dietary-sleeping patterns, and exercise-training-fitness routines.
You know that each day is different. Some days you have to do more physical exertion and face more mental stress. In such times, these supplements help you maintain your stamina, strength, and energy levels.
Injury, Illness Preventors : You might have heard the old adage ‘Prevention is better than cure. So there are some supplements which will help you in preventing an illness from happening or saving or recovering from an injury as well.
Many athletes use multivitamin plus multimineral plus multiprotein dietary supplements to enhance their endurance during training and minimize the chances of occurrence of injury due to a lack of both physical and mental fitness. Also, some pregnant women consume folic acid or folate supplements to fill their own deficiencies which in effect lowers the dangers for specific foetus developmental intricacies.
Particular Health Problem Solvers : Certain people have a particular kind of health objective or goal. For example, athletes need strong body muscle and bone mass. Thus, they might be consuming calcium along with vitamin D to address this specific target. Similarly, those needing frequent energy boosts might consume vitamin B, so their metabolism will increase giving them additional power.
Whichever nutritional supplement plan you may choose, be careful in your further research, and accept suggestions from general people, even if you might be knowing them for long. The best way to go for it is to consult an expert.
- Anish Miller
In this modern era where one is leading a busy life, eating healthy daily can be a struggle for many. The overall health improvement can occur only when there is a balance of food and nutrition. That being said, there is an awareness of the importance of supplements alongside nutritious food, furthering the demand for supplements.
But today's consumers are more concerned about the quality, origin, and transformation of the product they purchase. Catering to this emerging need of the nutraceutical market Brent Laffey promotes and offers the Food meets Nutrition notion. Furthering this belief, the President of Armada Nutrition works closely with customers and provides them with the latest industry trends and market expertise. He is committed to offering the finest quality solutions and pledges to deliver total product traceability on raw materials and finished goods.
Armada Nutrition is a contract manufacturer of high-quality nutritional powders that provides customers with innovative formulations and turnkey products. The vertical integration with ingredients and flavors makes it unique to the industry.
Under the leadership of Brent, Armada Nutrition is dedicated to providing innovative formulations and turnkey products that taste good. Brent asserts, “We strive to build long-lasting relationships with our customers by providing the highest level of service to help them achieve their goals faster.”
In a quest to find the Top 5 Influential Nutraceutical Leaders to Follow in 2022 , we at Insights Care crossed paths with Brent. Let us delve into his story to learn more about how the company is scaling heights under his guiding light.
Brent was always interested in personal nutrition, which is tied to performance and overall health. With a family history in the food ingredient business, he ended up at Prinova and, in the first few years, got the opportunity to build out the company's nutrition business, which tied his interest in nutrition and his history to date in the food ingredient business.
Backed by over 35 years of experience servicing the health and nutrition industry, Armada Nutrition was founded in 2015 as a full-service contract manufacturer specializing in powder applications. The company offers an array of manufacturing and packaging services supported by inhouse industry experts that can take a product idea from concept to completion.
For Brent, Armada has been an incredible 6-year journey. He asserts, “Starting with 5,000 SQ ft to taking over 338,000 SQ ft in TN in 2016 to now starting a new facility in Utah that is 438,000 sq. ft has been a crazy ride but all backed by some of the greatest employees you can ask for, also been very lucky to have relationships with some of the best brands out there.”
The values Brent believes and adheres to are the same that Armada Nutrition promotes. According to Brent, “Customer Focus, Integrity, Creating a safe, positive engaging environment, Charitable involvement, Accountability, Long term relationships, Commitment to Quality are the core of their operations.”
Under the leadership of Brent and supported by Prinova/Nagase, Armada has gone from 1 site with 22 employees to two sites and over 700 employees.
Under the leadership of Brent, the company offers different types of products ranging from whey, vegan products of all sorts, collagen, and beef protein. Apart from that, the company also facilitates cause-specific products like Amino acids-based products for recovery, Performance-based products like pre-workouts, Beauty products, focus products, and general wellness, offering most of them in their natural forms.
By leveraging access to in-house flavor manufacturing capabilities with years of experience, the company has
helped customers develop and deliver great-tasting, innovative products.
Although the worldwide demand for healthier alternatives, clean labels, and natural ingredients continues to grow, the taste is still the primary concern. Achieving great taste with all-natural non-caloric sweeteners can be challenging for some.
However, merging its expertise in flavoring proteins with its knowledge of natural sweetening systems such as stevia or monk fruit gives its customers the power to develop healthier products while meeting consumer demand for taste.
Manufacturing flavors in-house also delivers greater creativity for customized flavors directed at a specific target while decreasing lead times and accelerating the time to market. In addition, its custom flavors are always available for purchase as raw materials, should the customer need them.
When talking about access to raw materials, Brent states, “Direct management of our global supply chain also allows us to stay on top of volatile raw material markets so that we can keep our customers informed in real-time and give them the best, most accurate market insights available.”
Unlike other contract manufacturers who purchase from third parties, the company directly audits suppliers abroad. Its procurement team has visited over 80 manufacturing facilities in China to ensure compliance with their strict standards and guarantee the finest quality of the ingredients sourced.
Backed by a robust regulatory system, Brent states, “Armada Nutrition monitors all sourced raw materials for increased quality and transparency, guaranteeing regulatory compliance of the end-products as well as cost-efficiency.”
When advising the budding entrepreneurs or enthusiasts aspiring to venture into the nutraceutical niche, Brent states, “Build a solid plan, believe in your plan, work like you never get a second chance, and be willing to listen to key advisors and don’t be afraid to evolve your plan as you go, but never discount yourself or company. Always believe even on the hardest days.”
Brent, when stating about the plan of Armada Nutrition, says, “We plan on scaling this summer by opening our second facility in Utah and now have over 770,000 SQ ft dedicated to the nutrition industry. We want to be seen as the most innovative, highest quality, and the company you go to scale your brand.”
High sugar levels? Diabetes? Anguished with your medications and Insulin Injections. Have already made an effort to follow The Mediterranean Diet, DASH, Volumetric, the biggest loser, and god knows what else, yet couldn’t revamp your sugar readings? Here’s something you’d find compelling and agreeable.
that you eat is important. That is where low glycemic index foods come into the picture. Studies have shown that a low GI diet may result in weight loss, reduces blood glucose, and reduces the risk of cardiovascular diseases and Type 2 Diabetes mellitus. This article will provide you with detailed guidance to a low GI diet.
Glycemic Index measures the carbohydrate quality, i.e., how much a carbohydrate will affect the blood sugar; it is like a ranking process of foods from 0 to 100 that tells us whether a carbohydrate food will raise the blood sugar(glucose) levels dramatically, moderately or just a little, i.e., at a steady and gradual rate.
The lower the Glycemic index, the better the diabetic parameters for an individual. The GI rating from 56-69 is considered as intermediate or medium, and GI rating 70 or more is examined as high. Carbohydrates with a low GI, i.e., 55 or less, are more considered as it is slowly and well utilized by the body, which causes a lower and slower rise in blood glucose.
So, how does a low glycemic index diet help with diabetes?
As a diabetic, what is the main component to focus on? We all know the answer to that one. Carbohydrates. The prime nutrient of a diabetic patient, but carbohydrate alone isn’t the chief, it’s also the type of carbohydrate, and the quantity
This diet focuses on carbs, with the goal of eating foods that produce a steady and slow rise in blood sugar rather than an immediate spike in the blood sugar created by eating foods that are rapidly digested.
Muskan Barmare is a qualified Clinical Nutritionist and Sports Dietitian and Medical health content creator with the idea of encouraging people to live a better life through creating habits with fitness and nutrition. She believes that a healthy you start from a healthy you itself. Creating a new mindset and goal and keeping it intact is what she is here.
She focuses on creating a positive body image for her clients through health & wellness and helps them achieve their fitness goals. Her interest lies in clinical and sports nutrition with a keenness toward mental health. Rendering her million di erent interests in life, she tries to bring out her creativity in content creation in not only nutrition but all medical health areas and is a part of many di erent projects and organizations.
She has completed her graduation in Food, Nutrition, and Dietetics from SVT College of Home Science, SNDT Women’s University, Mumbai. She has served as a nutrition expert at many clinics and hospitals. Currently, she has her own private venture under the title “HABITS with Muskan Barmare” and excels in the particular field.
Her mission statement states, “ Being a Better you with building better habits.”
Hence, this helps to keep your blood glucose levels intact and balanced well. The GI of a food can be affected by a number of factors like the type of sugar it contains, the level of ripeness as well the method through which it has been cooked.
With eating a low GI diet, you need to also keep your carbohydrate counting in mind. As carbohydrates have the greatest effect on the blood glucose compared to other macronutrients, protein and fats, keeping track of carbs consumed in meals and snacks can help in diabetes care. Being precise as possible on the carb quality and eating the same amount of carbohydrates every day aids in managing diabetes. Hence, consuming a low GI diet and appropriate carb counting can bring a tighter reign over your glucose readings.
Along with the GI, Glycemic Load goes hand in hand. The glycemic load of a food tells us how much carb content is there in that particular food. The lower the GI and the GL of the food, the better for utilization and slow the rate of rising in blood sugar, more preferable for a person with diabetes.
What should you have in a low GI diet? Examples of low GI foods consist of carbohydrates such as peanuts, bean sprouts, low-fat curd or Greek yogurt, apples, carrots, multigrain bread, brown rice, quinoa, bajra flour, ragi flour, oranges, banana, all green leafy vegetables, bell peppers, tomatoes, sweet potato, and oatmeal. The more fiber in your food, the better. You’d need to avoid foods high in GI such as refined flour products such as white bread, cakes, etc., starchy vegetables like potatoes, and fruits like watermelon.
Although this diet is quite helpful and has various benefits, there are some limitations to it. Firstly, it doesn’t provide a complete nutritional depiction. It’s also important to consider the other nutrients also, like protein, fats, and fiber, nevertheless of their GI value. Secondly, the GI doesn’t take into account the number of carbs you eat; hence it becomes difficult to measure the GI of the meal. For example, Watermelon is high in GI, but low in GL yet can’t be considered in the diet as GI alone may not always be the best predictor of blood glucose levels. It’s also important to appraise the carb content and GL of the food.
There are many potential benefits for those with Type 1DM. Studies have shown that T1DM patients have shown huge benefits of consuming low GI foods on better management and prevention of disease progression to different stages. It manifests in improved blood glucose, and less prone to experience hypoglycaemic episodes as well as reduces the risk of developing T2DM. It is taken into consideration for people with both T1 & T2 DM to use GI as a way to help healthfully manage their condition.
At the end of the day, a diet for people with diabetes is more of a lifestyle change, or we can say a habit-induced change, and it’s just important to eat a healthy, balanced diet and maintain a healthy weight, which is not based on processed foods and hinges more on the whole, unprocessed and natural foods where you meet your daily intake requirement and enjoy while you eat. If we really want to be dramatic, we say we make a lot of difficult but important decisions almost 20 times a day or more- and it’s true. But seriously, this ain’t that bad; we just need to have a decent mindset of living wholesome lives and most importantly, to just be healthy and happy and create the right habit for ourselves.
Better food is the product of enough money, plus a good cook. There is food that is
rich in nutrients, very nourishing, that provide both vital nutrition and medicinal health benefits for babies and adults, called; Nutraceuticals. They serve as the primary source of all the essential healthy substances that are needed in a healthy diet for human consumption, as well as for animals. Very rich in energy and nutrient supplements required for the body to maintain optimal health. It promotes the act of increasing the size, shape, function, and strength of human immune systems and enhance the ability to fight against diseases.
Nutraceuticals have been nicknamed as medical foods, functional food, designer foods, phytochemicals, and nutritional supplements widely studied in human health. They come in two main categories, (1) as a whole food, and also (2) as a part of food, either way, it’s work is to provide medical or health benefits, which include the prevention and treatment of disease. The health benefits include the overall improvement of the well-being and health of individuals, as well as an increase in the ability to cope with stress. In plants, Nutraceuticals help to enhance plant biosynthesis for its secondary metabolites with health-promoting activities, such as polyphenols, carotenoids, flavonoids.
Digitizing the Knowledge About Nutraceuticals: helps to make the right Nutrient-Rich Food easily available.
To make nutraceuticals easily and efficiently available to the people who really need them, the concept of digitization, e-commerce, mobile grocery shopping such as Food Moby in a cost-effective way, are all part of digital transformation that was mainly driven to actualization by the emergence of COVID-19, has made it very necessary to implement all necessary strategies for digitizing Nutraceutical: Making Nutrient-Rich Food Easily Available.
Digitization of nutraceuticals has led to the rapid increase in popularity of nutraceutical products, dietary supplements, and functional foods, and the inevitable applications to improve health and manage diseases effectively.
Many people know about nutraceuticals and have access to them, but a few really understand the value of what they are eating , due to limited access to research journals, and poor health education in both developed countries and developing countries. Availing the right knowledge to people in their communities and online platforms has prompted the bright minds at InsightsCare.com, the Best Health Care magazine to develop a credible platform to serve as the best source of rich knowledge about nutraceuticals and its related topics. This magazine is published monthly in both online and offline print versions and distributed globally, serving as the most easily available health journal for the leaders and masses.
While consuming nutraceuticals, it is very important to know how and what is the best combinations of
nutraceuticals (nutrients) to take, which will help to enhance spatial memory and cognitive performance of the individual, such as dietary intake of multivitamins, polyphenols, omega fatty acids, zinc, and probiotics. The right proportional intake has already shown benefits in improving learning, spatial memory, and cognitive function. So, having the right knowledge of the combination of antioxidants or probiotics is critical to saving human health, because regular ingestion of all types of nutraceuticals may not be necessarily healthy practice. The digitization of this knowledge is very important, and should be done in the right manner.
Interesting Nutraceutical Foods and Concepts To Know:
• Aloe Vera is one the century’s oldest nutraceutical , and is presently widely exploited for the same purpose. It comes in the form of health drinks, and drug formulations (tablets/capsules/gels) while as skin product such as creams.
People have asked, if drinkingAloe vera is good for you?
Antioxidants play crucial roles in helping to regulate free radicals in our body such as vitamins A, C, and E and the mineral selenium. So, Aloe vera juice being a rich source of antioxidants, is definitely good for human consumption, as juice. They also help the body to lower oxidative stress and minimising the risk of chronic conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, and even cancer.
• Natural Honey has been used as a nutraceutical agent, which gives nutritional benefits and promises a great return of positive therapeutic effects. While Natural honey serves as medicine for all generations, traditions, and civilizations, both ancient and modern, it is also one of the world’s most enjoyed food.
• Green tea is rich source of anti-microbial, antiCarcinogenic, Immuno-stimulatory, & antiinflammatory activities; this validates the claim that Green tea is a Bonafide product of nutraceutical food families. Green tea has EGCG, and it serves as a protective agent against metabolic abnormalities and content found in other forms of tea.
Nutraceuticals have some shortcomings , and as an herbal product, it suffers from many limitations and various drawbacks such as poor solubility, ineffective targeting, low permeability, and fast metabolism amongst other constraints. Overdosage of nutraceuticals can result in bleeding associated with antiplatelet action, diarrhea, weakness, gonadal dysfunction, and red vision.
Nutraceutical also called BioCeuticals is a pharmaceutical alternative which provides to a great extent, physiological benefits, is not much regulated in the USA because they in the family of food additives and dietary supplements by the FDA, under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.
According to the research report on Nutraceuticals by BCC Research: The future of Nutraceuticals market has been predicted to globally reach $336.1 billion by 2023 from $230.9 billion in 2018 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.8%. So, the nutraceutical market is a good investment path to take.
The nutraceutical industry has been based on a ‘product-centric’ strategy, focusing more on new product launching, and sales based on characteristics/product
description and benefits for the consumers. This strategy circles around the R & D and Purchasing departments, who defines the products to be launched based on scientific evidence and people’s general beliefs. As far as this strategy is beneficial, it has limitations due to the lack of focus on the actual user experience while consuming the product.
To relieve the burden of limited exposure and increase the overall sales of nutraceuticals, while achieving a great customer experience, the establishment of an IndividualCustomer-Focused strategy, and feedback process are inevitable, which will ensure a pleasant customer experience, high retention, and a unique, easy and simple encounter of product consumption.
•Feedback on product pre-launching trials, consumption experience and referrals by offering consumers what they really want in a customized package.
•User based Technology advancement, easy connectivity and efficiency in delivery. No bugs, No lost client.
•Smart technology integration, artificial intelligence and rich data collection, security and appropriate customer data usage.
•Implementation of Advanced CRM and Big Data technologies, having the right system to reach client in a customized approach.
•Integrate new health technologies for current-updated accurate and equitable management of Health data and its repositories, such as mHealth platforms – like Google’s eHealth Fit and Apple’s Health, EPIC, and GE Centricity EHR. This assures holistic data management for individuals, families and firms.
•Improved knowledge about Nutraceutical existing market, new markets and developing competitive markets, in order to serve the customers better. This can also be achieved by training internal employees on a better Market research Know-how.
To serve new eras of nutraceutical market growth, one must embrace new strategies, and technologies and implement them efficiently. Escaping the comfort zone of inadequacy and engage the right set of professionals at the work field.
Stepping inside the shoes of an entrepreneur is breathtaking. Understanding the efforts put in can take a deep toll and inspire millions.
Scouting the globe, digging up the roadblocks, ushering in a solution, and disrupting the market may look like twirling the industry in and out and is exactly the stature of a resilient and standout leader.
One such disruptor in the nutraceutical niche in the Australian pharmaceutical market is William Tang
As the Managing director of Ferngrove Pharmaceuticals Australia Pty. Ltd.— William has made it to the top of the leaderboard and transformed the nutraceutical market with agile development and an inclusive approach.
Established in 1996 and a member of FPA Group, William's company has attained a wide array of success in the global manufacturing market and is the leading player in the manufacturing of Australian brands. As a manufacturer. FPA is known for its more than 500 formulae, the company has been in the global spotlight since its TGA license in 2008.
We, at Insights Care, crossed path with William to know more about his leadership skills and the transformation that he has brought to the global nutraceutical market.
Below are the interview highlights. William, briefly us about yourself and tell us your source of inspiration for venturing into the pharmaceutical and nutraceutical niche?
I was originally born in Liao Ning Province and moved to Australia in 1989. I had jumped around from multiple jobs in many different and contrasting industries, but never felt like I was being challenged enough, so I decided to give the
One emerging trend we see at the moment is the increase in demand for health care gummies, which we are about to fulfill.
Pharmaceutical industry a shot. One thing I will say is that the Pharmaceutical and Nutraceutical industry is exceptionally challenging and always pushes you to learn and retain more information than you ever thought you could.
Kindly briefly tell us about Ferngrove Pharmaceuticals Australia Pty. Ltd.
When I first got into this industry in 1990, I initially owned a raw material supply business that unfortunately liquidated in 2003 due to an economic decline. After my company was liquidated, I had to make a tough choice, give a different sector a try, or stay in the industry where I could see myself building something significant. From there, I bought the Chester Hill factory and opened Ferngrove Pharmaceuticals. Finally, getting our TGA License in 2008 meant we could manufacture more products than we could count.
William, please elaborate upon your journey as the Managing Director at FPA Group.
I won't lie to you, being Managing Director at FPA Group, it's challenging. There are always new ideas to develop, new plans to be made for the future, and always problems,
no matter how hard you try. Just because it's challenging, doesn't mean I regret it. I have an amazing staff who make it that much easier for me to focus on the future.
Tell us about the core values on which FPA Group is built and what is the mission of the organization.
FPA Group was built on the foundation that everybody deserves quality products at an affordable price. My staff works hard to ensure that the customers are happy.
FPA Group was built on the foundation that everybody deserves quality products at an affordable price.
We are making their product ideas and dreams a reality after all, so their happiness and satisfaction should always come first. FPA Group works hard to give our customers the shortest lead times.
Tell us about the products and unique benefits provided by FPA Groups under your leadership.
FPA Group spent years bringing to the Australian Market an all-vegan Soft Gel Capsule, which is halal certified, meaning we have a dosage form no matter religion, health conditions, or lifestyle.
Can you elaborate on the emerging trends of the new generation, and how do you plan to fulfill the everevolving needs of the Nutraceutical sector by integrating these emerging trends?
One emerging trend we see at the moment is the increase in demand for health care gummies, which we are about to fulfill. This year, we purchased our first gummy manufacturing machine, with hopes of having the first successful trial run completed in early 2023. To fulfill the ever-changing needs of the younger generations, we are keeping a close eye on what's trending, but also keeping track of what customers need from us.
What are the biggest challenges you have faced and the most important lessons you have learned in your professional journey so far?
One of the biggest challenges that have affected us -like many other companies- is the economy. During the financial crisis of 2008, I nearly lost my business. I could see the end of Ferngrove Pharmaceuticals, this company that I had worked so hard to build up, was about to come crashing down. But you cannot have the dark, without a little light. With patience, that's what we found, a light that would carry us to where we are now. From this economic struggle (and recently COVID-19), I have learnt that to succeed in this industry, you need to be innovative, constantly changing to suit the needs of the customers, and always think of new solutions to the problems nobody else can dream of solving.
What advice would you like to give to the budding entrepreneurs and enthusiasts aspiring to venture into the nutraceutical niche?
The future is still bright, just because it seems like you're on a downward spiral, doesn't mean it's forever.
Life is all about the balance between good and bad, they cannot exist without each other. One thing that is important in this industry is trust, you need to trust in the people you employ, I cannot stress it enough, trust is important to success. Another word of advice would be perseverance, during COVID-19, while some of our customers boomed with an increase in immunity supplements, others struggled to make ends meet, yet they kept going because we all knew that this would come to an end eventually. As humans, we have evolved to survive, and that is something you need to keep doing to succeed in this industry. Your business needs to evolve with the times, and adapt to the market's needs.
How do you envision scaling your organization's services and operations in 2022 and beyond?
To expand my repertoire of services, I am currently looking at a new water-based liquid machine to add to our oil based liquid capabilities. This new water-based liquid capability means we will be able to manufacture naturally nutritional drinks with no added preservatives, to maximize the function and application of the active ingredients.
Where do you see yourself in the future, and how do you envision eventually scaling your successful journey in the pharmaceutical and nutraceutical sector?
In the future, I see myself exactly where I am now. Happy, healthy, and Managing Director of the FPA Group. Just because I want these things, doesn't mean I don't have big plans. I obviously want to buy more facilities to expand our capabilities and daily output, but in 10 years, I am hoping to open a logistics center and to build a plant for manufacturing probiotics. I would love to be able to complete the manufacturing chain, from Raw Material Manufacturing, to Distribution. Every idea I have enacted and planned for, are all to support and bolster our loyal and faithful customers, who, without them, Ferngrove Pharmaceuticals would not be here today.
