Better-For-You Beverages with Protein & Fibre
Mar 15, 2021

Better-for-you beverages are progressively hitting the market, as they meet consumer demands for convenience with additional nutrition benefits with greater focus on immunity-boosting ingredients at current global health conditions1,6.

Protein is crucial to regulate immune system, especially for building and repairing body tissue and fighting viral and bacterial infections3. Plant proteins can be a good source of essential amino acids, complementing or even replacing animal sources as it may cause allergies or intolerances in some individuals8. Consumption of prebiotic fibres can have direct or indirect effect on immune cells in the gut12.

Plant-Based Protein Sources

Chia

The chia seed is one of nature’s all-star superfoods. It is plant-based, non-GMO, hormone-free, allergen-free and gluten-free, thus fulfilling transparency requirements for the clean label category. Additionally, this little seed packs a nutritional punch – high in protein, fibre, minerals and essential fatty acids5. Chia seeds contain around 19% protein and is loaded with all essential amino acids with great digestibility. It can be consumed in whole seeds, or in the form of chia powder when incorporated in beverages4.

Rice Protein

            Rice protein is an alternative to the popular whey and soy protein with its hypoallergenic nature7. Being all natural, gluten-free and non-GMO are other plus points2. Rice protein is relatively rich in lysine content and possesses a more balanced amino-acid profile compared to wheat, corn and sorghum10,13.

Prebiotic Fibre Source

Chicory Inulin

Gut health is increasingly under the spotlight in the food industry. Chicory inulin is prebiotic fibre that is not digested and reaches the colon intact. It nourishes the probiotics in gut and selectively stimulates the growth of these good bacteria which promotes a healthy digestive and immune system. Studies have also suggested that inulin exerts favourable properties in decreasing risk of gastrointestinal diseases including irritable bowel diseases (IBD) and colon cancer11. Likewise, it provides support in relieving constipation and increasing stool volume due to the bulking effect9.

It’s all good for you

The plant-forward trend has shown a remarkable staying power. Plant protein and prebiotic fibre are the ideal functional ingredients that bring unique and exciting healthy beverages to consumers.

At DPO, we are honoured to be in partnership with Benexia, Beneo Remy and Beneo Orafti to bring you a range of ingredient choices that could elevate your quality of life.

References

1Avis, E. (2021). Consumers Are Looking for Immunity-Boosting Ingredients. Food Processing.

2Beneo. (2016). Nutritious high quality rice protein: Remypro. Mannheim, Germany: Author.

3Chand, V. (2020). Nutrition as a key weapon in strengthening immune system relative to pandemic novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19): a review. International Journal of Health Sciences and Research, 10 (8), 96-104.

4Grancieri, M., Martino, H., & Gonzalez de Mejia, E. (2019). Chia Seed (Salvia hispanica L.) as a Source of Proteins and Bioactive Peptides with Health Benefits: A Review. Comprehensive Reviews In Food Science And Food Safety, 18(2), 480-499. https://doi.org/10.1111/1541-4337.12423

5Kulczyński, B., Kobus-Cisowska, J., Taczanowski, M., Kmiecik, D., & Gramza-Michałowska, A. (2019). The Chemical Composition and Nutritional Value of Chia Seeds—Current State of Knowledge. Nutrients, 11(6), 1242. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu11061242

6Lalou, K. (2020). Functional Drinks: Gut-Health, Energy and Recovery Claims Grow. The World of Food Ingredients, 76-77.

7Market Data Forecast. (2020). Asia Pacific Rice Protein Market By Product (Concentrates, Isolates, Hydrolysates), By Type (Organic And Inorganic), By Application (Pharmaceuticals, Food And Beverages, Cosmetics And Animal Feed), By Form (Dry And Liquid) And By Region – Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, And Forecasts (2016-2021). Industry Report.

8Montoya-Rodríguez, A., Gómez-Favela, M., Reyes-Moreno, C., Milán-Carrillo, J., & González de Mejía, E. (2015). Identification of Bioactive Peptide Sequences from Amaranth (Amaranthus hypochondriacus) Seed Proteins and Their Potential Role in the Prevention of Chronic Diseases. Comprehensive Reviews In Food Science And Food Safety, 14(2), 139-158. https://doi.org/10.1111/1541-4337.12125

9Mudgil, D. (2017). The Interaction Between Insoluble and Soluble Fiber. Dietary Fiber For The Prevention Of Cardiovascular Disease, 35-59. https://doi.org/10.1016/b978-0-12-805130-6.00003-3

10Nitisuk, P., Uriyapongson, J., & Alli, I. (2019). Effects of Soy Protein and Rice Protein on Stability and Pasting Properties of Brown Rice Beverage. Food And Applied Bioscience Journal, 7(1), 51–67.

11Shoaib, M., Shehzad, A., Omar, M., Rakha, A., Raza, H., & Sharif, H. et al. (2016). Inulin: Properties, health benefits and food applications. Carbohydrate Polymers, 147, 444-454. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.carbpol.2016.04.020

12Shokryazdan, P., Faseleh Jahromi, M., Navidshad, B., & Liang, J. (2016). Effects of prebiotics on immune system and cytokine expression. Medical Microbiology And Immunology, 206(1), 1-9. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00430-016-0481-y

13Upadhyay, A., & Karn, S. (2018). Brown Rice: Nutritional composition and Health Benefits. Journal Of Food Science And Technology Nepal, 10, 48-54. https://doi.org/10.3126/jfstn.v10i0.19711

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