Tag: Health Benefit

Good News: Ice Cream Has Health Benefits!

Amongst the majority of people who are diet-conscience and health-conscious, ice cream has a bad reputation. Not only is this reputation undeserved in general, but the fact is ice cream actually has many health benefits, of which most people are not aware.

Ice cream can be a very positive addition to your diet, especially if you are struggling with weight loss. Studies are now showing that a calcium-rich diet greatly assists in taking off unwanted pounds, and, equally important, keeping them off after you have attained your desired weight. Although one may be tempted to rely on calcium supplements, getting your daily supply of calcium is best when it is achieved with foods which are rich in calcium.

In addition to helping lose extra pounds, ice cream will also aid in shedding body fat while keeping the body lean. If one is interested in the scientific aspect of how calcium intake is related to weight, the lack of sufficient calcium in the daily diet causes fat-producing hormones to be released. Each serving of standard ice cream will provide approximately eight percent of one’s daily calcium needs.

Incorporating some ice cream into your food plans can also help you lower and regulate your blood pressure. The relationship between blood pressure and the natural form of calcium which is found in ice cream is that a regular intake of natural calcium in the diet will prevent high calcitriol levels, thus preventing the constriction of the walls of the small arteries. Eaten in moderation, ice cream will assist in this very important health benefit.

It has recently been proven that the calcium intake from ice cream will also lower your risk of colon cancer. Although the exact correlation has not yet been determined, research suggests that the manner in which calcium assists in inactivating the bile salts may be the factor. Calcium is also associated with lowering the risk of breast cancer.

The calcium found in ice cream also helps the health of bones and teeth. In making the bones stronger and more dense, it is directly related to preventing osteoporosis, which affects many people in later life. As one of the main risks associated with osteoporosis are bone fractures, which can be quite serious in the elderly, a calcium-rich diet in one’s younger years will greatly reduce this risk.

Many physicians are now recommending a daily intake of 1,200 mg of calcium as a treatment for PMS. Women who have tried this regimen have reported in the annoying symptoms associated with PMS. As up to twenty percent of all women are regularly distressed by symptoms such as bloating and mood swings, many should be glad to learn that they can decrease the risk of these symptoms by up to fifty percent simply by electing to have a diet which is rich in calcium.

Although it contradicts the previously-established practice of limiting the intake of calcium in those who have suffered from kidney stones, one of the most recent, longterm studies has shown that a diet which is high in calcium is a good safeguard against recurrent kidney stones.

Although most women are aware of the need for additional calcium-rich foods during pregnancy for the sake of their developing baby’s health, it is generally not as well-known that calcium also greatly reduces the risk of both pregnancy-induced hypertension and premature births.

While people who have preexisting medical conditions should not significantly alter their diets without first consulting their physician, it has been established that for most people a diet which is rich in calcium products, such as ice cream, will have numerous health benefits and learning that this favored treat is indeed a healthy food will surely lead to its fans enjoying ice cream even more.

Nutraceutical Industry and Sports Nutrition

The role of food in total health care is not something new to mankind. The use of food to maintain man’s health is as natural as day and night. More than 2,000 years ago, Hippocrates, considered as the father of medicine, said, “Let food be your medicine and medicine be your food.” It is this principle that eventually led to the explosion of the nutraceutical industry.

The nutraceutical industry is concerned with nutraceuticals, that is, food or part of a food that offers medical and/or health benefits including prevention or treatment of disease.

All therapeutic areas such as anti arthritic, cold and cough, pain killers, digestion, sleeping disorders, blood pressure, cholesterol, prevention of certain cancers, osteoporosis, depression and diabetes are covered by nutraceuticals.

Products range from herbal dietary supplements, actual food components in dosage form such as capsules or tablets to beverages fortified with vitamins and genetically engineered designer foods, functional foods, processed foods such as cereal, soup and beverages.

Functional foods, the most popular term among consumers are modifieds food or food ingredients that may provide a health benefit beyond the traditional nutrients it contains.

Nutraceuticals is widely popular in the US, Canada, Japan, and Europe. The demand for nutraceuticals has been growing worldwide due to consumer awareness of the links of diet and disease, aging population, rising health care cost and innovations in food technology and nutrition.

Competition factors for the Sports Nutrition Market

Product/brand differentiation

Because of greater saturation and competition in the marketplace sports nutrition products look alike and sound the same. Maintaining a brand that stands apart from the rest is difficult but a thing to strive for.

Research-substantiated claims.

Consumers ability to make intelligent choices should never be underestimated. People place more faith endorsements by university professors and doctors and claims backed by independent research than by endorsements by celebrities.

Core products and strategies

A good strategy now is to focus development of core products or integrating with large food and pharmaceutical concerns (e.g., Powerbar, BalanceBar).

E-commerce

For small companies that cannot or will not rely on strong distribution relationships, e-commerce is an increasingly attractive option.

Basis for marketing strategy

The factors for competition stated above have been gleaned from researches of what consumers are willing to pay for. Overall, customers want:

Something New

Retailers and consumers clamor for “new,” whether it means new forms of delivery (gels, effervescent tablets, functional beverages), new applications of or combinations with existing products, or all-natural sports nutrition products that are free of artificial ingredients and solvents.

Excellent Tasting All-natural products

Consumers are also looking for products that taste good and are easy to take. Taste is a major feature that can either make or break a product. The hunt is on for manufacturers to come up with better and new flavors.

High quality and safe products

Regulatory agencies exist to protect the consumers. It is the responsibility of product manufacturers to undertake sound research and prove the efficacy and safety of their nutraceutical products. Products that are based on false or misleading marketing should be and are banned and condemned.

Through product sales and advances in research and development, the Sports Nutrition Nutraceutical Industry is now validating what was proven, early on, by the fitness and nutrition pioneers — sports nutrition products provide easier access to a healthier way of performing and living.