Adaptogens, Nature's Stress Manager Part 2
In our last post we introduced Adaptogens and shared some insights on the market. This post will dive into the science behind these powerful substances!
Adaptogens are plant-based drugs that help our bodies regulate stress response and mitigate General Adaptation Syndrome. Plants such as Rhodiola, Siberian Ginseng, and Ashwagandha are natural remedies in traditional formats such as capsules and tablets. However, today’s consumer is looking for new ways to stay healthy.
Plant-based remedies are growing as natural alternatives to pharmaceutical drugs. In addition, new functional foods and beverages, fromteas, available drinks, supplements, and coffee to gummies, chocolates, and even snacks, continue to pop up!
Mindright Brain Boost
These exciting products reflect the growing consumer desire for plant-based, functional outcomes but come with unique product development challenges. It’s a tricky balance to deliver these benefits, label claims, and efficacy while also creating products that taste as fantastic as the feelings they promise.
The first thing to consider when developing a product with adaptogens is the specific dose for intended efficacy—meaning, what levels of these botanical remedies should people consume to get the best results? For example, Ashwagandha is recommended at 500mg daily to receive the best effects, while Bacopa is closer to 600mg daily. Packing this plant-based punch into traditional food formats poses many challenges.
Goli Ashwagandha Gummies
For example, gummies are one of the fastest-growing applications for plant-based adaptogens and other nutritional ingredients. These can be challenging to formulate as they can upset the gummy matrix, impart bitter and earthy flavors, and dull the vibrant colors most associated with this candy. When formulating gummies, it is essential to understand how to properly incorporate the ingredients into the gummy matrix so that they do not disrupt the gelling agent. Different gelling agents like pectin or gelatin will pose unique challenges. The flavor is the most significant hurdle when formulating these products. Balancing natural bitter maskers, appropriate flavors, acids, and salts are essential to provide the consumer with a pleasant experience. Using modern natural flavor techniques, married with old-school culinary knowledge, helps create a great product.
In beverage and shot applications, not only do you have to contend with the flavor and color issues mentioned above, but solubility and suspension of the particles become an issue. Most plant-based ingredients are not fully soluble and must be suspended within the beverage matrix. After all, if the active adaptogens sit on the bottom of a can or bottle and form a “sludge, " you won’t receive the benefits you seek.
While formulating unique adaptogenic products can be challenging, these products push the boundaries of where tasty foods/beverages and plant-based medicine intersect. It’s an exciting new frontier for functional food innovation!
What did you think of this post? Please comment or DM Jaime or Elizabeth!
JAIME UNDERWOOD - jaime@edible-chemistry.com
Edible Chemistry Consulting Website- https://edible-chemistry.com/
Edible Chemistry Consulting Linkedin- https://www.linkedin.com/company/edible-chemistry-consulting/
Jaime Underwood Linkedin-
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaime-underwood-8061b9a/
ELIZABETH COHEN- elizabeth@emcstrategy.com
EMC Strategy Website- https://emcstrategy.com/about/
EMC Strategy Linkedin- https://www.linkedin.com/company/emc-strategy-llc/
Elizabeth Linkedin- https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabeth-cohen-emc/
