Gut health is arguably the most powerful trend to hit food and beverage in the past decade. In fact, such is its dominance, the global digestive health products market is now valued at 51.62 billion USD and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 8.3% over the next five years, according to Grand View Research.
“Gut health really is an important area within food and drink, particularly functional food and drink,” says Rick Miller, associate director for specialised nutrition at market research firm, Mintel.
So, how has gut health gone from a subject discussed solely by doctors and dieticians to one of the most influential forces in food and beverage?
How has gut health become such a powerful trend?
The answer is the rise in consumer understanding of the importance of the gut microbiome, with Innova Market Insights finding that two in three consumers now recognise gut health as key to overall wellbeing.
Furthermore, recent studies have linked gut health to a multitude of health benefits, including reducing the risk of colorectal cancer and of chronic diseases in women. And the benefits don’t end there as gut health has now been linked to a broad range of symptoms, including energy levels, mood, skin health, hair health and more.
What’s more, understanding of the power of gut health is continuing to grow, with the relatively recent discovery of the gut-brain axis, exposing the importance of good gut health on good brain health. This has led to consumers looking to the foods they eat to support physical and mental health.
“Mental health conditions like anxiety are often linked with chronic gut conditions like IBS. Recent research suggests that your gut bacteria could affect symptoms of anxiety and depression,” explains Olivia Cassano of gut-health brand, Zoe. “Scientists have identified specific gut microbes that may be connected with mental health conditions. One study found that people with depression had fewer of two types of bacteria called Dialister and Coprococcus in their guts.”
This is supported by Rachel Yarcony, co-founder and CEO of smart food company myAir, who recently told FoodNavigator that the gut-brain axis is a “complex, bidirectional communication system between the gastrointestinal tract and the central nervous system. This connection involves direct and indirect pathways that include the nervous, immune, and hormonal pathways, linking our gut health to our mood and mental health.”
What’s next for the gut health industry?
Understanding of the importance of good gut health is still in its infancy, but new research is being released every week.
“There has been an explosion in research in this space over the last decade,” said Richard Day, vice president of Medical Affairs & Clinical Development at food and beverage manufacturer ADM, while speaking on gut health at Future Food-Tech in London.
“Research is exploring the gut-brain axis, gut-heart axis, gut-oral axis, gut-lung axis and more,” says Stephanie Mattucci, associate director of Food Science at Mintel. “Research is also underway to understand how changes to the gut microbiota can affect other areas of health and potentially manage diseases that are rooted in inflammation, such as rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis.”
