Why Is Functional Food Ingredient Vital To Silver Generation?

The world population is rapidly ageing, while fertility rates are falling and people are living longer. Globally, the 65-year-old population is estimated at 1.6 billion. In China, key data from the latest census in 2021 shows that the elderly population over the age of 65 reached about 190 million, accounting for 13.5 percent of the total population. People over the age of 65 are very concerned about how to continue to be robust as they age. People around the age of 50 begin to face a series of aging problems such as muscle loss, weakened strength, poor recovery and slower metabolism.

Functional food ingredients, such as Water Soluble Coenzyme Q10, Mulberry Leaf Extract Powder, 95 percent Proanthocyanidins Powder, Sesame Extract Powder, RUTIN 98 percent Powder, Quercetin 98 percent Extract Powder, Hericium Erinaceus Powder and so on, supply not only daily essential nutrients but also other secondary metabolites with biological activity and health benefits to protect against infection and diseases.

Functional foods are extremely beneficial ingredients that are naturally present in food or added to the daily diet, including secondary metabolites, prebiotics, probiotics, and synbiotics in addition to the normal minerals, vitamins, and amino acids. Functional food ingredients contain biologically favourable carotenoids, fatty acids, flavonoids, betaines, phenols, phenolic acids, phytosterols, alkaloids, phytoestrogens and dietary fiber. Some functional components in these foods play an important role in improving the health of older adults. As health costs and longer average life expectancy, older adults look for cost-effective ways to become healthier and develop a higher quality of life. The concept of "functional food" was developed as a convenient solution to prevent/treat certain chronic health conditions. These foods help defeat disease, strengthen the immune system, boost energy, keep healthy skin, maintain joints and strong bones, promote healthy digestion and improve longevity. Certain ingredients in functional foods display cardioprotective, antioxidant, liver, antidiabetic and neuroprotective, antibacterial activities and constipation improvement.

According to a survey by FrieslandCampina Ingredients shows that 90 percent of older consumers would prefer to choose food to stay healthy rather than traditional supplements. They want supplements not in pills and powders but delicious snacks, or nutritionally fortified versions of everyday food and beverages.