Originally published July 31 2005
Columnist says proper nutrition is the first step to improved health
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
Macleans Canada columnist Danylo Hawaleshka likes the nutritional foods served by Toronto eatery "the Garage," even though they serve soda, but he emphasizes that the Garage is part of a growing trend of more and more people realizing the importance of proper nutrition for health.
Smart (fx) is just one player in a huge new business trend -- foods and drinks with special qualities designed to appeal to health-conscious consumers.
All across the food industry, from fledgling firms to giant conglomerates, companies are finding new ways to cook up increasingly exotic -- and supposedly healthful -- things to feed us.
They're hoping consumer unease about genetically modified Frankenfood, mad cow disease, irradiation and bovine growth hormones will drive a new market in health-oriented foods.
Within the industry, they're known as "functional foods," edibles enhanced with various substances that supposedly boost the original food's basic nutritional value and -- it is hoped -- reduce the consumer's risk of chronic disease.
The global market for functional foods, nutraceuticals and natural health products is currently worth an estimated US$70 billion a year, according to the Richardson Centre for Functional Foods and Nutraceuticals at the University of Manitoba.
It costs about 15 per cent more than the regular stuff, but Philippe Meyersohn, vice-president of marketing, says sales have exceeded expectations and Neilson is expanding distribution.
Cevena Bioproducts Inc., a small Edmonton start-up, augments nutrition bars with cholesterol-lowering beta-glucan fibre extracted from barley.
It involves feeding a substance called lutein, derived from marigold plants, to hens to increase the lutein content in egg yolks.
But all this new science raises an enormous potential for, on the one hand, misleading claims by manufacturers and, on the other, rampant skepticism among consumers.
Compared to Europe, Asia, and in particular Japan, the world leader, Canada is a laggard in developing its functional-food market, says Bell.
Given our chicken-finger-licking, remote-control ways, and our stubborn reluctance to follow Canada's Food Guide to Healthy Eating, magic-bullet solutions to our health problems are awfully tempting.
All content posted on this site is commentary or opinion and is protected under Free Speech. Truth Publishing LLC takes sole responsibility for all content. Truth Publishing sells no hard products and earns no money from the recommendation of products. NaturalNews.com is presented for educational and commentary purposes only and should not be construed as professional advice from any licensed practitioner. Truth Publishing assumes no responsibility for the use or misuse of this material. For the full terms of usage of this material, visit www.NaturalNews.com/terms.shtml