In the era of "brain health" economy, which functional ingredients are beneficial to brain health?

January 12, 2024

In today's society where health preservation is prevalent, brain health is a topic of increasing concern for consumers of all ages. To maintain a relatively healthy mental state in high-pressure environments for a long time, more and more people are becoming concerned about brain health products, and puzzle products are gradually becoming popular.

01 "Brain Health" in the Economic Era: There is Great Potential for Brain Strengthening Functional Components

The brain is an important interconnected network that contains hundreds of possible connections, allowing multiple functions to function. When humans engage in daily life, the brain begins to prioritize specific neural pathways to improve operational efficiency. It governs our movements, feelings, emotions, memories... Protecting brain health can be said to be the foundation of all health.

The brain is one of the most complex systems on Earth. As age increases, the brain inevitably experiences a certain degree of aging. At present, there are 250 million elderly people over 60 years old and 10 million elderly dementia patients in China, all of whom have an urgent demand for brain health-related products. To alleviate diseases caused by brain aging, more and more people are paying attention to how to help the brain "recharge" through diet, health care, and other methods.

In addition to the elderly, there are also 300 million people with sleep disorders, 70 million students, 90 million people with depression, and a large number of newborns every year in China, all of whom are potential users of the brain health product market.

The huge market demand for brain health products provides the driving force for the research and production of brain health raw material enterprises. So, with the rise of the brain health market, what functional brain health ingredients are worth our attention?

1.γ- aminobutyric acid

γ- Aminobutyric acid (GABA) is a naturally occurring non protein amino acid that is an important inhibitory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system of mammals. About 30% of the central nervous system synapses use GABA as a neurotransmitter. It plays an important role in the human cerebral cortex, hippocampus, thalamus, basal ganglia, and cerebellum, and has regulatory effects on various functions of the body.

The benefits of GABA are to support the balance between the autonomic nervous system (stress response) and the parasympathetic nervous system (rest, relaxation, and recovery), in order to alleviate the imbalance caused by excessive tension and stress in daily life.

2. Saffron Extract

The effects of saffron extract on relieving emotions and anti anxiety have been confirmed in more than 10 clinical trials. A clinical study found that daily intake of 28mg saffron extract can alleviate negative emotions related to stress and anxiety.

3. Ginkgo biloba leaf extract

Ginkgo biloba extract is currently the most widely used component in brain health supplements. Experiments have shown that Ginkgo biloba extract is effective in enhancing memory and improving attention, which are achieved by promoting cerebral blood circulation, regulating the tension and elasticity of central nervous system blood vessels. In addition, Ginkgo biloba extract can also improve the sensing speed of the nervous system and accelerate the information processing process of the brain.

4. Extracts of spearmint (rosmarinic acid)

Clinical studies have shown that the substances contained in the combination of spearmint extract and polyphenols can cross the blood-brain barrier, thereby improving brain memory function. A randomized clinical trial on spearmint extract found that subjects who received 900mg of spearmint extract per day performed significantly better on key tasks compared to the placebo group, with an 11% increase in sustained focus on work compared to baseline.

5 .Sunflower Phospholipids

Sunflower lecithin is a phospholipid rich in sunflower seeds. Although soybeans are the main food source of lecithin, people who are concerned that soybeans may cause allergies prefer to obtain lecithin from sunflower seeds. Supplementing with lecithin can provide timely nutrition to the brain nerves, maintain a healthy working state, and improve irritability and insomnia caused by nerve tension.

6.omega-3

The benefits of omega-3 fish oil come from two types of fatty acids. They are eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). The most famous aspect of EPA is its effect on improving mood and reducing inflammation. DHA is a fatty acid that can improve cognitive function and brain development.

Fish oil has many benefits for mental health. This type of brain pill can reduce cortisol levels while increasing cerebral blood flow. It can also clear brain fog, combat cognitive decline, and improve memory. Research has shown that fish oil can also reduce anxiety and depression. It can reduce aggression, reduce stress, and even help improve the accuracy of your mental processing. Due to its effectiveness, fish oil is the main ingredient in most daily puzzle foods. When taking vitamin D, omega-3 has a synergistic effect on brain function.

The Mediterranean diet is known for its cardiovascular health benefits, with omega-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids at its core. Emerging studies have shown that this dietary approach is also beneficial for brain health. The Mediterranean diet typically contains unsaturated fatty acids from olive oil, nuts, fish, and polyphenols from plants.

02 The brain health market has enormous potential

To deepen the cultivation of the brain health industry and assist enterprises in seeking high-quality brain health raw material suppliers, the "NEX China World Natural Extracts Exhibition" will closely meet market demand, comprehensively showcase seven categories of plant extracts, animal extracts, food/beverage raw materials, functional food raw materials, health product raw materials, traditional Chinese medicine raw materials, and beauty and cosmetics raw materials, and create a one-stop interactive trade and exchange platform to empower the brain health industry.

According to Allied Market Research, the global market size of brain health products was approximately 25 billion yuan in 2017, and it is expected to reach 41.5 billion yuan in 2023, with a compound annual growth rate of 8.8%. The trend report "Charging Brain: The Era of Brain Innovation in the Asia Pacific Region" by Yingminte also predicts that food and beverages aimed at helping different populations manage stress and enhance their brain power will have great potential in the global market.

03 Potential Business Opportunities for Puzzle Beverages

Puzzle drinks can improve the cognitive functions of healthy individuals, such as emotions, memory, creativity, or motivation. The two most common puzzle products on the market currently aim to either increase attention or calm the brain. The former is used for purposes such as gaming, sports, or work to refresh oneself. The latter improves emotions and reduces stress.

In addition, there are differences in the needs of people of different age groups for brain health. Children and adolescents are more focused on learning and memory abilities, while adults may pay more attention to brain relaxation and pressure relief, and elderly people focus on preventing brain health.

Excessive mental pressure, busy lifestyles, and the need to improve efficiency are all driving the development of brain health products, and the food and beverage industry has also discovered potential business opportunities. For example, some have launched the "Brain opening" walnut coffee milk for "puzzle and brain building"; Some have launched dual protein coffee and milk drinks with "brain strengthening" functions

04 These ingredients are worth paying attention to

1 .theanine

Theanine is a popular ingredient that often appears in puzzle product formulas to promote cohesion and attention. Theanine is an active ingredient in tea and can be used as a natural substitute for caffeine.

2. Probiotics

In the brain health market, probiotics are shining brightly. The link between probiotics and brain health has become a major trend in probiotic research and development. As science continues to emphasize the important impact of the gut on the brain, there is an increasing interest in natural supplements - products for brain health, and more specifically, probiotics that regulate stress.

According to Euromonitor International data, the global probiotics market was worth approximately 40 billion euros in 2019, and the average annual growth rate of the Chinese probiotics market is about 15%. It is expected that the market size will approach 90 billion yuan in 2022. In the past two years, under the catalysis of the epidemic, the sales growth rate of China's probiotics industry has reached over 20%. In the industry's view, probiotics are expected to become the next trillion dollar health market.

3 .turmeric

Turmeric can improve cognitive health in the human body through multiple pathways. A laboratory study showed that curcumin helps protect neurons in the hippocampus of the brain. Therefore, in an experimental mouse model of Alzheimer's disease induced by amyloid protein, long-term supply of curcumin was found to significantly improve cognitive impairment.

Based on the current market situation, as a functional ingredient, the global market growth rate of curcumin has been very significant in the past two years. In 2017, the global market size of curcumin reached 52.45 million US dollars, and it is expected to reach 104 million US dollars by 2025, with a compound annual growth rate of 8.9% during this period. At present, turmeric has its own anti-inflammatory, stomach strengthening, liver protecting and other effects, and consumer awareness of its ability to treat stomach diseases and elderly dementia is increasing year by year.

05 These ingredients are worth paying attention to, how to take care of the brain?

Having learned so many functional ingredients for brain health, brain care is crucial for brain health.

Firstly, attention should be paid to the safety protection of the brain to prevent accidental damage and maintain the stability of the physiological and biochemical environment in the brain.

Secondly, it is necessary to establish a healthy lifestyle and stay away from factors that can harm brain health. Mainly including the following points:

1. Prevent and treat hypertension, hyperglycemia, and hyperlipidemia, and avoid excessive obesity, smoking, and alcohol abuse.

2. Strengthen brain rest and exercise, ensure sufficient sleep, and engage in more aerobic exercise.

3. Promote food diversity and choose foods that contain protein, fatty acids, carbohydrates, and other nutrients that the brain needs.

06 Conclusion

With the continuous attention of consumers towards brain health, functional ingredients for brain health are likely to become a rapidly growing sub category in the future, and there is unlimited potential in the puzzle and health care market. Part of the content comes from the internet, and the cover image comes from maker posts. Reminder: The article is for reference only. If there are any inappropriate comments, please feel free to leave a message for correction and communication. And readers should not take action based on the content of the article without specific professional advice, and this operator is not responsible for any losses caused as a result. If the article involves infringement, please contact me to handle or pay the remuneration.

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