By: Don Garneau (courtesy of Inside Fitness)
As this article is being written we are in the midst of the COVID-19 global pandemic, which is impacting nearly every human being on the planet and it’s even influencing the content and thoughts of this article. Thankfully, healthy eating, fitness and supplements have been trending up for years – which is critically important right now as a healthier Canadian population can better overcome this pandemic, and any virus or illness in the future for that matter. Now, without further ado, let’s get right into the top 6 health supplement trends of 2021.
#6 FUNCTIONAL FOODS, PROTEIN SNACKS & KETO
New protein bars, bites and keto balls have been steadily popping up on store shelves for a couple years now and this trend will continue through 2021 and beyond. Functional foods, protein convenience snacks and keto-friendly foods are going to continue to rise in popularity. The convenience factor is a big thing and consumers are gravitating more towards wholefood options to meet their protein and snacking needs, instead of powders and drinks. Within this category, expect to see more and more demand for all-natural, organic and plant-based options, and you can expect brand makers and manufacturers to fill this demand. You can check out pg. 126 for our Protein Bar feature for even more details in this regard.
#5 GUT HEALTH SUPPLEMENTS
Gut health supplements have been trending well for several years now and you can expect to see the trend continue with another surge in 2021. This spike in gut supplement sales will be closely tied to people’s response to the COVID-19 virus and their insatiable desire to bolster their immune systems. You’ll see a variety of new probiotic strains enter the market in 2021 and many new functional foods that will target gut health too.
#4 COLLAGEN
Speaking of gut health, collagen is a supplement that can help improve digestive health. Collagen helps repair the tissues along the digestive tract and helps support a healthy mucosal layer in the gut. The amino acids found in collagen build the tissue that lines the colon and entire GI tract and can even help fix leaky gut syndrome. The sales of collagen supplements have exploded over the past two years and this trend is not slowing down. Since collagen can help improve gut health and resolve leaky gut syndrome, it has a direct effect on boosting the immune system. A healthier gut means a stronger immune system, so expect collagen sales to continue to surge.
#3 SLEEP SUPPORT
Sleep support supplements have been trending up for a couple years now and you can expect this trend to continue. People, especially the North American population, are having more trouble than ever falling and staying asleep. Traditional sleep ingredients like magnesium, valerian and melatonin will continue to see steady sales, while there will also be a few new ingredient and product innovations that will penetrate the marketplace in 2021.
#2 MENTAL HEALTH
Mental health is a topic that couldn’t be trending any higher right now. Mental health has been a hot topic for several years now and still continues to garner more and more attention. With this attention and media coverage comes opportunity in the health and wellness sector. People have been using various plants, herbs, vitamins and minerals to support brain health for years, and this is an area where you can expect to see some innovation. Ingredients and products that target stress, anxiety and mood will continue to be sellers.
THE #1 TRENDING CATEGORY: IMMUNE SUPPORT
The easiest prediction I will make this year is that immune support supplements will trend hard for the foreseeable future and see a major surge in sales in 2021 and beyond. There has already been an immediate effect on immune supplement sales because of COVID-19 and you can expect this virus will have a long-lasting impact on consumers’ buying decisions. To give you some actionable information that you can use right away, here are 5 of my favourite immune support supplements that can help you fight off all different types of viruses, including those of the corona type.
Garlic
Garlic has been prized for its medicinal properties for thousands of years. The compounds allicin and alliion are responsible for much of this plant’s powerful effects. Garlic has potent anti-viral properties and also has anti-bacterial and anti-fungal effects. There is a large body of scientific research showing how garlic can protect you from a wide range of different flu-type viruses.
N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC)
NAC is another amazing virus killing compound. There are a lot of research studies to support this fact too. In fact, NAC has been shown to inhibit replication of seasonal human influenza-A viruses. The potent antioxidant inhibits H5N1 replication and H5N1-induced production of pro-inflammatory molecules. NAC is a real treatment option that should be considered in the case of an influenza-A virus and other types of viruses. Even if you do get a virus, NAC can significantly decrease the severity of symptoms. NAC helps to increase levels of glutathione, which is considered the master antioxidant in the body and an important part of your immune defense system. Boosted by NAC, glutathione helps to protect your lungs against respiratory illness and associated symptoms.
Dihydroquercetin
Quercetin is a plant flavanol from the flavonoid group of polyphenols. It is found in many fruits, vegetables, leaves, seeds, and grains; red onions and kale are common foods containing appreciable content of quercetin. Dihydroquercetin is a derivative of quercetin and is also found in most of the same foods as quercetin. Quercetin is known to help lower cholesterol and treat inflammatory disease, but dihydroquercetin is best known for its anti-viral effects.
Concentrated Greens Powder
One of best supplements to use for overall health and immunity is a greens powder.
Consistent daily use of a top-quality greens supplement can have beneficial effects on the immune system. Greens supplements have an alkaline effect and help maintain acid-base balance in the body.
Nanoparticle Coated Silver
Nanoparticle coated silver is very hard to find but is what could be considered the most effective natural virus fighter available. It has a lot of research to back it up too. The major challenge with your average colloidal silver product is that clumping of the sliver occurs in the body and then it cannot be properly absorbed rendering it ineffective. This is why colloidal silver has gotten a bad rap. The secret to this powerful compound, however, is using a nanoparticle version that is coated. By coated, I mean the nanosized silver particles are coated with organic polysaccharides to prevent them from clumping, ensuring optimal absorption and incredible antiviral effects. Once the silver is effectively absorbed, it works by interfering with the enzymes that allow a virus to utilize oxygen thus, in essence, suffocating and killing it.
