23
Feb
2021
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Immunity-boosting products on the rise
COVID-19 is piquing consumer interest in a variety of wellness applications.
Organic immunity shot
Vive Organic
Venice, Calif.-based Vive Organic markets a range of cold-pressed juice functional shots, including one formulated to boost immunity. The refrigerated vegan drink contains organic ginger, elderberry, turmeric root and echinacea, a combination described as “helping the body be battle ready.” The 2-oz shots come in original and cayenne pepper varieties.
Prebiotic soda
Poppi
Poppi is a better-for-you prebiotic soda infused with apple cider vinegar, a homeopathic remedy to help keep the gut in check. There’s about one tablespoon of it in every 12-oz can, according to the Dallas-based company. Poppi comes in seven flavors – blueberry, lime ginger, mango pineapple, orange, peach tea, strawberry lemon and strawberry rose – with one can containing less than 20 calories mainly from the 5 grams of added sugar. The sparkling beverage is further sweetened with stevia.
Cookies with benefits
Uplift Foods
Uplift Foods, New York City, is introducing Gut Happy Cookies in three varieties: salted almond butter with vanilla and hemp seeds, salted peanut butter with chocolate and coconut, and sunflower butter with vanilla and chia. The plant-based cookies contain prebiotic fibers and the spore-forming probiotic strain Bacillus coagulans GBI-30 6086, which can survive baking temperatures. The prebiotics and probiotics work synergistically to enhance digestion and build immunity, according to the company.
Inherently a source of prebiotics
Rowdy Bars
Rowdy Prebiotic Bars were created to support a healthy gut. They feature fiber, protein and healthy fats, with the key ingredient being yacon root, a sweet, low-glycemic vegetable that is an inherent source of prebiotic inulin fiber. The Reno, Nev.-based company recently added blueberry almond tart to the line. It has added value from the antioxidant-rich blueberries.
Powering up with ginger
So Good Brand Inc.
So Good Brand Inc., Minneapolis, uses botanical ingredients in its organic plant-based probiotic cold-pressed juice shot brand So Good So You. The immunity variety is powered by ginger and the spore-forming probiotic strain Bacillus coagulans GBI-30 6086.
Superfood meal bars
Probar LLC
Park City, Utah-based Probar LLC is adding Probar Live to its line of minimally processed nutrition bars and snacks. The new concept delivers 10 grams of plant-based protein, no added sugar and the spore-forming probiotic strain Bacillus coagulans GBI-30 6086. Flavors are almond butter, coconut cashew, peanut butter and peanut butter chocolate chip.
Documented probiotic strain
Good Culture LLC
Probiotic Smoothies and Wellness Probiotic Gut Shots are the most recent introductions by Good Culture LLC, Irvine, Calif. The smoothies are powered by 12 strains of live and active cultures, including the probiotic Bifidobacterium lactis BB-12. It is clinically proven to rebalance gut flora, leading to overall improved gut health, as well as boost overall immunity by increasing the body’s resistance to common respiratory infections. The smoothies are made with kefir, and come in pineapple, vanilla and wildberry flavors. The gut shots are made with the same kefir. They are lightly sweetened with sweet potato juice and coconut sugar and come in four formulations. The chai matcha variety is formulated to create calm, focused energy, while pineapple turmeric supports brain function and joint health. Chocolate chaga is said to boost energy and deepen immunity. The vanilla collagen variety promotes hair, skin and nail health, according to the company.
Kefir shots
Lifeway Foods
The 3.5-oz Kefir Minis from Lifeway Foods, Morton Grove, Ill., are sold in six packs. Each probiotic shot contains 12 live and active cultures to support a healthy microbiome. The shots come in four flavors – campfire s’mores, strawberry banana, tropical twist and unicorn cake – and contain 60 calories, 1 gram of fat, 8 grams total sugars and 4 grams protein.
A daily dose of probiotics
Stonyfield Organic
Stonyfield Organic, Londonderry, NH, now offers Daily Probiotics, a yogurt drink in a 3.1-oz easy-to-drink format designed to support both immune and digestive health. Available in two flavors – blueberry pomegranate and strawberry acai – the drinks are made with fruit and organic low-fat milk.
Simply cultured
Sierra Nevada Cheese Co.
With the tagline of “Real cultured dairy. Simple. Wholesome. Pure,” the new probiotic yogurt drink line from Sierra Nevada Cheese Co., Willows, Calif., comes in blueberry, strawberry and tropical flavors. The drinks are made with the Bifidobacterium lactis BB-12 strain. Its benefits are documented in more than 300 published studies, according to the company.
Wild fermentation
Farmhouse Culture
Farmhouse Culture, Chicago, is a pioneer in cold-brewed, filtered fermented vegetable juice gut shots. The 16-oz multi-serve bottles are being joined by a 2-oz single-serve format. Initial varieties include ginger beet and garlic dill. The fermented drinks vary in bacterial strain content, as no starter cultures are added. They contain the cultures inherent to the ingredients, which is usually a range of lactic acid probiotics. They include Lactobacillus plantarum, which has been shown to improve immune function, and Lactobacillus brevis, which can help keep good bacteria growing in your gut.
Ice cream with benefits
Pro Rich Nutrition LLC
Oceanside, Calif.-based Pro Rich Nutrition LLC is introducing high-protein frozen dessert tubes free of artificial ingredients. Each 85-gram frozen tube is loaded with probiotics, prebiotics, and 26 vitamins and minerals. Sold in boxes of three tubes, the frozen dessert comes in five varieties, all of which contain cocoa protein nuggets made with whey protein concentrate and isolate. Varieties are chocolate, coffee caramel (Rocket Launch), mint, strawberry and vanilla (Jo Jo’s Original). One tube contains 130 to 150 calories, 4 to 5 grams of fat, 10 to 11 grams of protein, 5 to 9 grams of added sugars and 3 grams of fiber. Organic agave inulin and organic monkfruit help keep added sugars in check.
Something for everyone
Danone SA
Danone SA is the leader in dairy probiotics with its Activia brand. Today Activia yogurt comes in cups, shots and smoothies, and even non-dairy options of the three formats. There’s better-for-you formulations free of lactose, as well as lower in calories. The company also now offers nut butter pouches and nutrition bars loaded with probiotics. While they are not positioned as dairy products, they both contain yogurt ingredients.
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