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Although these products are more expensive, people are willing to pay for them. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), foods with greater nutritional value and fewer ingredients harmful to health, cost up to five times more.

The health style movement has taken over the world and brought profits for fitness, but also for the food industry. In 2023, the global market for healthy, functional and natural foods was valued at US$ 23.5 billion and is expected to increase to US$ 38.5 billions by 2033.

Main trends in healthy food

When it comes to healthy foods, there are many ways to make them more beneficial to the body and there are different types to explore. Here are the five main trends identified by research companies involved in the sector:

1 – Organic Food 

The Organic Products Market Report promoted by 360 Research Reports revealed that by 2031, the global market for this type of food is expected to reach US$ 201.7 billion.

Therefore, organically produced fruit, vegetables, grains and other crops should become more and more valued by consumers. And products, even industrialized, that contain organic ingredients will be favored.

Today, the production of organic food, i.e. food that does not use artificial substances such as agrochemicals, veterinary drugs, hormones, antibiotics, Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) and transgenics, is already present in more than 188 countries. Information published in the 25th edition of "The World of Organic Agriculture", by the FiBL Organic Agriculture Research Institute and IFOAM - Organics International.

This kind of product is mainly found in countries such as:

• North America (United States, Canada and Mexico);
• Europe (Germany, United Kingdom, France, Italy, Russia and Turkey, etc.);
• Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India, Australia, Indonesia, Thailand, the Philippines, Malaysia and Vietnam);
• South America (Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, etc.);
• Middle East and Africa (Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Nigeria and South Africa).

2 - Functional foods

Functional foods, those that have a higher nutritional value and therefore more health benefits, are also among consumers' options and are likely to become even more popular in the coming years.

They aligned with people's growing determination to improve their lifestyles and their awareness that food is an essential part of disease prevention. As a result, people are looking for ingredients that can help strengthen the immune system, reduce cholesterol,

control blood pressure and are rich in vitamins, minerals, fiber and other healthy components.

Examples include oats, berries, nuts, fish and green tea. The industry is becoming more aware of these consumer preferences and including ingredients with these characteristics in its products.

3 - Energy boosting products

Foods and drinks that energize are also increasingly in demand. With a busy routine, people understand that they need to look for items in their diet that help them feel physically and mentally energized throughout the day.

Caffeine is one of the main components that helps achieving this. But besides caffeine, consumers are asking for beverages that also contain other health benefits, such as probiotics, for example.

4 - Plant-based foods

Vegan and plant-based foods have been growing in consumer preference for some years now. That's why the food industry needs to be aware that, in addition to offering fresh foods in a more attractive way, it should also consider processed or minimally processed foods that don't contain ingredients of animal origin.

It is important to look for products composed of plants, vegetables, fruit and cereals that contain proteins, vitamins and other components that are beneficial to health, as well as being tasty, of course. According to The Good Food Institute, the market for plant-based products could generate between US$ 100 billion and US$ 370 billion by 2035.

5 - Low calorie foods

Finally, a trend that goes hand in hand with all the others mentioned is low-calorie eating. Here the search for better health prevails, but so does the concern to lose and maintain weight.

The most common are fresh foods, such as fruit, vegetables, grains, legumes or plants. However, it is interesting to see industry incorporating these ingredients into their products, so that they are minimally processed and contain little or no sugar.

Yerba mate in food

Yerba mate can be a great ingredient in healthy foods. Being incorporated not only in drink but in food the plant can also be exploited in various ways.

For example, the leaves processed into powder can become a flour and be incorporated into cookies, cakes and other types of pasta. It can also be found in cereal or snack bars to give you even more energy.

Yerba mate extract can also be used to preserve food or as a natural additive, antioxidant and conservative. With its green color, from the leaves of the plant, colorants can also be produced, replacing artificial dyes.

With a high nutritional value that goes far beyond caffeine with its stimulating power, the plant has more than 190 identified chemical compounds that are important for maintaining the human body. Some of them are antioxidants, flavonoids, simple sugars, minerals, B vitamins, dietary fiber and proteins.

Therefore, with so many properties, yerba mate is a powerful natural ingredient in the pursuit of the healthy foods market, joining a trend that is here to stay.

Buy Yerba Mate from Triunfo do Brasil!

If you're thinking of incorporating yerba mate into your product, take a look at what Triunfo do Brasil has to offer. We work with dry or liquid extract and yerba mate leaves of different types and sizes.

Triunfo has organic certification and several seals that guarantee the quality and sustainability of its production. Visit our website and find out more!

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