Sweet scenario for superfruit beverages

Innovative formulations using antioxidant-rich fruit juices target the health-conscious for every market segment IT''S WELL KNOWN THAT FRUITS are beneficial to health, but now science is proving what centuries of dietary custom have demonstrated. Selecting colourful, naturally nutrient-dense fruits, which are packed with protective natural compounds with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, is important in designing a diet for optimal health and wellness. Antioxidants help protect cells against free radicals ?unstable oxygen molecules that cause cell damage associated with cancer, heart disease, Alzheimer''s and other effects of aging. From the familiar such as apples, dates and pomegranates to the once little-heard-of mangosteen and aca? and now to "gac" and "starfruit", both clinical research and documentation of traditional consumption are leading to findings or claims about the value of some of these so-called "superfruits" and their antioxidative properties. Due to exorbitant price tags of these exotic or tropical fruits, however, many consumers would be unable to afford to eat the amount they need in order to get the antioxidant benefits. This is why food chemists are researching how to extract the bioactive components of these superfruits, so that they can be incorporated in a more products conveniently and effectively. Beverages are a particularly effective vehicle to market new superfruit flavours. They can be formulated in various formats ?from near-water drinks as a refreshing and low-calorie alternative to carbonated soft drinks to pure mixtures of juices , say an apple juice base with a mixture of new fruit flavours. "Within the fruit juices market, smoothies, dairy juice blends, functional drinks with added vitamins or minerals and other associated ingredients are hitting the limelight. These segments are experiencing double digit growth rates, which can be largely attributed to the innovative contributions of the beverage manufacturers," notes market an alyst Frost & Sullivan. New fruit-based beverages also can be positioned for just about every segment: fortified infant juices, sports beverages , high ?fibrelow-calorie drinks, and even cosmeceutical or beauty drinks, just to name a few. Anti-aging oxidants Superfruits are a category of fruits characterized by high nutrient density, superior antioxidant quality and potential health benefits. The antioxidant capacity of such fruits is measured through Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity (ORAC). The test measures the ability of a sample to disarm oxidizing compounds or free radicals, which our bodies naturally generate as a by-product of metabolism. Correlation be tween the high antioxidant capacity of fruits and vegetables, and the positive impact of diets high in fruits and vegetables, is believed to play an important role in the free-radical theory of aging. A team at Glasgow University in Scotland reports in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry that a diet rich in grape, apple and cranberry juices could cut the risk of Alzheimer''s disease and other diseases. "Supplementing a healthy diet with a regular intake of a variety of fruit juices such as purple grape juice, grapefruit juice, cloudy apple juice and cranberry juice, will, without major dietary changes, increase the consumer''s intake of phenolic antioxidants," writes lead author Alan Crozier, a professor of Plant Biochemistry and Human Nutrition. "Dietary polyphenols through their antioxidant properties, and possibly other mechanisms, are believed to play a role in protecting against chronic diseases." High ORAC scores, however, are not necessarily an assurance that the antioxidant power will slow anyone''s aging process or be effective in reducing the risk of certain cancers. Antioxidant experts have found that the free-radicalbusting compounds founJordan Shoes