4 May, 2019

Vegan food gains momentum among athletes

Sports nutrition in 2019 is experiencing growth in vegan food. This is due to the increased interest of consumers in having a sustainable and natural diet, according to the conclusions of the International Euromonitor.

For this same reason, more and more athletes are looking for less heavy foods in this branch when it comes to digestion and tastier.

That said, innovation is not an option, but in this sector it has become an imposition.

“Innovation is something that consumers are still looking for, so implementing innovation in the business is a must. Continuing to offer original products in a saturated market is one of the biggest obstacles we face in 2019, ”Bulk Powders brand sports nutrition supervisor Jack Weekes told Nutraingridients.

 

ROAD TO VEGANISM

Vegan products have ceased to be an alternative for a few, to be an increasingly widespread practice that even reaches the field of food for athletes, according to the report of the International Euromonitor, “Top 10 Global Consumer Trends 2019“.

This does not mean that the number of vegans has increased sharply, but that flexitarianism, consuming vegan and vegetarian products regularly in the usual diet, is becoming increasingly common practice.

This range of vegan and vegan food products for athletes aims to supplement diets by achieving the traditional goals of supplements. For example: Vegan proteins, BCAAs (branched-chain amino acids) of plant origin -composed to gain muscle mass-, etc., are having more and more followers.

 

PALATABILITY AND TEXTURE

But it is not enough. Companies in the sector cannot leave behind the problem of palatability if they want to gain market share.

For example, rice or pea proteins do not have an attractive taste for all consumers, so it is important not to neglect this purpose.

The case of textures and flavor, is also a challenge in the innovation of the bars.  The consumer trend is declined by much softer textures and new flavors to the detriment of traditional flavors.

 

DIGESTIVE FOOD

Consuming products high in fiber can produce flatulence or difficult digestions, such as vegan products for athletes that contain cellulose or fiber of vegetable origin.

That is why the demand for healthy vegan solutions for the stomach is growing, and thus, athletes do not have to abandon their skills or training for pain, indisposition or discomfort.

In this direction, there are already brands that have launched a line of supplements with probiotics, as they stimulate the proliferation of microorganisms in the intestine, thereby improving digestive health.