Editor's Note:
As people's awareness of healthy lifestyles continues to deepen, proper exercise has become an essential part of people's lives. In order to improve their athletic performance and accelerate their recovery after exercise, people have set their sights on sports nutrition supplements. As a result, the sports nutrition market has flourished in recent years. So, which sports nutrition supplement is preferred by today's consumers? What are the advantages and challenges of different ingredients?
Today, we pay special attention to the sports nutrition market, and we hope that this article will bring some inspiration and help to the relevant industry people and readers.
<h1 class="pgc-h-arrow-right" data-track="5" > the starting point of the sports nutrition market</h1>
Industry observers who focus on the sports nutrition market today probably don't know that the entire sports nutrition market evolved from the cleaning live and sports culture movements of the 19th and early 20th centuries.
Jack LaLanne was one of the most famous early popularizers of exercise and nutrition. In 1936, LaLanne opened america's first health and fitness club in Oakland, California. Even then, LaLanne had argued that processed foods were the culprit of many health problems and that it was essential to properly supplement with nutrients every day.
During this period, the first health food store was also born in the United States, and the first "sports nutrition" products appeared with it. Two products introduced in 1938— low-carb, high-protein bread ("Proteo bread") and bulk nut powder—are two examples.[1]
Driven by these early pioneers and inspired by product developers, the sports nutrition market made a good start, and over the next 80 years, the sports nutrition market has continued to expand and develop rapidly.
Today, sports nutrition plays an important role in maximizing the effects of consumer physical exercise and helping consumers better improve their physical health.
According to industry market data released in 2019-2020, the value of the global sports nutrition market fell by 32.1%. This decline is largely attributable to the COVID-19 pandemic. Currently, the global sports nutrition market is worth $15.6 billion, and experts expect the global sports nutrition market to grow at a COMPOUND annual growth rate of 8.9% from 2020 to 2027 [2,3].
Market data suggests that today's consumers prefer to make some dietary changes for the sake of health and longevity, rather than just to improve athletic performance. More than 20% of consumers seek sports nutrition products with added benefits, such as those with anti-inflammatory properties, those that support cognitive or vision, or those that support bone and joint health.
<h1 class="pgc-h-arrow-right" data-track="70" > consumers in the sports nutrition market</h1>
The idea that an active lifestyle is very important is gaining ground and is driving the sports nutrition market. According to a report published by the American Physical Activity Council in 2021, fitness (67 percent), individual sports (43.3 percent), and outdoor sports (52.9 percent) are high among Americans 6 years of age and older, and a significant percentage of people participate in group sports (22.1 percent)[4].
Consumers are becoming increasingly aware of the value of optimal nutrition and a healthy lifestyle, all of which have a positive impact on the sports nutrition market.
Current trends in sports nutrition suggest:
• There is a growing emphasis on clean labeling claims, including but not limited to "no banned substances", "no artificial sweeteners" and "no genetically modified foods". Sports nutrition products with clean labels typically cost 25% more than regular products.
• As interest in animal protein alternatives continues to grow, so does consumer and manufacturer demand for plant-based proteins such as peas and soy.
Pre-workout products are also gradually becoming popular on social media. You can see the "#preworkout" hashtag frequently, and recently on the Instagram media app, there were 4 million posts under the "#preworkout" thread.
<h1 class="pgc-h-arrow-right" data-track="71" > popular sports nutrition ingredients and products</h1>
The market today is flooded with a wide variety of sports nutritional supplements, including plant or animal protein powders, tablets, capsules, pills and more.
The most popular products include branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs), B vitamins, caffeine and creatine, as well as a variety of hydrants and sports drinks that need not be said. And of course there are protein supplements, which are a market in their own right, including protein powders, protein bars, and energy bars.
The nutritional beverage segment is one of the strongest growing segments in the sports nutrition market, as nutritional beverages can provide health benefits to both athletes and non-athletes, so nutritional beverage companies can seek breakthroughs in this regard [2].
<h1 class="pgc-h-arrow-right" data-track="72" > sports nutrition drink</h1>
According to a report by global market research firm Mintel, "Sports Nutrition and Functional Beverages (USA, March 2019)"[2]: Consumers are "looking for more functionality from a growing number of beverage categories, which will continue to put pressure on the sports, functional and nutritional beverage segment". The report also highlights the blurring of the line between nutritional, functional and diet drinks.
In addition, Mintel data suggests that most consumers aged 18 to 54 believe that functional and nutritious beverages contain "too many artificial ingredients." This is bad news for mainstream brands that still feature artificial flavors and artificial sweeteners (such as sucralose and high-fructose corn syrup), but it is good news for natural brands with "clean labels".
<h1 class="pgc-h-arrow-right" data-track="73" > protein</h1>
In its report" Diet Trends Better for You (US, August 2018), Mintel notes that protein content is a crucial purchasing factor for 43% of consumers seeking healthy food and beverages. In addition, 52% of consumers who buy sports, nutritional, and functional drinks seek beverages that contain more protein, making protein a major driver of growth in this category [2].
Mintel surveyed 1,168 Internet users over the age of 18 who had purchased sports nutrition products in the past three months and found that 81 percent had purchased protein powders and 77 percent had purchased protein drinks[2].
Another notable finding is that consumers are looking for a healthy mix of dairy and plant proteins, so brands that offer a range of formulated products may be more attractive.
<h1 class="pgc-h-arrow-right" data-track="74" > collagen</h1>
Collagen continues to be strong in the beauty sector. Consumers are looking for natural, simple formulations that can improve their appearance from the inside out. Because collagen has excellent efficacy in terms of skin appearance, it seems necessary to add high-quality collagen to products.
In recent years, collagen has become an indispensable ingredient in beauty supplements and related products. In 2020, U.S. consumers spent approximately $293 million on collagen products.
The versatility of collagen transforms it into a highly sought after sports nutrition ingredient or single product. For example, collagen supplementation can help improve joint comfort and flexibility and improve knee discomfort in athletes. In addition, studies on collagen have shown that collagen supplementation combined with resistance training can increase muscle strength in older adults who are experiencing decreased muscle mass or sarcopenia.
The global collagen supplement market is strong and is expected to reach $795 million by 2025, representing a CAGR of 5.8%.
In addition to these benefits, as mentioned above, a growing body of research shows that collagen can intrinsically promote beauty and support cardiovascular health.
These are encouraging brands to consider product dosage forms, unique packaging and blendability to differentiate themselves in this crowded but lucrative market.
<h1 class="pgc-h-arrow-right" data-track="75" > mixed vegetables</h1>
Vegetables are still an integral part of the daily lives of many consumers. Fortifying green foods with probiotics is a great way to add value to classic green formula products.
Advances in blending techniques and condiment selection will also make these vegetable drinks even more delicious and best-selling!
While pea protein powders are just making their way into the protein powder arena, pea protein powders have proven to be a potent alternative to animal protein powders for those who want to buy plant-based, non-soy protein powders. Studies have also shown that pea protein also feels full compared to whey protein, and it also contains all nine essential amino acids that the body needs (as does soybeans).
<h1 class="pgc-h-arrow-right" data-track="76" > medicinal mushrooms</h1>
Mushrooms are an emerging category that brands should also keep an eye on. The latest research on mushrooms suggests that mushrooms can safely support cognitive function. Currently, there are many brands that are positioning their mushroom powders as alternatives to breakfast coffee or tea.
What about mushrooms in the sports nutrition market?
Compounds in medicinal mushrooms can improve the ability of blood cells to carry substances and enhance energy production in muscles. In addition, these ingredients can also reduce the accumulation of lactic acid in the muscles, accelerate the clearance of lactic acid in the body, thereby improving the athletic ability of athletes, enabling them to effectively train for a longer period of time and reduce fatigue.
Medicinal mushrooms, such as shiitake mushrooms, may also improve healthy cholesterol levels within the normal range, as well as arterial health. Medicinal mushrooms are rich in nutrients and fiber, and contain less sodium, lower calories. While providing essential nutrients, they also enhance satiety, reduce consumer cravings for snacks, and help to effectively control weight.
<h1 class="pgc-h-arrow-right" data-track="77" > the importance of sports nutrition flavorings</h1>
Gone are the glory days of chewable wax powders, drinks and protein bars. Today, the flavor of the product counts. According to a survey conducted by Mintel[2], more than 75% of consumers are influenced by the flavor of sports nutrition products when they buy them.
Today's consumers need stimulation and innovation, and are deeply influenced by new tastes. In addition, innovative flavors help supplements emerge in the arena of competitive products.
There is no doubt that the sports nutrition market has risen!
bibliography:
1.Health Foods Retailing. 1938–1939 [bound volume]. Chicago, Illinois.
2.Mintel report. “Sports, Nutrition and Performance Drinks US, March 2019 — Executive Summary.” Published March 2019.
3.Grand View Research report. “Sports Nutrition Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Product Type (Sports Drink, Sports Supplements, Sports Food), By Distribution Channel (E-commerce, Brick and Mortar), By Region, And Segment Forecasts, 2021 – 2028.” Published May 2021.
4.Physical Activity Council report. “2021 Physical Activity Council’s Overview Report on U.S. Participation.” Published 2021.
Original link:
https://www.nutritionaloutlook.com/view/sports-nutrition-grows-up-behaviors-trends-ingredients-and-advancements-driving-today-s-sports-nutrition-products
The author | Vincent Tricarico
Compiled | Jessica
Reviewer | 617