Arla Foods Ingredients has developed a new generation of dairy protein ingredients designed for inclusion in delicious and filling weight management products that fit seamlessly into consumers’ everyday routines.
The weight management category remains strong, registering growth of 13% between 2008 and 2013, according to Euromonitor, with further growth of 7% forecast from 2013 to 2018. Within weight management, protein takes centre stage, with 57% of consumers seeking out protein sources.
Lindsey Ormond, Business Development Manager for Health and Performance Nutrition at Arla Foods Ingredients, said: 'The weight management market is booming and shoppers are looking for products that help them to maintain a healthy weight without significantly altering how they eat. They want products that are convenient, taste good and are effective. This is where dairy proteins come in. They can be used to create products that offer all of these qualities, while also delivering the health benefits of high quality protein.'
Evidence is mounting that a high proportion of protein in the diet increases weight loss and prevents weight gain. This is believed to be due to protein’s beneficial impact on appetite, satiety and energy expenditure.
The energetic cost of metabolising protein is higher than for carbohydrates and fat. Whey protein also leads to greater diet-induced thermogenesis (heat production) than soy or casein protein, increasing energy expenditure, which can lead to improved body composition. Evidence is also growing that whey enhances glycaemic regulation.
