O C T O B E R 2 0 1 8 • P R E P A R E D F O O D S . C O M • 1
FLAVORto Savor
NEW RETAIL ENTREES
p.10
PET FOOD TRENDS
p.18
DOUGHS, CRUSTS & SHELLS
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R&D FOR MEN’S HEALTH
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Pork Belly Sliders fromSmithfi eld Foods, Inc.
MARCH 2019 V.188 I.3
FORMULATE TO BOOST FLAVOR OR MASK WHAT’S BITTER p.46
M A R C H 2 0 1 9 • P R E P A R E D F O O D S . C O M • 37
POINTS Metabolic differences between men and
women range from subtle to profound, with research supporting that men burn calories and lose weight faster than women. Yet men are more likely to be deficient in vitamins B
12 and D than are women.
As men age, changes occur in levels and production of testosterone (T) and other hormones. These changes have a ripple effect that impacts energy levels and metabolism. Creating products that can meet these shifting nutritional needs allows product developers to cater to an often-underserved market of some 150 million US consumers.
Nutrition for men is about addressing more than T levels and prostate health. Cancer risk rises significantly as all people get older, but the risk for some cancers — such as stomach cancer, liver cancer, and brain cancer — is markedly higher for men.
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GENERALLY, the subject of
men’s health brings to mind
a barrage of ads for products
and programs guaranteed to
create six-pack abs and pump
up low testosterone levels,
a.k.a. “low T”. But the day-
to-day reality is that as men
age, the risk of cardiovascular
disease, type 2 diabetes, and
cancer, especially prostate
cancer, loom large.
Moreover, nearly 37% of
men over the age of 20 are
obese, which increases the
risk for both heart disease and
cancer (the two leading killers
of men) as well as type 2
diabetes. Prostate cancer is the
second most common cancer
among men in the US, behind
skin cancer. About one in
seven men will be diagnosed
with prostate cancer in their
lifetime.
Even if cancer is not the
issue, the prostate can still
become a serious problem with
increasing age. More than
half of men over age 50, and
nearly all men over the age of
80, develop benign prostate
hyperplasia (BPH), enlarge-
ment of the prostate. This can
reduce or even halt urine flow,
among other symptoms, and
negatively impact activity and
sexual function.
Age and genetics are
unmodifiable risk factors
for BPH. But the many
modifiable risk factors are
quite familiar. They include,
diet, physical activity, obesity,
chronic inflammation, and
metabolic syndrome.
MAN UP!How do you handle a hungry man? With the ingredients he needs to stay healthier, longer.
by MARK ANTHONY, PHD,Contributing Nutrition Editor
Better for
DEVELOPERS ARE INCREASINGLY
ADDRESSING THE SPECIFIC NUTRITIONAL NEEDS OF THE MODERN MALE.
38 • P R E P A R E D F O O D S . C O M • M A R C H 2 0 1 9
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Because the progression
of both prostate cancer
and BPH is generally slow,
these maladies have become
targets of numerous studies
into dietary factors that
could protect against them.
These are just some of the
physical assaults men face, in
addition to the daily stresses
of life. Even in leisure, men
are more likely than women
to choose competitive impact
sports for their activity,
requiring energy, stamina,
and — when they overdo
it — nutrients to support
healing from incurred
stresses and injuries.
For makers of “better for
you” foods and beverages,
a focus on certain key
nutrients beyond protein,
healthful fats, and slow-me-
tabolizing carbohydrates
is essential. Here are some
of the vitamins, minerals,
and other nutraceuticals to
consider when targeting the
needs of today’s men.
VITAMIN D
REDISCOVERED
Vitamin D, a fat-soluble
vitamin that helps to maintain
the steady blood calcium
concentrations required for
muscle contraction, also plays
a key role in bone miner-
alization. But a wealth of
research in recent decades has
uncovered a host of benefits
to maintaining healthy levels
of the hormone-like vitamin.
This is especially critical for
men, who are more likely than
women to be deficient in D.
Historically, humans
depended on the sun to
produce vitamin D from
a cholesterol derivative
residing in the skin. The
lack of exposure to sunshine
and compromised diets have
brought vitamin D deficiency
back into the population.
In spite of the expanded
fortification of foods, health
experts estimate that around
half of men are D-deficient
and the figure climbs to nearly
seven in 10 men of Hispanic
origin and more than eight in
10 African American men.
On the heels of the
“rediscovery” of vitamin D
that followed this epidemic
dietary shortfall, researchers
embarked on comprehensive
studies to support, confirm,
and expand a growing list
of benefits associated with
the vitamin. For example,
research on the potential for
dietary supplements to affect
the course of prostate cancer
was recently outlined in
the journal Current Urology
Reports.
Prostate cells have recep-
tors for vitamin D, which led
scientists to explore whether
decreased levels of vitamin
D would increase the risk of
an enlarged prostate and if
vitamin D supplementation
could, in turn, provide
relief. A number of studies
have shown promise in this
direction.
Lowering the risk of
prostate cancer and BPH is
not the only reason to assure
an adequate intake of vitamin
D. In addition to calcium
and phosphorus balance,
which determine bone
strength, vitamin D is linked
to immune response and
cardiovascular health, too.
Studies have linked vitamin
D to improved health of the
SOUTH ASIAN AND MIDDLE
E ASTERN CUISINES ARE NOTED FOR THEIR USE OF THE SPICE FENUGREEK, SHOWN TO HELP BOOST TESTOSTERONE LE VELS.
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”BONE HEALTH IS A SERIOUS, BUT OFTEN IGNORED
ISSUE FOR MEN AS WELL AS WOMEN. AS MEN AGE,
TESTOSTERONE LEVELS DROP, LEADING TO BRITTLE
BONES.” — VICTOR ROMANO, MD
M A R C H 2 0 1 9 • P R E P A R E D F O O D S . C O M • 39
brain and nervous system,
kidney function, lung func-
tion, blood sugar management
and insulin regulation, and
mitigation of asthma. Some
studies have even shown
vitamin D as helping to relieve
anxiety and depression.
It takes somewhere
between 15 and 30 minutes
of sun exposure per day,
depending on the individual
and location, to meet vitamin
D needs. Vitamin D is not
widely distributed in foods.
Natural sources include fatty
fish, egg yolks, organ meats,
and mushrooms — especially
mushrooms treated with
ultraviolet light. Health
experts currently recommend
1,000-1,200 IUs (25-30µg)
per day, although some have
called for as high as 2,000-
4,000 IUs (50-100 µg) daily.
Still, there are many oppor-
tunities to get vitamin D via
fortified products. In addition
to RTE cereals, tofu, fortified
dairy, and certain juices, the
majority of the milk and dairy
substitutes currently flooding
the market are fortified with
vitamin D. These include milk,
non-dairy beverages, yogurts,
drinkable yogurts, cheeses, and
frozen desserts made from soy,
grains (such as rice and oats),
nuts (from almond and cashew
to coconut), seeds, and other
sources. Microencapsulation
of lipid-soluble vitamin D has
made it possible for the nutrient
to be incorporated into any
number of foods and beverages.
E FOUR WAYS
Vitamin E is a lipid-soluble
antioxidant that provides
protection for membranes. It
occurs in two main forms of
four sub-forms each: tocoph-
erols (alpha, beta, gamma, and
delta) and tocotrienols (alpha,
beta, gamma, and delta).
As one of the most common
food antioxidants, vitamin
E is often overlooked for its
health benefits. In addition
to the cardioprotective and
anti-inflammation effects of
an antioxidant, being a crucial
component of cell membranes
means vitamin E is involved
in nearly every bodily
function, while also protecting
DNA. It’s important for
maintaining immune function
and eye health.
Studies suggest vitamin E
also is important in hormone
balance, including benefiting
testosterone levels and
fertility. The vitamin has been
shown to help with sperm
production and function.
While having a protective
effect against certain cancers,
results of vitamin E supple-
mentation with respect to
prostate cancer have varied.
While the NIH-AARP
Diet and Health Study
followed 295,344 men for a
year and found no association
between vitamin E supple-
ments and prostate cancer
risk, a study by the interna-
tional science organization
Association for Tropical
Biology and Conservation
did show reduced prostate
cancer incidence and mortality
with alpha-tocopherol
supplementation.
Bringing the antioxidant
mineral selenium into
the picture, the ongoing
Selenium and Vitamin E
Cancer Prevention Trial
(SELECT) concluded,
“dietary supplementation
with vitamin E significantly
increased the risk of prostate
cancer among healthy
men.” It should be noted
HORMONE-LIKE VITAMIN D
SUPPORTS MULTIPLE ASPECTS OF MEN’S HE ALTH AND RECENTLY HAS BEEN SHOWN TO HELP PROTECT AGAINST PROSTATE CANCER.
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REDUCING THE RISK OF CANCER OR BENIGN
HYPERPLASIA OF THE PROSTATE IS NOT THE ONLY
REASON FOR MEN TO MAKE SURE THEY GET AN
ADEQUATE DAILY INTAKE OF VITAMIN D.
40 • P R E P A R E D F O O D S . C O M • M A R C H 2 0 1 9
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that, while the results were statistically
significant, the actual number of incidents
of prostate cancer in the vitamin E group
compared to the control group rose by only
11 subjects (76 v. 65).
This dichotomy led some to suggest
that the type of vitamin E may be of great
importance and that the mechanism could be
something other than antioxidant protection,
the reason for looking at vitamin E in the
first place.
That signpost pointed in the same direc-
tion as a wealth of studies into the tocotrienol
form of the vitamin and its anti-cancer
ability. Since the 1980s, research has revealed
that not only is this form of E a more
powerful antioxidant than the tocopherol
form, it actually displays the ability to incite
certain cancer cells to self-destruct (an action
termed apoptosis).
In 2015, researchers in Japan looked into
the potential anti-prostate cancer effects of one
of the tocotrienols, the delta type isolated from
annatto. Derived from the seeds of the achiote
tree (Bixa orellana), annatto is commonly used
as an orange-red pigment for coloring foods
and beverages. This characteristic color is due
to the high amounts of carotenoids. Annatto is
a rich source of delta-tocotrienol, yet nearly free
of tocopherols.
Vitamin E guidelines call for about
12-15mg daily for adult men, although
higher amounts are needed with supplements
using synthetic forms of the vitamin. As with
vitamin D, microencapsulation has allowed
this lipid-soluble vitamin to be rendered
water-soluble. It can be used even in clear
liquid formulations, including enhanced
waters, without clouding or impacting
organoleptic characteristics.
The best sources from food are nuts, seeds,
and whole grains and their oils, with wheat
germ being the best food ingredient source.
For the tocotrienol form, annatto, red palm
oil, and rice bran oil are the best sources.
A/Z
Vitamin A, also a lipid-soluble vitamin,
is critical to eyesight, skin integrity, bone
strength, immune function, reproduction,
cell growth, and cell differentiation.
Investigation into whether or not vitamin
A can help protect against development of
prostate cancer has provided mixed results.
However, in several studies, vitamin A-rich
fruits and vegetables demonstrated a protec-
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ONE OF THE BEST SOURCES FOR CONCENTRATED LYCOPENE, PURPORTED TO BE IMPORTANT FOR PROSTATE HE ALTH, IS COOKED TOMATOES.
PhytoPin
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tive effect. This could be due
to the different forms of the
vitamin natural to plants.
Vitamin A is found animal
products, particularly liver,
where it is stored. The precur-
sor to vitamin A, beta-carotene,
is the form that exists in fruits
and vegetables. Beta-carotene
is a strong antioxidant that
doubles as an orange pigment.
It provides the characteristic
color of carrots, pumpkin,
sweet potatoes, apricots,
mangos, and papayas. The
same pigment is abundant
in green leafy vegetables but
hidden by the overwhelming
green color of chlorophyll.
Among the minerals, zinc
is of vital importance to men.
The mineral has long been
known as a key nutrient in
immune function and is vital
for the production of DNA
and proteins, including the
enzymes that are involved in
nearly every metabolic process.
It also is a key nutrient in the
development of sperm. Often,
one of the first things fertility
specialists look at is zinc status
in the man.
Zinc deficiency also leads
to low testosterone levels,
affecting energy, sex drive,
and strength. Researchers
have been investigating links
between zinc deficiency
and erectile dysfunction.
Estimates of zinc deficiency in
the US range from about one
in four to nearly two-thirds.
Animal protein is the best
dietary source, with nuts,
whole grains, and seeds
as the best plant sources
of the mineral. While it is
recommended that women
get at least 8mg zinc per day,
the recommended daily intake
for men is nearly half again as
much at 11mg.
MICRONUTRIENTS,
MAJOR BENEFITS
Some less commonly talked
about nutraceutical ingredi-
ents have a prominent role to
play in men’s health. Some
of them even target diseases
or conditions specific to that
gender, prostate health and
testosterone levels being the
most obvious, of course. But
some, such as coenzyme Q-10
(CoQ10), serve multiple
functions, especially for guys.
CoQ10 is a critical
component for every cell in
the body, essential to energy
production. It also can
regenerate antioxidants like
vitamin E, even though it’s
a potent antioxidant on its
own. It helps protect against
cardiovascular disease, high
blood cholesterol, and insulin
resistance. Deficiencies have
been noted in conjunction
with Chronic Fatigue
Syndrome, fibromyalgia,
Parkinson’s, and Alzheimer’s.
Men are at particularly
higher risk for many of the
above diseases and conditions.
CoQ10 also has been linked
to better fertility and sperm
health and motility. Recent
research suggests CoQ10
could help alleviate erectile
dysfunction (ED).
One of the many ways
CoQ10 improves cardiovascular
health is by dilating blood vessels
and thus increasing blood flow
and lowering blood pressure.
When there isn’t a strong
enough flow of blood, the body
struggles to form an erection.
CoQ10 also helps to
maintain blood levels of
nitric oxide. Nitric oxide is
another component involved
in regulating blood flow, as
well as in muscle recovery,
especially during high-
intensity activity. Nitric
oxide levels increase naturally
during arousal to help
promote sexual potency,
including achieving and
maintaining an erection. In
fact, most ED medications
work by increasing the body’s
sensitivity to rising nitric
oxide levels.
Levels of the lipid-soluble
coenzyme begin to decrease
by the mid-30s. Coupling
extra CoQ10 with foods and
ingredients rich in nitrates
(such as beets, onions,
and arugula) could help
maintain nitric oxide levels.
CoQ10 is found in high
levels in animal proteins, as
well as in legumes (includ-
ing soybeans and peanuts)
and other plant foods.
Glucosamine and chondroitin
comprise another ingredient
system that has had a share of
conflicting results in research
studies. The compounds are
naturally produced by the
body as a part of collagen, and
together have become popular
supplements in the US for the
treatment of osteoarthritis.
While the effectiveness of
glucosamine and chondroitin
in combating joint pain and
improving joint function
is still under investigation,
SEA BUCKTHORN BERRIES ARE
A CONCENTRATED SOURCE OF OMEGA OILS, INCLUDING OMEGA-7 PALMITOLEIC ACID, ASSOCIATED WITH INCRE ASED INSULIN SENSITIVIT Y AND DECRE ASED FAT ACCUMUL ATION IN THE L IVER.
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BETTER FOR
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recent evidence suggests they
could be protective against
certain forms of cancer.
According to the VITamins
And Lifestyle (VITAL)
study, supplements of the
two were associated with
decreased risk of colorectal
cancer. A variety of lab
studies, animal studies, and
human trials also suggest that
glucosamine and chondroitin
have anti-inflammatory
properties, as well.
BIG BOTANICALS
A number of botanical ingre-
dients targeting men’s health
have been gaining attention,
not the least of which is saw
palmetto (Serenoa repens). A
small, long-lived palm that
grows in clumps or dense
thickets in subtropical areas,
it is best known as a tradi-
tional medicine used to treat
a variety of conditions, most
notably BPH.
The results of the use of
saw palmetto extract as a
treatment for BPH have been
mixed, with some studies
showing favorable results and
others showing it to be no
more effective than a placebo.
An article in the January
2019 issue of the journal Food
Chemistry gives a different
perspective on these mixed
results. The focus of the
article was on research that
separated adulterated saw
palmetto extracts from
pure and authentic product.
It confirmed measurable
effectiveness in treating BPH
with the plant.
AFTER YEARS OF CONTROVERSY,
MALAYSIA, GUIDED BY HON. MINISTER TERESA KOK, IS INTENSIFYING ITS ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSIBILITY EFFORTS IN THE PRODUCTION OF VITAMIN E-RICH PALM OIL.
44 • P R E P A R E D F O O D S . C O M • M A R C H 2 0 1 9
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Pycnogenol is a procyanidin
compound extracted from
the maritime pine tree
(Pinus pinaster). As with saw
palmetto, it has a traditional
history of being an effective
remedy for treating BPH.
Also as with saw palmetto,
results of studies over the
years have been mixed.
However, a study last August
in the Italian science journal
Minerva Medica presented
strong evidence that pycnog-
enol could improve symptoms
of BPH in otherwise healthy
men, including reducing
residual urine in the bladder.
The 60-day, placebo-con-
trolled study looked at 75
healthy, normal-weight men
divided into three groups: those
receiving pycnogenol in three
50mg doses per day, those
receiving pharmaceutical inter-
vention, and a control group
receiving standard management
(SM), that is, no medical or
surgical intervention.
Men in the SM group were
simply instructed to “void
regularly, avoid long seating
periods, exercise regularly,
hydrate appropriately
preferably avoiding caffeine
and spices, and follow a
low-sugar and low-salt diet.”
Interestingly, aspects of this
diet could also be included in
marketing caffeine-free, low-
sugar and low-salt products to
men prone to BPH.
According to the
researchers’ results, the
subjects who received
pycnogenol showed signif-
icant improvement for all
BPH symptoms, including
“emptying, frequency, inter-
mittency, urgency, weak
flow, straining, nocturia”
and noted that comparison
with the other two groups
also was statistically
significant.
Fenugreek (Trigonella
foenum-graecum), a common
spice in South Asian and
Middle Eastern cuisine, has
received greater attention
recently for helping to increase
testosterone levels in men
with low T.
A number of recent
randomized, double-blind,
placebo-controlled clinical
trials have shown significant
support for the anecdotal
evidence that preceded them.
This is especially promising
due to the ease of incorpo-
rating the spice into food
products that conform to the
on-trend food products that
showcase global flavors.
Other botanicals
investigated for scientific
evidence of their aid in men’s
health—usually related to
fertility and sperm production
and function—include
ashwagandha root (Withania
somnifera), ginseng (Panax
ginseng), and maca root
(Lepidium meyenii).
Between botanicals and
the antioxidant vitamins and
minerals, food and beverage
developers have ample
opportunity to focus on men’s
health with products that meet
their very specific needs. pf
Mark Anthony, PhD, is an adjunct
professor of nutrition science at St.
Edwards University, Austin, Texas, and
co-director of S/F/B Communications
Group. The former lab director of The
Institute for Biomedical Research at
the University of Texas is also author
of Gut Instinct: Diet’s Missing Link
(2003), a unique investigation of
carbohydrates and the fundamental
chemistry of nutrition and metabolics
on maintaining health as people age.
He can be reached at mjanthony4@
gmail.com. You can find more
information on many of the nutrients
in this article in Dr. Anthony’s “Lipids
for Health” feature in last month’s
issue of Prepared Foods.
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ANNATTO IS A COMMON SOURCE
OF NATURAL RED FOOD COLOR BUT IT CONTAINS CONCENTRATED AMOUNTS OF TOCOTRIENOL, THE MOST POWERFUL FORM OF VITAMIN E.
DAILY INTAKES OF ZINC, FIBER, COENZYME Q-10,
AND VITAMINS D AND E STILL FALL SHORT FOR A LARGE
NUMBER OF MEN, DEPRIVING THEM OF SIGNIFICANT
HEALTH BENEFITS.
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