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

p.26

R&D FOR MEN’S HEALTH

p.37

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.

PH

OTO

CO

UR

TE

SY

OF

:G

ET

TY

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

BETTER FOR

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.

PH

OTO

CO

UR

TE

SY

OF

:A

ME

RIC

AN

HA

LA

L C

O.

INC

./S

AF

FR

ON

RO

AD

FO

OD

S I

NC

. (W

WW

.SA

FF

RO

ND

RO

AD

FO

OD

.CO

M)

”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.

PH

OTO

CO

UR

TE

SY

OF

:D

AIR

Y M

AN

AG

EM

EN

T IN

C.

(WW

W.D

AIR

Y.O

RG

)

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

BETTER FOR

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-

PH

OTO

:LY

CO

RE

D L

TD.

(WW

W.L

YC

OR

ED

.CO

M)

ONE OF THE BEST SOURCES FOR CONCENTRATED LYCOPENE, PURPORTED TO BE IMPORTANT FOR PROSTATE HE ALTH, IS COOKED TOMATOES.

PhytoPin

42 • 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

BETTER FOR

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.

PH

OTO

CO

UR

TE

SY

OF

: P

UR

ED

IA C

OR

P L

TD.

(WW

W.P

UR

ED

IA.C

OM

)

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 • 43

BETTER FOR

PH

OTO

CO

UR

TE

SY

OF

: P

MA

LA

YS

IAN

PA

LM

OIL

CO

UN

CIL

(W

WW

.MP

OC

.OR

G.M

Y)

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

BETTER FOR

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.

PH

OTO

:A

ME

RIC

AN

RIV

ER

NU

TRIT

ION

IN

C./

BA

RR

IE T

AN

, P

HD

(W

WW

.AM

ER

ICA

NR

IVE

RN

UTR

ITIO

N.C

OM

)

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.