Carnosyn: Histidine is a basic amino acid – essential but in no short supply in the body and diet -- that is used in the biosynthesis of proteins. Beta alanine has been used for some time in sports nutrition. Combine the two and you have carnosine, which improves muscles and allows them to go beyond their pain threshold.
But carnosine production decreases with age, according to Mark Ledoux, CEO of Natural Alternatives International. The result is not just a decrease in muscle mass but age-related deterioration in a number of functions.
Natural Alternatives developed Carnosyn to deliver beta alanine optimized for combination with your body's own histidine to form carnosine. Ledoux claims it's a fountain of youth, improving not only muscle function but brain health, heart-health, bone health and a chelating effect that removes heavy metals. Ledoux sees applications in gummies, beverage powders, ready-to-drink beverages and extruded bars.
Pronativ: There's no shortage of whey in this country nor whey protein ingredients (isolate, concentrate, permeate). But all of it begins as a waste product, a byproduct of cheese and yogurt production.
With some of the world's leading cheese brands (President, Rondele, Sorrento), Lactalis has been making tons of whey. But the company recently developed Pronativ "native whey protein" as a primary product, not a byproduct, with a cold filtration product that optimizes some beneficial ingredients that should be found in whey but often are removed in the production of primary dairy products.
"It has a complete amino acid profile," says Dan Mackenzie-Olson, Lactalis American Group's regional sales manager. "It's purer, more digestible, with 17% more bioavailable leucine," plus naturally occurring antioxidants and minerals that are filtered out in typical whey protein production.
The greater amount of leucine triggers muscle recovery and repair process and helps prevent sarcopenia (muscle loss in seniors).
Sacha Inchi: This is humbly "the most powerful super seed in the Amazon," according to Amazon Health Products which has commercialized it as Starseed. The Peru-based company claims it's "tasty, clean, versatile, stable, net carb zero, fat & antioxidant fueled, paleo friendly, protein rich, amino acid ideal and grain free."
And it contains more omega-3 fatty acids than salmon, plus healthy fats, antioxidants, complete protein and fiber. It's one of those novel ingredients "for any manufacturer seeking to develop unique offerings to meet the growing demand for plant-based nutrition." Starseed comes in oil, protein powder, butter, fat powder, fat+protein butter and seeds.
