Beyond the gym: Booming post-workout recovery nutrition for active consumers

20 Jun 2024 --- Consumers increasingly seek out science-backed solutions that help the body recover from exercise quicker and that offer comprehensive results. Moreover, many are also looking for products that can come in convenient formats and offer variety beyond the bulky bars and chalky shakes that have dominated the market since its inception.

Additionally, the market has grown beyond sports nutrition and intersects with healthy aging, active lifestyle and active aging segments. Innova Market Insights’ data suggests a 17% year-over-year increase in sports nutrition products featuring post-workout claims from April 2023 to March 2024 and a significant growth over the past five years in post-workout sports supplement launches, with a 27% increase from April 2019 to March 2024.

Nutrition Insight looks at the trends, innovations and solutions that are shaking up the post-workout recovery space, in conversation with experts from ADM, FrieslandCampina Ingredients and Rousselot.

“Our solutions and ingredients can support the development of post-workout supplements for consumers from all life stages looking to lead an active lifestyle,” says Vaughn DuBow, the senior director of product portfolio marketing for health and wellness at ADM. “This includes elite athletes and casual active individuals alike.”

“The active nutrition category is only continuing to expand, as many consumers recognize that prioritizing their physical activity now, as well as supporting recovery after exercise for muscle, joint and bone health, can support their long-term well-being and healthy aging.”

Vicky Davies, the global marketing director for performance, active and medical nutrition at FrieslandCampina Ingredients, points out that modern consumers often juggle family, work, physical exercise and their social lives and need convenient solutions that can meet the demands of “today’s fast-paced world.”

“When it comes to nutrition, people want products that align with three non-negotiables — quality, convenience and taste,” Davies explains. “Exciting protein plus products such as fortified iced coffees, pudding and cookies are growing in popularity.”

“But top picks for active individuals are typically nutritious and on-the-go solutions that can easily fit into hectic schedules — such as snack bars and ready-to-drink (RTD). And while these are firm consumer favorites, there’s lots of room for innovation and elevation of these formats.”

Creating with collagen
Florencia Moreno Torres–McLaverty, the health and nutrition global business development manager at Rousselot, explains that the company utilizes science to explore and create fresh formats for the company’s collagen solutions.

“A great example is our Application Lab’s recent texture and consistency optimizing project aimed at sports nutrition bars,” says Torres–McLaverty. “The lab discovered that by substituting a third of the whey protein with Protake or Peptan, they could produce a bar with a softer and more stable texture but the same high protein levels. Additionally, Peptan has been opening up new application avenues, for example, in the form of delicious RTDs that come in various flavors, containing 10 g of premium collagen peptides, alongside whey protein.”Rousselot highlights that collagen offerings like Peptan can be used in everything from RTD offerings to gummy formats.

She further adds that the company’s collagen offerings are able to meet current trends because they meet the demands for quality, versatility and proven efficacy.

“Not only is Peptan a premium ingredient inspired by nature and backed by novel and pioneering peer-reviewed evidence demonstrating its holistic health benefits, but its outstanding sensory profile, cold- and warm-water solubility, heat resistance and transparent appearance means it slots seamlessly into most supplement formulations,” she emphasizes. 

“Peptan can also be combined with other protein sources such as soy or whey for enhanced sports recovery performance, wrapped up inside everything from powders to nutraceutical gummies, RTD beverages and concentrated shots.”

Moreover, Torres–McLaverty states that the company’s high-quality collagen ingredients are focused on supporting post-exercise recovery within the context of sports nutrition, but notes that, when paired with whey protein, they can deliver a broader range of muscle supporting benefits. Torres asserts that a recent double-blind, randomized, parallel-group study of 22 “active” male participants supports the efficacy of this combination.

“The effects of two separate supplementation regimes on exercise performance and muscle recovery were compared — one group consuming 20 g of Peptan and 25 g of whey protein, while another ingested the prevailing standard of 45 g of whey alone. Over the course of a three-week intensive training program, both groups displayed similar exercise performance and levels of creatine kinase — a marker for muscle damage — 48 hours following a session, suggesting that substituting 44.4% of an athlete’s daily recommended whey protein intake with collagen returns the same results as the current nutritional gold standard.”

Demographic-spanning solutions
Davies at FrieslandCampina Ingredients reveals that the distinction between professional athletes and health-conscious consumers is becoming “increasingly blurred” as younger generations are no longer the only ones seeking post-workout nutrition but now includes everyone from e-gamers to older adults and “from fitness professionals and casual gym goers.”FrieslandCampina Ingredients says its Biotis Fermentis range of products spans age and market demographics, “from e-gamers to older adults.”

She further adds that the company’s Biotis portfolio is formulated to help all people get the most out of life.

“Fortified with Biotis Fermentis, our PowerPunch RDT concept, for example, tackles digestive health issues and supports muscle health in a convenient format, all while keeping consumers hydrated,” she explains. “Plus, it also has added vitamin C for immunity benefits — this is a holistic, one-stop solution for a diverse demographic — from older adults who prefer not to take a myriad of pills to professional athletes who also want hydration alongside other health benefits.”

“For younger adults with non-stop schedules, we have created a range of convenient pouch applications that can be added to breakfast cereals or on-the-go smoothies and shakes. These include protein pouches but also ‘protein plus’ concepts, such as our Biotis Fermentis Uplift Pouch for added gut support, as well as our Biotis DHA Flex Powder vegetarian pouch for providing cognitive support alongside muscle recovery. By marrying the right ingredients in adaptable formats, our goal is to help brands seize every opportunity with solutions that consumers will love.”

The gut-muscle axis
DuBow at ADM emphasizes that the company’s vast ingredients portfolio contains many offerings to support the microbiome, including botanical extracts and protein solutions that support the recovery process. He further adds that the emerging research around the gut-muscle axis is driving muscle recovery innovation.ADM reveals that its multi-strain probiotic blend Active Lifestyle Formulation is at the forefront of muscle recovery innovation.

“As a multi-strain probiotic blend, our Active Lifestyle Formulation is at the forefront of this innovation to optimize muscle recovery following a workout,” says DuBow. “The formulation brings together our award-winning Bifidobacterium longum CECT7347 (ES1), Lactobacillus casei CECT9104 (BPL4) and Lactobacillus rhamnosus CECT8361 (BPL15), with clinical research showing that it supports certain biomarkers related to post-exercise oxidative stress.”

“This research points to the Active Lifestyle Formulation’s potential to support aspects of exercise and recovery. Additionally, muscle health and recovery are greatly impacted by overall body composition and well-being. With research around the microbiome expanding, there is a growing body of evidence on the interconnectedness across various aspects of well-being, including post-workout recovery. The effects of our spore-forming probiotic DE111 (Bacillus subtilis) were examined during the offseason training of collegiate athletes, with results showing decreased body fat percentage in females and a decrease in circulating TNF-α in males.” 

He also spotlights the company’s botanical extracts, which can support recovery by providing key vitamins and minerals.

“For example, red beet is high in natural nitrates and green tea contains antioxidants, both of which may help with muscle recovery,” DuBow concludes. “We also tap our acerola powder, which contains vitamin C and our plant-derived vitamin E, both of which have the potential to contribute to the protection of cells from oxidative stress.”

By William Bradford Nichols