Unstable blood sugar levels impact healthy aging, Beneo spotlights

12 Nov 2021 --- Blood sugar management is a crucial aspect of aging healthily as biological processes slow down and the elasticity of the metabolism becomes less effective. 

This is according to Anke Sentko, vice president of regulatory affairs and nutrition communication at Beneo, who speaks to NutritionInsight ahead of an upcoming webinar.

“Healthy aging and healthy eating are strongly correlated. The potential of developing non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as diabetes and being overweight or obese increases with age, as the body’s ability to correct dietary mistakes decreases,” she explains. This is also reflected in insulin resistance and impaired glucose tolerance. 

However, the metabolic and physiological risk factors of contracting an NCD or delaying its onset are influenced by a range of factors.

These include having high blood glucose and blood fat levels or raised blood pressure, being overweight or obese. However, the development of such diseases can be influenced by diet and lifestyle-related changes.The preferred choice of carbohydrate should be one that is slowly available, suggests Sentko. 

Weighing up carb quality
Sentko explains that carbohydrates are an important part of the diet during all life stages. 

“Many evidence-based reports suggest that the preferred choice of carbohydrate should be one that is slowly available. This is to enable a lower blood glucose profile to be maintained throughout the day, enabling a lower insulin level to be achieved,” she details. 

This not only supports metabolic health but benefits fat oxidation for energy production and inhibits the storage of fat, which may support weight management. 

“With all this in mind, the nutritional quality of carbohydrates is very important to healthy aging. It is becoming evident that managing a person’s blood glucose levels is a key way to help promote long-term health.” 

Added-value ingredients in demand
The key to promoting healthy aging through blood sugar management is through the right choice of carbohydrate. 

According to Sentko, the ideal carbohydrate provides the necessary energy for a person’s metabolism, triggers a low and balanced rise in blood glucose and a low increase in insulin, and encourages fat burning rather than fat storage.

“The goal for any food producer interested in promoting the long-term health of consumers should be the development of food choices that deliver a lower glycemic profile,” she continues. 

This is reflected in the increasing popularity in product development of plant-based ingredients with added value, such as isomaltulose, chicory root fiber (inulin, oligofructose) and isomalt. 

“With a low or non-glycemic profile, all of these ingredients can help in the creation of F&B that support blood sugar management,” Sentko details.Baby Boomers take fewer supplements than the overall population.

Healthy agers seek energy
Maintaining stable blood sugar levels is gaining popularity among older consumers worldwide, notes Sentko. This is especially in relation to getting the benefits of “balanced energy.” 

According to Beneo research, 65% of US consumers aged over 55 are aware that some carbohydrates are more slowly absorbed than others. This rises to 73% among Vietnamese 55 to 64-year-olds, who also realize that this promotes better health.

“Many things can rob people of their energy but aging while juggling work, relational stresses and hormone changes can all have a particular impact on whether a person feels energized throughout their day or not as they get older,” says Sentko. 

In this space, Beneo offers Palatinose, an isomaltulose. “This slow-release sugar provides the carbohydrates the brain depends on in a balanced way, while at the same time allowing the body to stay in a low glycemic state.”

Opportunities to increase
Sentko asserts that opportunities for manufacturers are great, as products that provide carbohydrate energy in a slow and low and balanced way are needed for every eating occasion, be that breakfast, lunch, dinner or snacks in-between.

“Baby Boomers prefer food and drinks that are easy to integrate into their daily habits, rather than using food supplements.”

“One surprising fact from recently conducted consumer research in five European countries was that this cohort takes fewer supplements than the overall population, showing the potential for healthy aging products beyond the supplements market.” 

She concludes that as stable blood sugar levels become more and more important to older consumers, the opportunities presented to F&B producers to deliver low glycemic products will continue to increase.

On November 16, Beneo experts will share further insights into reaching the affluent senior consumer group in a webinar. Registration is currently open here. 

By Katherine Durrell