Fancy fats, digestive health & pumpkin: CHFA lists its top 5 trends for Canadian health food consumers

Pumpkin - the new kale?

Avocado oil, fermentation, non-GMOs… the Canadian Health Food Association (CHFA) has some interesting trend for Canadians when shopping at their local health food store in 2015.

The top five trends are:

1. New and interesting oils with fancy fats

Coconut oil is so 2014, and 2015 will be about avocado oil, camelina oil, and flax seed oil, each offering unique nutritional profiles, said CHFA.

2. Digestive health

“Digestive health is poised to reign supreme in 2015,” said CHFA in a release. “In 2015 consumers can expect to see new natural health products focused on supporting the health of the digestive tract including L-glutamine, new probiotics and different forms of dietary fiber.”

3. Fermentation

Fermented foods, an extension of the digestive health trend, will also be big in 2015, said CHFA, and will expand beyond kimchi, tempeh and sauerkraut. “Fermentation can liberate nutrients in foods and help our body better absorb them,” said CHFA. “The process of fermentation also increases some anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant compounds in foods. In 2015, consumers should expect to see a plethora of new foods in different fermented forms including bars, powders and capsules.”

4. Pumpkin

“Pumpkin is primed to be the Kale of 2015,” said CHFA. The association expects to see an increase in the use of pumpkin in healthy products across the country.

“This unique vegetable has many health benefits and has been linked to heightened prostate and urinary tract health,” it said. “Pumpkin seeds are also rich in B vitamins, vitamin E, zinc and essential fatty acids. Pumpkin flesh also touts strong health benefits, as it is rich in nutrients including beta-carotene, a pre-cursor to Vitamin A, crucial for healthy reproduction, immune system, health and vision.”

5. GMO labeling

GMO labelling demands are on the rise in Canada, said CHFA, and suppliers are increasingly stepping up to the plate and offering certified organic products, which is an assurance that foods are produced without the use of GMOs.

“Through third-party certification, such Non-GMO Project Verified and Organic Certification suppliers will continue to voluntarily disclose that their products are produced without the use of GMOs. This trend will continue throughout 2015 in response to consumer demands and increasing labelling activism in Canada.”