Create a free Manufacturing.net account to continue

Consumer Trends: Sprouted Ingredients In Snack Foods

Grain, vegetable and bean seeds are packed with nutrition but in order to fully take advantage of those nutrients they have to be made available for our bodies to process first.  Seeds are designed to survive the rigors of nature before they embed themselves and take root and are covered with a protective layer of phytic acid - a substance present in the bran of all grains and seeds that can inhibit some absorption of calcium, magnesium, iron, copper, and zinc - and enzyme inhibitors to help protect them and ensure they are able to fulfill their destiny to sprout.

ISLANDIA, N.Y. (PRNewswire) In September 2011, Live Better Brands, LLC. announced the development and release of the Way Better Snacks® product line, which incorporates sprouted – or germinated - grains, seeds and beans for a more nutritious snack food alternative.  

The product line has received an enthusiast reception in the food industry because of its sprouted ingredients. And, as of January 2012, Way Better Snacks will be at all Wegman's locations, 1000 additional specialty grocery stores, and distributed nationally through Whole Foods.

Live Better Brands, LLC. believes that sprouted ingredients are the next health trend in the food industry, and here's why: 

Grain, vegetable and bean seeds are packed with nutrition but in order to fully take advantage of those nutrients they have to be made available for our bodies to process first.  Seeds are designed to survive the rigors of nature before they embed themselves and take root and are covered with a protective layer of phytic acid - a substance present in the bran of all grains and seeds that can inhibit some absorption of calcium, magnesium, iron, copper, and zinc - and enzyme inhibitors to help protect them and ensure they are able to fulfill their destiny to sprout.

Nature doesn't want the seed to germinate before its time so it literally locks down the nutrients to ensure this doesn't happen. This is called enzyme inhibition.

When we eat seeds and grains, these inhibitors can prevent the formation of enzymes in our digestive tract, interfering with the body's ability to effectively digest and absorb them.

Nutritionists and naturalists have been touting the incredible nutritional benefits of sprouting for years because sprouting unlocks all the "good" that is inherent in all grains, seeds and beans and brings them back to life (nutritionally speaking). So, Live Better Brands, LLC. listened and decided to add them to snack foods to make them more nutritionally wholesome.

Here are just some of the benefits of sprouted – or germinated - seeds:

  • Sprouting the seed increases its nutrients and the natural inhibitors that protect it from digestion are greatly reduced, or eliminated.
  • All of the plant proteins, oils, starches and vitamins are now bioavailable for human digestion, resulting in better nutritional absorption.
  • Sprouting is the only way to increase the vitamin, mineral and lignan content of flax and naturally stabilize the Omega-3 and other essential fatty acids.

Historically snack foods have a bad reputation. Typically loaded with additives, preservatives, sugar, sodium, highly processed ingredients – and equally light in any sort of nutritional value or healthy attributes.  Live Better Brands, LLC. believed that there was a way to make a more nutritious snack food and that's what they set out to do. By including sprouted ingredients like flaxseed, chia seeds, quinoa, black beans, broccoli seeds and daikon radish seeds, Way Better Snacks® built a better tortilla chip. In addition to the sprouted ingredients, the tortilla chips are also Certified Gluten Free, Non GMO, Certified 100% Whole Grain, Certified Kosher, and Low Sodium.

About Live Better Brands, LLC.
Live Better Brands, LLC., a pioneer in the natural food industry, produces all-natural Snacks under the Way Better Snacks® brand.  They are guided by a simply premise: to make products that people can feel good about eating again and sharing with others.  They do this by taking a simple approach, to source high quality ingredients and then germinate (sprout) as many of them as possible.  Sprouting unlocks all the "good" that is inherent in our ingredients and brings them to life.  Today, Way Better Snacks are available at fine retailers including: Wegmans, Whole Foods and many others nationwide.  Way Better Snacks are available in 6 delicious flavors including: Simply Sunny Multi Grain, Simply Sweet Potato, Simply Beyond Black Beans, Simply Sweet Chili, Simply Unbeatable Blues and No Salt Naked Blues.  For more information about our products and the many benefits of sprouting, visit: www.gowaybetter.com .