New health trends emerge at Nat Expo East

Drug Store News,  Oct 10, 2005  by Michael Johnsen

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WASHINGTON -- More than 20,000 specialty retailers and their suppliers attended the Natural Products Expo East last month here, showcasing new products with a natural health bent, some of which may make their way to mass retail outlets.

One noticeable trend at the show was the introduction of meal replacement bars formulated for pregnant women. Vincent Foods introduced its Oh Mama! Bars, which contain DHA, in addition to folate and several B vitamins. Available in three flavors, the bars retail for about $1.50. And NutraBella featured its Belly-bar line--bars chock full of protein, iron, folic acid, calcium and other supplements. Three flavors will retail for a suggested price of $2.49.

Waters supplemented with health claims also were popular. Sanfaustino launched its Italian sparkling water with calcium--each 750 mL bottle contains more than 300 mg of calcium. And Double A Beverage showcased a line of water products designed for women, called W2O. The water is formulated with folic acid, B vitamins, calcium and iron and is available in three flavors for a suggested retail price of $1.69.

Following the crash of the low-carb market, some meal replacement bar manufacturers are beginning to concentrate on bars touting a low-glycemic index. Solo GI Nutrition featured a line of bars that contain slow carbs: carbs that are absorbed by the body slowly. The spike in blood sugar levels is less pronounced than other carb-rich bars. Balance Bar also had meal replacement snacks positioned against a low-glycemic index, including Balance Bar GoMix.

And while suppliers like Durex try to introduce personal massagers into mass, Natural Contours featured a line of discreetly packaged massagers with at least one positioned against an actual health-related indication: a kegel exerciser for use after childbirth or during menopause. Prices ranged from $15.95 to $34.95.

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