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2007 has been a year of growing awareness... awareness about the hidden dangers of pharmaceuticals, the medical establishment and the toxic ingredients that have been used in our food and everyday products. And on the other side of that same coin, growing awareness about natural and organic foods, the benefits of vitamins and supplements, and that as consumers... as humans, we have the power to make our own choices. Healthy choices.
So what can we expect for 2008? Unfortunately, we don't have one of those nifty time devices that Captain Janeway got from the Klingons in Star Trek, so there is no guarantee... but we can make a few educated guesses.
1. Antioxidant Benefits. Recent research shows that antioxidants help to maintain healthy brain functions during aging, protect brain and nerve cells, and prevent hormones and cholesterol fractions from oxidizing to become more harmful forms. Research is continuing at a fast pace so we can expect more understanding and more reports about the benefits of antioxidant nutrients in the coming year.
2. Proof of omega-3 fatty acids’ benefits. Pick up any book about nutrition and diet, read any recent research and you'll find major kudos for Omega-3 Fatty Acid. It's become a cornerstone for good health. DHA, an omega-3 fatty acid, maintains healthy balances of cholesterol and protects the brain and nerves. EPA, another omega-3 fatty acid, helps normalize cell membranes and cellular health. The list of benefits go on and even includes benefits to mood and emotional well-being. Unfortunately, these essential fats are typically very low in the American diet (and are likely to dip even further as the megaCorps have begun to completely fish-out entire species of marine life), so dramatic results may occur in continuing research in 2008.
3. More discoveries of unsafe popular prescriptions and Over-The-Counter drugs. You don't have to be a psychic to guess this one. BigPharma wants big bucks, and they rush to market with more drugs for Americans, very often ignoring or hiding disastrous side effects. This will, in turn, create new safety warnings and label cautions... but it won't stop the money flowing into the pockets of the drug companies. The majority of the population will continue to treat the symptoms instead of the root health problems. But as more warnings are issued, there will be an increased number of people exploring natural alternatives to the poison being distributed.
4. Organic and local foods. This new (actually, really old), market area will grow at amazing levels. Although beginning from a health motivation it also has many political ramifications. More and more people will be spending time and money on organic foods and purchasing in local markets from local growers. Of course the big AgriCorps will scramble and we'll see more production of organic foods. There is much evidence that non-genetically engineered foods are both environmentally and nutritionally superior to their modified cousins, while natural farming techniques are proving superior to chemical and genetically engineered farming in terms of managing fuel and seed costs, water use, improving both crop yields and selling prices, etc. Millions of farmers around the world have already weaned themselves from the chemical-genetic “green revolution” to use appropriate local farming techniques and have actually been more successful as a direct result of truly “green” practices. America has begun to awaken to the benefits of local and organic foods in terms of freshness, reducing the use of fossil fuels for transportation and demonstrable benefits to local economies. Watch for these trends to accelerate in 2008.
5. Blood pressure and blood sugar concerns. This specific health area will move to the forefront of the country's awareness this year. And with it, a medical backlash attacking natural strategies to manage these concerns. But will we also see more research and more evidence that will point to the positive health benefits of natural products to help people maintain already healthy blood levels, and help in controlling both blood pressure and blood sugar. Chronic stress and poor diets will cement itself as the major villain.
6. Vitamin D. Positive reports of the benefits of vitamin D (especially in higher levels) will continue to make the front page of newspapers and websites. Health authorities will be pressured to raise both the recommended Daily Value and the Upper Limit of vitamin D to five times the current levels.
7. Whole Grains and Whole Foods. Research will continue to point to the health benefits of whole grains and whole foods. But we'll also see more people finding themselves with an allergic or sensitivity to gluten, corn, and other grains. We'll see more mainstream processed offerings with whole food options. There should also be more options for those with sensitivity or allergies to gluten and other grains.
8. BigPharma Gets Worried. As more people begin to turn to natural and organic alternatives, there will be continuing claims that “dietary supplements” are illegally contaminated with steroids or other pharmaceutical drugs. These claims will typically be self-serving and defensive, made primarily by athletes accused of cheating by using banned substances. Beyond the obvious fact that legitimate supplement manufacturers do not have illegal substances on hand and that GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices certification) quality manufacturing protocols would avoid inadvertent contamination, these accusations are a barometer of how “unregulated” the mainstream media and the public thinks dietary supplements are. While there are plenty of regulations written specifically to regulate supplements, and even the FDA claims that it has adequate regulatory authority, somehow certain medical authorities and journalists like to pretend otherwise; perhaps to have a handy punching bag to deflect attention from the well-documented hundreds of thousands of deaths caused annually from pharmaceuticals and medical errors. And while we've seen an incredible increase in drug advertising in the media already, expect the amount to go up. Because BigPharma spends a massive amount of money with the traditional media (TV, magazines, etc.) expect more negative coverage of anything that might remove the dollars from their pockets... like natural and organic foods, vitamins and supplements in 2008.
