One day soon consumers might be able to sprinkle vitamins, antioxidants and other beneficial compounds right onto their meals, if a Purdue University food scientist has his way.
Srinivas Janaswamy has developed a way to encase nutritional supplements – known as nutraceuticals -- so that they remain stable enough for consumers to add them to foods in the same way they can now add a dash of salt and pepper.
Janaswamy, whose findings were published in the journal Food & Function, noted nutraceuticals such as beta-carotene, lycopene, resveratrol and vitamins play significant roles in treating or preventing disease.
He said he has developed a method involves creating crystalline-like carbohydrate fibers that embed the nutraceuticals, keep them stable and protect them from degrading.
Janaswamy said he envisions one day soon when vitamin- and nutrient-rich fibers could be refined, chopped into small particles and packaged for sale alongside spices at the supermarket.