India sales of health foods surge in COVID-19 |
The surge in COVID-19 cases in India has caused a spiralling demand for nutraceuticals or food products containing health-giving additives. The steep rise in sales of nutraceuticals is reported by the Association of Herbal and Nutraceuticals Manufacturers of India. India`s nutraceutical industry was valued at $5 billion at the end of December 2019, with the domestic market valued at $3 billion and exports at $2 billion. The demand for nutraceutical, supplement, and preventive wellness products from the top four metros have seen remarkable growth. The demand is strong in West Bengal and the Northeast as well. Major Tier 2 and 3 cities in Maharashtra, Karnataka, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Gujarat have also seen rising trends during the pandemic. Due to the pandemic, people are far more invested in preventive health and natural wellness. Since April 2020, the sector has seen a surge in the demand for products including those related to digestive health, sleep and stress, said industry executives. Nutraceutical products can be considered non-specific biological therapies used to promote general well-being, control symptoms, and prevent malignant processes. India is among the major suppliers to the global market for medicinal plants and herbal extracts such as curcumin from turmeric, ginger, chilies, piperine from black pepper or mucuna, and ashwagandha. India ranks among the top three producers in the world. With increasing awareness and to some extent due to the fear of catching the virus, people are now looking at disease prevention as their primary health support. More and more people are positively moving towards dietary supplements to address nutritional deficiencies.
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