Trends boosted by pandemic will benefit plant-based omega-3s, developer says nutraingredients-usa.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from nutraingredients-usa.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
At first glance, Ahiflower looks like a weed. Thereâs a good reason for that.
âWe actually found the wild plant growing in a hedgerow in the U.K.,â says Andrew Hebard, president and CEO of Nature Crops International (NCI), a company headquartered in Winston-Salem.
Ahiflower turned out to be a weed with potential. A team of plant experts hired by NCI found it as part of a quest for an alternative to fish oil.
âWe did an Indiana Jones type of number,â Hebard says. âWe recruited people to travel around the world â theyâre called ethnobotanists.â
Oil made from Ahiflower provides a good source of omega-3 fatty acids, an important nutrient. Omega-3s have been proven to reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke, ease joint pain and stiffness, and make anti-inflammatory drugs more effective, according to WebMD. They boost the visual and neurological development of infants, and may also help reduce depression, prevent Alzheimer s disease and
NutraCast Podcast: Natures Crops on functional carrier oils Here on the NutraCast, we talk a lot about active ingredients in supplements, but often neglect a very important element: carrier oils. They are often required in formulations to protect, stabilize, and ensure consistent delivery and absorption.
In many cases, these oils don’t do much beyond that their job is to simply ‘carry’ nutraceutical or botanical actives. However, one brand is utilizing oils that do more than just carry. Andrew Hebard, CEO and founder of Natures Crops International, joined the NutraCast to tell us more about functional carrier oils. The company is a vertically integrated grower and manufacturer of plant-based specialty oils, including Ahiflower.