Do you want to know three of the upcoming trends from the Natural Products Expo?

Image: Mandiberg

1.  Trend 1: Gluten Free Everything

Poor gluten, the protein composite that comes from wheat, rye, barley and sometimes oats has really gotten a bad rap.

Gluten, causes intestinal damage and nutrient malabsorption for those 1 in 133 people that have Celiac Disease.   As a dietitian, I’m all for more variety and tastier products being available for those who have Celiac Disease but it seems that gluten-free is now just the new buzz word for those looking for the newest diet fad.

If a product is delicious, I’m fine with eating it.  I just hope that those who have Celiac Disease will still have some of these products available once the euphoria of the trend subsides.  Interestingly, Joseph A. Murray, MD from the Mayo Clinic shares my view here: http://youtu.be/uB7IfC7rvE4

Image: Adam Kuban – I think this is funny but if it offends, I apologize

2.  Trend 2: Chia Seeds

Ch-ch-ch-chia!  I know you hear that jingle in your head too.  Believe it or not, the chia seed is a an overlooked nutrient powerhouse.  Chia seeds are high in fiber and omega-3 fatty acids (healthy fat) and have been found to help with weight loss and cardiovascular disease prevention.  If you’ve never had them and you enjoy the consistency of tapioca or have ever had “bubble” or “boba” tea, you might want to give them a try.

Holy Crap, a Chia cereal

One of the funniest chia products I saw at the Natural Foods Expo was this cereal called Holy Crap.  This company knows they get attention because of their name but I will say that their cereal is quite good.  I put chia seeds in my yogurt nearly every day so I may be a bit biased.

Image: SaucyGlo

3.  Trend 3: Quinoa

No joke, 2013 has been declared the International Year of Quinoa.  Quinoa, related to the beet and spinach, is a pseudograin considered a superfood because it high in protein (with all 9 essential amino acids) and a good source of dietary fiber, iron and magnesium. There are many benefits of quinoa: it is a source of calcium (good for vegetarians, vegans and those that are lactose intolerant), gluten free and can be eaten on Passover (see here for the 2013 update from Kashrut.com).

Personally, I love quinoa and find it to be a wonderful alternative to rice and couscous.  My family members don’t really love it so we only serve it from time to time.

What do you think of those 3 trends?  Have you tried gluten free products for “diet” reasons?  Have you tried chia seeds or quinoa?

Monday, I’ll be sharing the one great trend I see for the future of natural and organic products.  It’s one that I hope never fades away.