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Vidya Herbs capitalises on konjac trends with SKIN-CERA®: novel ceramide extract for skin health

Vidya Herbs, Partner, Logo, Food Matters Live, November 2021
3 min read
AUTHOR: Ana Delgado contributor: Vidya Herbs
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The global wellness market is currently estimated at more than $1.5 trillion, with annual growth of 5% – 10%. This increase in health and wellness trends can be linked to a McKinsey study which found that 79% of consumers globally have reported to deeply care about wellness, with this interest being predicted to grow even further. The rise of these health-conscious consumer trends were, in addition, accelerated by the Covid-19 pandemic which has likewise shed light on the importance of leading a healthy lifestyle when it comes to areas such as food, food additives, dietary supplements and cosmetics. 

Current market growth of konjac

These rising health trends have, in the same vein, been driving the market growth of konjac products over the past few years. The potential for the growth of the Konjac market is quite high, owing to its diverse applications, properties and several health benefits. Additionally, due to the increasing demand for high fibrous, low calorie and low gluten products, there are enormous opportunities for companies worldwide to grow significantly in the konjac market.

About konjac

  • Konjac was first brought to Japan from China roughly 1500 years ago
  • The use of konjac in Japan initially focused on the cultivation of konjac to make cake with a jelly texture known as konnyaku as well as shirataki noodles
  • Since then, interest and demand for konjac products has grown around the world, primarily due to a constituent known as glucomannan
  • Glucomannan is a dietary fiber that is described as water-soluble polysaccharide, with applications for use in food, food additives, dietary supplements and cosmetics

How Vidya have jumped on the konjac trend

Vidya Herbs, a leading manufacturer of herbal extracts and one of Food Matters Live’s Global Thought Leaders this 16-17 November, began to explore the non-glucomannan fraction of konjac as a source of a type of ceramide known as glycosylceramides. Ceramides play a role in the barrier function of the skin. It has been hypothesised that consumption of ceramides from the diet may upregulate ceramide synthesis in the skin, thereby improving skin barrier function.

Benefits of Skin-Cera® include significant improvement of skin characteristics such as:

  • Dryness
  • Itching
  • Oiliness
  • Luminosity
  • Hydration
  • Roughness
  • Hyperpigmentation
  • Fine lines and wrinkles

Skin-Cera® is an excellent alternative to other sources of dietary ceramides such as wheat because it is gluten-free. The ingredient provides benefits from oral consumption with an incredibly low material input of just 100 milligrams, allowing for flexible applications in various delivery systems such as capsules, tablets, powders and functional foods. 

K Shyam Prasad, Vidya Herbs’ Founder and Managing Director says of the use of konjac in Skin-Cera®“We decided to source konjac from the Gunma prefecture because of the region’s rich history of cultivation of this material. We are confident this is a source we, and the consumers that enjoy the benefits of our product, can rely on for years to come.”

About Vidya Herbs

Vidya Herbs is a manufacturer of standardized herbal extracts, carotenoids, and proprietary ingredients backed by clinical research. The company offers many ingredients in both conventional and organic grades. The company’s mission is to nurture and restore the link to nature through the discovery of new resources while innovating existing ones from the vast array of botanicals the world has to offer. Vidya Herbs has a continuous pipeline of novel ingredients for use in dietary supplements, functional foods and cosmetics to serve the constantly evolving needs of their customers.

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