How important is health in day-to-day life? The perception of health and its importance has been undergoing a remarkable change over the last few years. Though the primary reason is emerging diseases and our unhealthy ways of living, the pandemic accelerated the change in perception dramatically. With this paradigm shift, we are now progressing towards a more holistic view of health, focused on both physical and mental health. One of the areas that consumers have shown particular interest in is gut health. Most industry and health experts concur that gut health has the highest and most long-term impact on overall health of individuals. Given this trend, there has been a spurt in research and development in the sphere of gut health in recent years. This report focuses on the significance of botanicals in improving gut health and, by extension, the overall health of consumers.
Gut health is often used interchangeably with digestive health, although the former covers areas of health that are way beyond the digestive system. Growing scientific findings make it clear that gut health is fundamental for overall wellbeing. In addition to playing a crucial role in digestion, the gut is also integrally connected to immune function, as 70-80% of the immune system resides in the gut along with the human microbiota. This clearly indicates towards a symbiotic relationship between the two.
In the trends to be monitored in 2022, FMCG Gurus highlighted the increasing awareness of consumers on the microbiome system and its role in immunity and overall health. Their data show that 68% of consumers recognize the link between the digestive system and immunity. Onset of COVID-19 is one of the contributing factors to trigger this sudden change in perceptions and consumer requirements. About 22% of consumers became more conscious about their digestive health after the pandemic outbreak. Further, 66% of global consumers are interested in products that improve their digestive health, establishing a rising consumer need for gut health products in the future.
Fortune Business Insights predicts the growth of the digestive health market at a CAGR (compound annual growth rate) of 7.9% in the 2020-2027 period. The market is expected to grow from US$42.19 billion in 2020 to $71.95 billion in 2027. This growth projection is attributed to factors like increasing digestive disorders, overall health concerns, increasing elderly population, and consumer demand for natural and safe products.
