(HealthCastle.com) More than 350 food manufacturers showcased their newest products in Grocery Showcase West held week. I went on a hunt to look for new health foods, and was not disappointed. Here are the top trends I found that are worth noting.
Top Food Trends in Your Grocery Store
Cow's Milk Alternatives: There are soy, rice, and almond milks, and now there is also trendy hemp. Hemp seeds are rich sources of omega essential oils. And hemp milk is generally lactose-free, soy-free, nut-free, and gluten-free, so it may be appropriate for individuals with multiple allergies. However, , unlike soy milk, hemp milk is NOT a good source of calcium, so you may need to resort to other calcium-rich foods or supplements for your daily calcium requirement.
Back-to-Basics Juice: For those tired of buying pricey juices made with exotic fruits, there is good news. The makers of Simply Orange are introducing Simply Apple - a pure, unfiltered apple juice. "Cloudy" apple juice contains more apple solids than the clear kind. The extra apple solids mean that cloudy juice has up to four times more polyphenols, a group of antioxidant plant compounds, than clear juice. And in a study reported in the Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture in January 2007, cloudy juice was shown to be a more effective "scavenger" of harmful free radicals than its clear-juice cousin.
Colorful Soup: The days of white cream-based or tomato-based soup are over! Packaged soup products now come in a variety of colors - squash-based orange, corn-based yellow, pea-based green, and more. This is good news for those who would like a warm bowl of soup made with natural ingredients but have no time to cook. Most of these soups, however, are still high in sodium.
Gluten-Free: With increased awareness of Celiac disease and other implications for a gluten-free diet, brands are eager to introduce gluten-free products. It's not shocking to find gluten-free versions of cookies, crackers, and bakery items. But it's shocking that some are manufactured in a wheat facility - where they also make wheat products! These gluten-free products carry a small-font warning at the back of the package about cross-contamination, so buyers beware.
Cow's Milk Alternatives: There are soy, rice, and almond milks, and now there is also trendy hemp. Hemp seeds are rich sources of omega essential oils. And hemp milk is generally lactose-free, soy-free, nut-free, and gluten-free, so it may be appropriate for individuals with multiple allergies. However, , unlike 
Back-to-Basics Juice: For those tired of buying pricey juices made with exotic fruits, there is good news. The makers of Simply Orange are introducing Simply Apple - a pure, unfiltered apple juice. "Cloudy" apple juice contains more apple solids than the clear kind. The extra apple solids mean that cloudy juice has up to four times more polyphenols, a group of 
Colorful Soup: The days of white cream-based or tomato-based soup are over! Packaged soup products now come in a variety of colors - squash-based orange, corn-based yellow, pea-based green, and more. This is good news for those who would like a warm bowl of soup made with natural ingredients but have no time to cook. Most of these soups, however, are still high in 
Feed
