The consumption habits of Italians are increasingly oriented towards the purchase of Made in Italy products, preferably with the PDO, PGI and DOC brands. The new trend in nutraceutical identifies food as a preventive tool for health. Yes, eating pasta for dinner is good for well-being.
Wellness Starts With Good Food
It’s known that Italians tend to be xenophile on many subjects, but concerning foods they are decidedly “patriotic” and, according to the survey conducted by Eurispes (Institute of Political, Economic and Social Studies) in 2018, 82.7% of Italian consumers prefer Made in Italy food products. Eating styles are changing profoundly and, in fact, in recent years the consumer has become more aware, wants more guarantees on the origins of raw materials, on methods of production and cultivation and 67.9% is willing to spend more on a product that is truly made with ingredients of certain Italian origin (72%). Companies have translated these consumer inputs characterizing foods due to the absence of something (free from) for adding something else (rich in), for the origin (100% Italian) and for their ethical character (vegan, bio, fair trade etc.). Therefore, the awareness of nutrition increases as a source of health and pursuit of well-being. According to the new trend in nutraceutical (a neologism given by the fusion of nutrition and pharmaceutical), food becomes a prevention tool, as long as it is healthy and economically and environmentally sustainable. The products at the base of this change are the “healthy” versions of the already existing ones or new formulations to follow the new trends: for example, in the flour category variants have been created for gluten intolerant or fiber enriched to enhance certain nutritional functions. In addition to favoring seasonal products (73.7%), more than half of Italians (56%) often buy PDO, PGI, DOC products and, in 49.3% of cases, favor organic and 0 km products (41.3%).
Speaking Of Health
Italians don’t like low-carb diets. This was revealed by a Doxa survey (low-carb diets: what Italians think about it) from which it appears that only 5% of the population has heard of it and only 2% have experienced it. To confirm what most of the world’s nutritionists and gastroenterologists maintain, the ideal diet is still Mediterranean, practiced by 72% of Italians who, on average, consume 28 kg of pasta per year. The myth that it’s better to eat pasta at lunch than at dinner should be dispelled. Indeed, according to a recent study conducted by Brigham and Women Hospital in Boston, this trend could be modified or even reversed. Eating pasta in the evening is good for the body and mind: it reduces stress and facilitates sleep; helps the regular athletes to integrate muscle glucose lost with physical effort; it improves the state of health with positive consequences on the mood, especially the whole-wheat pasta.
