If I’m not mistaken there are Phytonutrients in Huel from the main ingredients. How about adding some extra Phytonutrients as well?
Imagine Huel with 300mg of pine bark extract per 2000kcal or green tea extract (as long as it doesn’t ruin the taste).
One could think of maca or even capsaicin. (The latter would be are real challenge… maybe impossible as ingredient in powder.)
If Huel (company) makes some good deals there might be a chance that they don’t even put up the price after adding a Phytonutrient mix to - let’s say - v2.4
Hey Johnny, you’re absolutely right Huel is packed with phytonutrients in the core ingredients - particularly the oats and flaxseed. However we do also add phytonutrients:
However, we’ve also added some additional phytonutrients to optimise the Huel formula and to complement the antioxidant nutrients vitamins C and E and selenium.
Phytonutrient polyphenols in Huel have antioxidant activity and help protect against cardiovascular disease, some cancers and age-related conditions. Huel’s beneficial phytonutrients include:
Avenanthramides: antioxidant polyphenols unique to oats shown to have anti-inflammatory effects(21).
Ferulic acid: also from oats, a potent antioxidant and antibacterial agent that has also been shown to have anti-cancer properties(22).
Lutein: from the flaxseed powder and we’ve also added additional lutein in our vitamin and mineral blend. Although not essential, there is concern that diets low in lutein may lead to macular degeneration of the eye in the elderly, as lutein is involved in eye pigment development(23,24). Lutein is also an antioxidant.
Zeaxanthin: another antioxidant, this has been added as it also has a role in long-term eye health(24).
Lycopene: added as it’s a potent antioxidant and has been shown to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and some cancers(25).
Glad to see that you guys already added some phytonutrients that we can benefit from. Are there plans to add some more (like the ones I mentioned or others like Cordyceps Cs-4 extract) as long as they have little or no side effects?
We would never add anything to Huel unless there was a body of evidence supporting the inclusion. I don’t know anything about Cordyceps Cs-4 extract but I would be interested in seeing some evidence of its benefits in a healthy population.
We are a science-based food brand, and although I’m not saying your suggestions aren’t legitimate, I don’t expect you would see using foods in Huel just because they’re trendy. I’d be interested in seeing what @JamesCollier knows about this.
The ones we include are some of the phytonutrients that we feel should be included as there are health benefits that would gained if someone was eating an optimal diet. The ones you’ve stated do have possible health benefits, but I feel these are supplements rather than phytonutrients. If we were adding supplements that avid Huelers like yourself suggest to the Huel formula, the list would be long.
Alright, thanks for the feedback. I can see your points.
Is it safe to say that you (James) read a lot of scientific studies - not only about macros and micros, but some phytonutrients as well? They are certainly not as important because they are non-essential for the human body, but since Huel is extremely well designed in terms of macros and micros, it’s at least an interesting subject to further improve Huel and the general health of your customers.
Of course there are many things (herbs, roots, spices) that are associated with health benefits (from blood pressure regulation to skin improvements and so on) and scientific studies will always state: “might have an effect on…” so there is really no must have ingredient for that matter.
I’m just thinking if you come across evidence that a certain - let’s say: supplement (by the way, some would call flaxseed a supplement and it’s one of Huel’s main ingredients) has possible benefits for the human body without adding any risk to the customer’s health, you could be willing to add it to the formula like you did with Zeaxanthin and Lycopene for example.
Just like you said “phytonutrients that we feel should be included as there are health benefits”. Some people might say this about green tea and the statement would also be science-based.
So what I’m trying to ask is: Do you consider adding more different phytonutrients any time in the future? (Of course not because they are “trendy” - again MCTs were trendy, but that’s not the reason you added them to Huel.)
I’d be interested in seeing what