Wholy rye! Nordic research and collaboration to develop new healthy products from rye
Fazer and the Nordic Rye Forum arranged a virtual symposium on the health benefits of rye on December 14, 2020. The Rye - “wholy” grain for the gut and the brain symposium brought together top experts in the field to discuss the nutritional value, health effects and possible future applications of the traditional Nordic rye.
Rye is an essential part of the Finnish food culture. It is a cereal with plenty of potential – nutritious, sustainable and well accepted by Nordic consumers. Now new research, powered by Nordic research groups, sheds light on exactly how and why rye benefits health.
“The sustainability of food and nutrition is an essential part of Fazer’s strategy. New food technologies and innovations open up new possibilities, and research knowledge helps us make the most out of rye. At Fazer, we want to transform science into tasty, sustainable and healthy products that help people feel good and make the best out of every day”, says Head of Research Jussi Loponen from Fazer’s research and development unit Fazer Lab. “We are extremely happy to collaborate with the Nordic research community to help us achieve this goal.”
“We have had great success in the Nordic way of doing research - using joint efforts and complementary strengths from different actors. Together we have shed light on the health effects of rye, as well as on the role of cereals in the combined healthy and sustainable diet from a Nordic perspective. And this work will continue”, says professor Rikard Landberg from the Nordic Rye Forum, a platform created by Nordic rye researchers.
But why is rye so special?
Out of all cereals, rye is the richest source of fibre - and an important source of fibre in Nordic countries. It is also stuffed with micronutrients, such as group B vitamins, and phytochemicals, such as lignans and phenolic acids, which have been linked with positive health effects.
Rye is also commonly used as whole grain products, which have been found to support weight management and decrease the risk of many chronic diseases. ”An increasing number of studies suggest that the intake of rye and other whole grain cereals is linked to better gut health, cardio-metabolic health and immunity”, says PhD student Laura Pirkola from Fazer Lab.
Sneak peek into the future of rye
The on-going research on rye will increase our understanding of how food processing can affect - and improve - the way in which the human body can absorb and utilize all the nutrients of rye. “In other words, we will know more about how the technological processing of food affects the bioavailability of grain proteins, how microbiota metabolism affects the bioactivity of the phytochemicals, and what is the role of different type of fibre in gut fermentation, says Lead in Health Marika Laaksonen from Fazer Lab.
“This understanding could pave way to tailor-made recommendations of food choices to specific groups of consumers - or even on an individual basis in the long-term perspective. Research can also create possibilities to develop food manufacturing processes so that the nutrients of rye are served to the consumer in the best possible format”.
The Rye - “wholy” grain for the gut and the brain symposium was held on December 14, 2020. Due to the current corona situation, it was a completely virtual event. The symposium was a part of the Nordic Nutrition Conference 2020.
Additional information:
Head of Research Jussi Loponen, Fazer Lab, M +358 40 732 9772, jussi.loponen@fazer.com
Lead in Health Marika Laaksonen, Fazer Lab, M +358 50 512 9895, marika.laaksonen@fazer.com
Professor Rikard Landberg, Nordic Rye Forum, M +46317722732, rikard.landberg@chalmers.se
Fazer’s media phone line is open Mon–Fri from 8:00 to 16:00 EET, tel. +358 40 668 2998, media@fazer.com
Fazer Group
Fazer, The Food Experience Company, enables people to enjoy the best moments of their day. In 1891, the young Karl Fazer opened his first café with a mission to make food with a purpose – and a passion to create moments of joy for all the people around him. Shaping the next tastes, traditions and food experiences, Fazer is going Towards Perfect Days. Fazer wants people to experience the Northern Magic it creates and builds on its strong heritage, consumer first approach and innovations to create the sustainable food solutions of the future. The Group focuses on fast-moving consumer goods, operates in eight countries and exports to around 40 countries. In 2019, Fazer Group had net sales of 1.1 billion euros and almost 9,000 employees. Fazer’s operations comply with ethical principles that are based on the Group’s values and the UN Global Compact.
Northern Magic. Made Real.
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