Organic supplements - are they really the next big thing? Take a look at the shelves in the medicine section of your local department store. This will provide a practical answer to this question. You'll find all kinds of health supplements ranging from synthetic, natural and organic-for supporting general health protection to specific health issues such as cardiovascular health, weight loss or anti-aging. Support from scientific research, and recommendations from the medical profession, has given a significant boost to manufacturing organic supplements. As a result this organic manufacturing is doing booming business with a 5-15% rise in sales each year for the past decade.

The President of Natural Marketing Institute, Maryellen Molyneaux says, "This category (organic supplements) will continue to grow, driven by consumers' desire for increased management of their health and more health options, and the high number of new product introductions across food and beverages that answer those needs."

Organic Supplements: The Facts
Why would a consumer choose organic over natural or synthetic supplements? The answer is simple. Health has become a primary issue for most Americans. The American consumer has become more proactive in taking his health into his own hands. The American consumer is more educated today than ever about nutrition and its impact on health. Nutrition is being perceived as a preventive means to combat current health concerns.

Taking organic supplements to fill the nutritional gaps in a consumer's diet is the popular trend. More Americans are finding a new-found freedom in choosing their own health supplements to meet their specific health needs. This trend shows in the statistics:

Natural Marketing Institute (NMI) in Harleysville, Pennsylvania reported that the US Health and Wellness industry rose by 15% in 2007, reaching a record breaking $1 billion.




Functional and fortified foods sold the most, representing 1/3 of the total industry sales. Organic and natural care products rose by 29% over the last year.




NMI reports that the most popular supplements used in 2007 were:







Multivitamins


Calcium


Vitamin C


Fish oil


Vitamin E


Antioxidants


Vitamin B and B complex


Omega 3s


Even organic pet supplements are showing significant growth!








According to as assessment by Packaged Foods in their article: Functional, Fortified and Inherently Healthy Foods and Beverages: The U.S. Phood Market, the key demands in nutraceuticals in the next few years will be:







Glucosamine


Probiotics


Sterol esters


Whey protein


Omega-3 fatty acids


Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10)






By 2012 the projected sales in the US Health and Wellness market are expected to reach $170 billion!

Organic Manufacturing
Although organic supplements are more expensive than their synthetic counterparts, consumers are still willing to pay more for organic supplements to avoid chemicals, preservatives, insecticides. Organic supplements are perceived as giving more health value and worth the extra cost.

Organic supplements need to be certified by businesses or state agencies approved by the United States Department of Agriculture. This certification includes a physical inspection of the manufacturing area and its processes, as well as an audit of the paperwork dealing with sourcing of raw materials and adhering to strict standards of production. A label certifying an organic supplement has been certified to be organic by an approved authority will lend credibility to any organic health supplement. The certification of organic supplements reassures the consumer of a quality product that has high health value.

Organic: The Healthier Lifestyle
Organic is seen as a healthier lifestyle. In spite of a global economic crisis and rising food prices, the organic food industry continues to expand worldwide, with more global hectares dedicated to organic farming.

Investor Ideas which studied the health trend towards organic reported in April 2008: "The need for health awareness is a growing concern for North Americans. As consumers learn the health risks of consuming preservatives and 'trans fats' through packaged foods; organic seems to be the way to go for a healthy lifestyle."

The organic lifestyle is here to stay. It is already a big thing and the industry is poised for even bigger things ahead. Increasing consumer interest in organic supplements will lead to more demand. The demand for newer products for specialized health needs is never ending. Not all synthetic supplements have their counterparts in organic supplements. Consumers are looking for more innovative organic supplements to fill the nutrition gap and provide wholesome nutrition for health protection. Organic options in health supplements are still a very wide open market. Organic supplement manufacturing has still to reach its peak.