Unibar Corporation has announced the launch of Univita, a line of plant-based ingredients using a US patented biofortification process which the company says delivers enhanced mineral retention and nutrient concentration. The line currently includes guava leaves with increased zinc, holy basil with increased magnesium and zinc, and Amla-Indian gooseberry also with increased magnesium and zinc.
Many current diets are not providing a sufficient quantity of essential minerals to meet dietary guidelines, Unibar says. Part of the reason for this is suboptimal growing conditions, making it difficult for plants to absorb and accumulate enough nutrients from the soil, water and other sources after which processing can decrease values further.
Univita’s biofortification process reportedly helps improve mineral retention within the plant material, delivering an ingredient with higher mineral count in chelated form. The company says through its process, the bioavailability and absorption properties of the chelated minerals are combined with the natural benefits of each plant material.
Increased zinc and magnesium content are particularly valuable, the company says, at a time when consumers are demanding options for improved immune health. The biofortification process also reportedly stimulates plant tissues for improved nutrient and secondary metabolite uptake.
“We have chosen three ingredients with an array of potent benefits and rich Ayurvedic history to start our Univita line,” said Mr Sevanti Mehta, President of Unibar. “Consumers continue to become more aware of their health and of the variety of natural options that are increasingly more available to them. Our enhanced guava leaves, holy basil, and Amla-Indian gooseberry cover a large spectrum of health needs and are a great addition to current and new supplement formulas from immune health to blood sugar support and even cognitive health.”
Unibar asserts there is no exploitation of natural resources in the process of ingredient sourcing.