Supplement manufacturer Quicksilver Scientific recently discussed the unprecedented rise in consumer interest in health applications such as immune support, healthy aging, as well as the rise in popularity of functional beverages, and why it is working under the prediction that the appeal of products that fit these bills will be here to stay well through 2021.
 
Like no other year, 2020 saw laser focus on immune support both from wellness advocates, as well as consumers of all stripes, in light of a global pandemic which sparked curiosity in the avenues of nutrition known to foster support for a healthy immune system. Companies scrambled to launch products aimed at tackling the clamoring demand for them, and the unwavering success of these products appears set to continue for a long time, the company said.
 
“As it should be, in 2021 we will see a focus on immune support continue as a trend,” Christopher Shade, PhD, founder and CEO of Quicksilver Scientific, said. “Ultimately, we feel this focus on immune health is for the better. Although it appears a vaccine for our current health crisis is right around the corner, fortifying your immune system through wellness practices makes one better prepared for immune challenges that may arise. Many of the products Quicksilver Scientific introduced this year are helping to change regimens with regard to immune support.”
 
Shade believes that immune support, and many interlinking trends, will continue throughout the first half of 2021, but quite possibly will last longer as well.
 
Longevity
 
He believes, for instance, that longevity will become a major focus among consumers and brands, where previously, aspirations for a long healthy life stood on the back burner in favor of more immediate, tangible health goals. Both in the sense of living longer, and maintaining a high quality of life well into the golden years, this complex and interconnected subject will remain a subject of intense interest as people become more educated on how to support healthy aging, Shade said.
 
The Beverage Boom
 
Further, Shade said that 2021 may see a boon in functional beverages, driven largely by drinks infused with cannabinoids, including THC in places where it is legal. The category, in the past, has been plagued by inconsistent formulations, difficulties incorporating bioactive ingredients, and lackluster sales, however, new formulation technologies will enhance the products, leading to a brighter future.

Recently, Quicksilver Scientific announced a partnership with Canada’s Truss cannabis beverage brands, using its proprietary nanoemulsion technology, which further enables cannabis beverage manufacturers to mitigate concerns of THC overconsumption, and allows consumers to have a predictable experience closer to that encountered with alcoholic beverages.
 
“We see beverages becoming a stronger category across the board, for a variety of reasons,” Shade said. “There is more and more interest in cannabinoid beverages, and consumers continue to move away from sugar-based, high-calorie drinks. We’re looking froward to a lot of interesting developments in this coming year.”
 
Knowledge is Power
 
Educating practitioners, consumers, media audiences, and policymakers has always been, and will continue to be a strong need and focus for the industry in the year 2021, Shade said.
 
“As a whole, the industry can be a mixed bag of information,” Shade said. “As scientists, we can sometimes get too far into the weeds for some consumers, but it is important to talk about the science behind products. However, an even greater need is clearly explaining some of the key foundational elements of basic health, about minerals, nutrients and other elements that are really the keys behind everything we do. Informed consumers make better decisions, and they typically make more purchases and use more products because they feel more confident. The more we can educate our key constituencies, the better it is for the industry.”