A Conversation With Dave Foreman

We’ve worked with David Foreman , the Herbal Pharmacist?, for several years and recently had an opportunity to sit down with him to discuss the more interesting trends, thoughts on consumer interests, and some of the exciting opportunities that lie ahead. Our interview was extensive, this is part one of two.

Barrington Nutritionals (BN): Dave, thanks for joining us. We’ve talked before about some trends - which one do you see accelerating?

David Foreman: There is no question: consumers' desire for non-pill options is getting bigger. Part of it is a generational shift. Those in their 50s and older are comfortable with tablets and capsules. But Gen Z and Millennials grew up in a world filled with functional foods of one kind or another. This is driving more innovation in delivery technology. I see some real promise in film strips, for example.?

As a result, formulators need new options. Where we once focused on powders, now we need to look at oils, solubility, and dispersibility. That also brings in a new challenge: taste. So we’ve got to work on extraction and delivery methods to address the need. There’s a good deal of work ahead of us.

BN: It’s definitely a balancing act, with some ingredients fighting the flavor profile more than others.

David Foreman: Exactly. Luckily the technology continues to advance. I’m excited to see the efforts underway.

BN: Another recent trend you’ve discussed on your blog is stress. What movement do you see there?

David Foreman: There’s much more attention on mental health and its connection to wellness. Even the World Health Organization highlighted the urgent need to transform mental health and mental health care. According to their report in June, depression, and anxiety went up by more than 25% in the first year of the pandemic alone. I’m working on a series about the need for formulations that are built to help a variety of chronic health issues to also add ingredients that address stress.?

BN: We’ve seen some of that interest in gut health formulations.

David Foreman: Yes, digestive health was always the largest category in terms of spend when I still operated my pharmacy. When we’re talking gut health we’re no longer talking just about the axis. We are having conversations with consumers about the impact outside the brain - on the immune system and cardiac health. Stress is definitely a factor to add to the mix.

BN: You mentioned that immune products are dropping off as the pandemic gets further in the rearview mirror, but you still see some concerns, right?

David Foreman: No question. Long COVID is bringing many concerns to light. Cardiovascular health and cognition are two big ones. There are many systems impacted by the inflammation from COVID and some lasting impacts on respiratory health and stamina are significant. Some people who ran marathons before contracting COVID are now working hard to work up their endurance to make it around the block. And I’ll say it again - the mental health impacts of Long COVID are another major concern. So products developed to help with these issues are going to be welcome.

We’ll be back next month to share part two of our conversation with David. Join us then!