As a professional historian, Dr Andrea Löw’s job takes her to some of the most remote corners of the world, including Australia, Morocco, Namibia, Vietnam and Mongolia. And, as a dedicated sportswoman, she can often be found exploring these exotic destinations in a pair of running shoes and a technical T-shirt. However, her passion for running stems from an unlikely beginning as a long-distance athlete.

Since 2011, professional skier Christina Ackermann had been struggling with incidences of recurring pain in her right knee. The diagnosis: degeneration and microcalcification of the quadriceps tendon owing to chronic inflammation and infection. Unfortunately, a prolonged period of physiotherapy and injections failed to solve the problem … which meant that an operation was the only remaining option. So, in 2013, the calcified material and the necrotic/inflamed tendon tissue was removed.

We are very proud to have received last year’s German Innovation Award in the “Excellence in B2B, Pharmaceuticals” category as it underlines the innovative power of our company and honours our efforts to prove the efficacy of our Bioactive Collagen Peptides (BCP^®s) in high quality scientific studies. The German Innovation Awards recognizes products and solutions from a variety of industries that distinguish themselves by their user centricity and added value. Nominated innovations are those designed to have a positive influence on life.

Collagen is the most abundant protein in the human body and, for many reasons, it’s essential for good health and wellbeing. As well as being the primary structural protein in our conjunctive tissues, it also plays key roles in joint mobility, bone stability, skin smoothness and even the health of hair and fingernails.

Apparently unaffected by global economics and boom-and-bust trends, the worldwide markets for collagen peptides and gelatin continue to flourish. Driving this growth are a number of factors, including an increasing awareness about personal healthcare and nutrition, the rising population of ageing consumers and the steady pace of industrialization in developing geographies.

Beyond the key criteria of being tasty, healthy and natural, several key aspects must be taken into consideration when formulating the ideal functional beverage, particularly when targeting different age groups. Ingredient solubility is paramount. Texture and mouthfeel are also critical. And, finally, as the main purpose of a functional beverage is to provide the consumer with a health benefit, it is particularly important for product developers to use proven, simple-to-use ingredients with documented effects. Consumer expectations are higher than ever, and it’s not easy to incorporate extra health into a drink in a delicious and sensory pleasing way. However, GELITA’s Bioactive Collagen Peptides (BCP^®s) offer a convenient solution.