It is conceivable that eventually, with FDA approval, food companies will be able to look to the grocery store system for distributing nutraceuticals. This is important because the grocery store system offers accessibility, mass-market pricing, and the legitimacy of the product as food. The focus will then shift to the taste and convenience of the product. Most of these commodities have the potential to be processed into nutraceuticals for domestic and global markets. Fibre, beneficial fatty acids, and isoflavones are some of the key products for these markets.
Interest is high in the fibre in oatmeal, wheat bran, barley, lentils, peas, and beans.
The insoluble fibre found in wheat bran, lentils, and brown rice reduces the exposure of the colon to potential carcinogens. Soluble fibre found in oat bran, dried beans, and barley is effective in fighting heart disease by reducing the absorption of cholesterol in the diet. Eating half of a cup of oatmeal per day has been shown to reduce blood cholesterol by 5 percent and cuts the risk of heart disease by 10 percent. Oilseed crops also show potential. For instance, research shows that flaxseed can reduce the incidence of cancer and heart disease.