Marketers of organic, natural and healthy products should view the “tidal wave” of Latino consumers in the U.S. as a golden opportunity, according to Los Angeles family physician Luis Pacheco, M.D., himself a creator of a supplement brand. The 50 million Hispanics will impact health and wellness in the U.S., primarily because of their attitudes toward physicians, prescription drugs, and preventative care generally. Beset by obesity and diabetes, Hispanics generally do not visit the doctor until there is something wrong, and even then delay treatment because they cannot afford it, often lacking health insurance. Mistrusting prescription medications, Latinos prefer herbal products and other supplements. The opportunity for supplement makers is there, Pacheco says, as long as marketing and labeling are culturally relevant.

If the large turnout at the recent American Muslim Consumer Conference in New York is any indication, U.S. businesses are stepping up efforts to cater to the Muslim community. The trend is already noticeable in the food industry, with such companies as McDonald's, Wal-Mart, and Whole Foods now selling halal lines prepared in accordance with Islamic dietary laws. American producers are following the lead of Europe, which has established itself in the burgeoning halal industry, which posts yearly international sales of over half a billion dollars. But, like their European counterparts, American manufacturers can expect resistance from Christian populations in the current political climate. Errol Schweizer, an executive with Whole Foods, nevertheless predicts continuing penetration by American business into the Muslim market: "It isn't a question of whether they're going to do it. It's a question of where and when and how."

Noting that many of the risk factors that lead to chronic diseases are preventable, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced a set of goals and objectives for promoting health and preventing disease in the U.S. over the next ten years. Healthy People 2020 is based on the idea that setting national objectives and monitoring progress can stimulate action. According to HHS, diseases such as heart disease, cancer and diabetes are responsible for seven out of every 10 deaths among Americans each year and account for 75 percent of the nation’s health spending. Based on input from a large number of health experts, government officials and organizations, the new initiative includes topic areas such as adolescent health, blood disorders and blood safety, dementias, early and middle childhood, genomics, etc.

The market for dietary supplements for women’s health in China is a huge one, especially for products that target aging, skincare, weight loss, detox, prenatal care and blood enrichment. Chinese women have always had their homegrown, and affordable, health remedies, like “bird’s nest” and donkey hide gelatin, a fact that has so far made the market almost impenetrable for Western companies. On top of that are other barriers: government regulations, lack of consumer awareness, and resistance to prices boosted by shipping costs, taxes and import fees. But importers have reason to be optimistic. Especially encouraging is the fact that China’s version of the FDA is drafting new rules designed to nurture the industry and expand consumer education about Western nutritional and other supplements.