If you’ve ever wished for more energy, greater productivity, and an overall sense of well-being, you’re not alone. According to the Industry Transparency Center’s 2024 Consumer Supplement Survey, low energy ranks among the top 10 health concerns that drive consumers to take supplements (1). The fast-paced demands of modern life often make healthy habits difficult to maintain. In fact, research shows that one-third of adults fall short of recommended guidelines for either physical activity, nutrition, or sleep (2, 3, 4). Yet consumers are aware of the importance of maintaining healthy lifestyle habits. According to a 2024 survey of American adults, 79% believe exercise could impact their healthspan, and 75% believe the same about diet (5).

Consumers are taking a more active role in their health journey, aided by the growing availability of new science and technology. The global markets for health applications and wearable devices that track fitness, nutrition, and sleep are each projected to grow at a CAGR of approximately 13% from 2025 to 2030 (6, 7). In the U.S., 40% of individuals now use health apps, while 35% rely on wearable devices to cultivate healthier habits and stay motivated along their health and wellness journey (8).

Exercise is one of the most effective interventions for overall health, offering benefits that extend across multiple systems, including improved strength, mobility, bone density, metabolic health, weight management, cardiovascular function, immune support, and cognitive performance. A growing body of scientific work is shaping more tailored recommendations for exercise, nutrition, and supplementation for people across all life stages and fitness levels. This shift is evident in the evolution of sports nutrition into "active nutrition," which prioritizes health and quality of life over performance alone. The focus is now on creating sustainable habits that enhance daily well-being rather than achieving athletic milestones.

Active nutrition plays a vital role in maintaining mobility as we age, helping to enhance quality of life and lower the risk of falls. Its primary goal is to preserve muscle mass, bone density, and joint health, enabling older adults to remain active and independent. This can be achieved through a combination of resistance and weight training, increased protein intake, and supplements designed to amplify the benefits of exercise while supporting muscle and mitochondrial health.

Research has shown that supplements such as vitamin D, creatine, HMB, essential amino acids, whey protein, and omega-3s are effective in supporting aging muscles and promoting mobility (9), (10, 11). Additionally, ingredients like urolithin A, astaxanthin, ginseng, tea catechins, and resveratrol are showing promise based on emerging studies (12, 13, 14, 15, 16). Together, these strategies offer a proactive approach to promoting fitness and energy in older adults.

The healthy aging market includes a growing sector of solutions for menopause support. This is thanks to a new wave of women openly sharing their experiences, and more active scientific research into menopause management. A 2024 meta-analysis revealed that the most common symptoms reported by middle-aged women worldwide are muscular and joint discomfort, as well as physical and mental exhaustion (17). In response, supplement brands and retailers are featuring targeted solutions tailored to the specific needs of women in peri-menopause, menopause, and post-menopause. Emerging clinical studies in this demographic highlight the potential of creatine to support muscle health and reduce brain fog, while phytoestrogens, black cohosh, and fennel are geared towards management of common vasomotor symptoms of menopause (18, 19, 20).

While brain fog and mental fatigue are more common in older populations, adults of every age and gender are striving to sharpen their cognitive performance and metal stamina. The link between fitness, brain health, and mood is another burgeoning field of research, accompanied by a global nootropics market with a projected CAGR of 14.6% from 2023 to 2030 (21). Although it was once thought that adults did not have the capacity to form new neurons in the brain, research from 2009 onward has shown that adult hippocampal neurogenesis (AHN) is promoted by exercise, learning, and diet. Ingredients such as DHA, folic acid, vitamin E, resveratrol, and curcumin have increased AHN in rodent models (22). In some cases, dietary ingredients like astaxanthin have had a synergistic effect on AHN when combined with exercise (23). Future research may further elucidate the impact of physical activity on the gut-brain axis, as exercise has been shown to modulate the gut microbiome (24).

Consumer awareness of the importance of physical activity for overall health comes in large part from the work of clinicians who have underscored the importance of physical activity for overall health since ancient times. In fact, the first recorded prescription for daily exercise is attributed to a pioneer of Indian medicine, named Suśruta, who practiced in 600 B.C.E. (25). Since sedentary behavior is linked to increased risk of all-cause mortality and cardiovascular disease, there has been a concerted effort by the medical community to promote and create a global reference standard for measuring cardiorespiratory fitness (26). Nutrition and supplements supportive of cardiometabolic health continue to be an important complement to exercise in maintaining cardiovascular and metabolic health.

In clinical settings, fitness and energy are increasingly recognized as critical factors in enhancing resilience and recovery after medical procedures. Healthcare professionals can support patients through prehabilitation strategies that incorporate physical, psychological, and nutritional preparation. These approaches help manage patients’ responses to surgeries that may trigger oxidative stress, immune suppression, muscle loss, and metabolic imbalances (27, 28). While current regulations exclude the use of supplements in this context, there may be future opportunities for medical foods to play a role (29). When guided by a physician and supported by scientific evidence, such interventions could potentially improve resilience and recovery outcomes in clinical environments.

In summary, there is a growing recognition of the need for solutions that enhance fitness and energy across diverse populations. This includes aging adults, women navigating menopause, and individuals aiming to improve cognitive performance, mood, cardiovascular health, overall quality of life, and resilience. Exercise and nutrition serve as complementary, multi-system strategies essential to achieving these health goals. Additionally, well-researched supplements play a vital role in this toolkit, with potential for significant contributions to both public health outcomes and individual well-being.

One of the most promising examples of metasynthesis in food production comes from Solar Foods, a Finnish company that has developed a process to create a protein-rich product called Solein. Solein is made through a process that uses CO₂ captured from the air, water, and renewable electricity to grow microbes in a bioreactor. The microbes convert the CO₂ into protein through fermentation, much like how yeast ferments sugar into alcohol.

What makes Solein so revolutionary is that it can be produced independent of agricultural land, sunlight, or weather conditions. In other words, it can be made anywhere in the world, regardless of the local climate or soil quality. According to Solar Foods, Solein has the potential to be produced with 100 times less water and significantly fewer greenhouse gas emissions than traditional animal farming (4). This technology could prove especially beneficial in regions where agriculture is difficult, such as deserts or urban environments.

Calysta, another key player in this space, is working on a similar process that uses methane-metabolizing bacteria to produce protein (5). Their product, FeedKind, is primarily designed as an alternative feed for aquaculture and livestock, but the underlying technology could also be adapted to produce protein for human consumption.

A key advantage of metasynthesis is its ability to deterritorialize food production, effectively breaking the dependence on land and natural ecosystems. Traditional agriculture requires vast amounts of arable land, often leading to deforestation and habitat destruction to make way for crops and livestock. This process of land-use change has devastating consequences for biodiversity and contributes significantly to climate change through the release of carbon stored in forests and soils.

By shifting food production into controlled environments like bioreactors, metasynthesis allows us to rethink the relationship between food and land. This opens the door for renaturation—the restoration of ecosystems that have been degraded by farming. If we no longer need to clear forests for farmland or overgraze pastures with livestock, we can allow nature to reclaim these spaces, creating new opportunities for biodiversity and carbon sequestration.

The potential for renaturation is particularly significant in regions where agricultural expansion has driven significant deforestation, such as the Amazon rainforest. By removing the need for land-intensive cattle ranching or soy farming, metasynthesis could help slow deforestation and allow degraded ecosystems to recover. This shift represents a profound rethinking of food production’s environmental impact and could be one of the most significant ways metasynthesis contributes to sustainability.

Despite its potential, metasynthesis in food production faces several valid criticisms and challenges. While these technologies offer exciting possibilities, they are still in their infancy, and there are questions about whether they can be scaled up to meet the demands of a global population.

1. Technological Feasibility and Energy Intensity: Producing food through metasynthesis, particularly in bioreactors powered by renewable electricity, is currently energy-intensive. Critics argue that while this process may reduce land and water use, it could place additional strain on the energy grid. As the world moves toward decarbonizing its energy system, there is concern that using renewable electricity to grow food could compete with other critical uses, such as powering homes or electric vehicles.

Additionally, while companies like Solar Foods and Calysta have demonstrated proof-of-concept, scaling these systems to produce food at a global level will require massive investments in infrastructure. The development of cost-effective and energy-efficient bioreactors is essential if metasynthesis is to become a mainstream solution to food security.

2. Economic Viability: The high cost of developing and maintaining metasynthetic food production systems is another concern. While traditional agriculture has benefited from centuries of refinement and investment, metasynthesis is a new and relatively untested field. It remains to be seen whether these technologies can become cost-competitive with traditional farming, especially in regions with limited access to advanced technology.
   
   
3. Public Perception and Acceptance: One of the more subtle challenges facing metasynthesis is public perception. For many people, the idea of food grown in a lab or bioreactor may be unappealing, particularly when compared to the deeply ingrained cultural and emotional associations with traditional farming. Convincing consumers to embrace products like Solein or FeedKind will require public education and a shift in the way we think about food.

Additionally, concerns about the safety and regulation of lab-grown food products could slow the adoption of metasynthetic foods. Governments will need to develop robust regulatory frameworks to ensure that these new food products are safe, nutritious, and accessible to all.

4. Potential Monopolization of Food Systems: Another concern is the potential for corporate monopolization of metasynthetic food systems. If the production of food shifts from decentralized, local farms to a few large bioreactor facilities run by major corporations, there is a risk that control over food resources could become concentrated in the hands of a few. This could exacerbate global inequality and create new forms of food insecurity in regions that do not have access to these technologies.

Metasynthesis raises important ethical questions about the future of food production. If we move away from traditional farming and toward synthesized food, what does this mean for rural communities, farming cultures, and the relationship between humans and nature? Agriculture has shaped human societies for thousands of years, and a shift toward metasynthesis could fundamentally alter the way we live and interact with the environment.

Moreover, the deterritorialization of food production could have both positive and negative impacts on the global economy. On the one hand, it could reduce the pressure on ecosystems, allowing for renaturation and the restoration of biodiversity. On the other hand, it could displace millions of farmers and agricultural workers, particularly in developing countries that rely on farming for their livelihoods.

As we move toward a world where metasynthesis plays a larger role in food production, it will be critical to ensure that the benefits of these technologies are shared equitably. This will require thoughtful regulation, public engagement, and a commitment to making these innovations accessible to all.

Metasynthesis offers a profound opportunity to rethink the way we produce food, breaking free from the limitations of traditional agriculture and allowing for more sustainable, resilient, and flexible food systems. Through technologies like CO₂-based protein production and microbial fermentation, companies like Solar Foods and Calysta are leading the way toward a future where food can be produced without the need for sunlight, soil, or vast amounts of water.

However, the road to widespread adoption of metasynthesis is fraught with challenges. From the technological and economic hurdles to the ethical and social implications, there is much to consider as we navigate this transition. Yet, if we can address these challenges thoughtfully and equitably, metasynthesis could play a key role in solving some of the most pressing issues facing the global food systemwhile also paving the way for environmental restoration and sustainability.

By deterritorializing food production from traditional agricultural systems, metasynthesis opens up vast opportunities for renaturation—the process of allowing degraded landscapes to return to their natural state. This could lead to the restoration of forests, grasslands, and wetlands, contributing to the recovery of biodiversity and enhancing carbon sequestration. In areas like the Amazon rainforest, where agricultural expansion has driven deforestation, metasynthesis could reduce the pressure on these critical ecosystems and provide a pathway for their regeneration.

At the same time, the ability to produce food in controlled environments means that food production could be localized in urban areas or in places where agriculture is not feasible, such as deserts or space colonies. This decentralization of food production could reduce the need for long-distance transportation of food, further decreasing the global carbon footprint and making food systems more resilient to climate change and supply chain disruptions.