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Health and well-being supplements come in many guises and have been around a long time. Over the last 50 years tremendous strides have been made in every aspect of the supplement industry; marketing, packaging, production have all moved and evolved at a very fast rate. Our appetite for products has grown so much the financial experts predict that the wellness market is going to be the next trillion dollar industry.

The trend now is for products that incorporate health and well-being with anti-aging components. We still want the health and fitness thing, but people are now aware more than ever of the visible signs of aging. Modern technology encourages us to embrace the concept of physical longevity, even perfection and questioning the moral and ethical issues surrounding this subject won't change its public appeal. The demand for products to help us achieve this will just increase, especially as we become an aging society. We want to be fit, healthy, live longer and look good in today's society. This is not an unreasonable desire and so we will go to great lengths to achieve it.

Over the years we've seen a lot of changes to products, making them much easier for us to use and consume. Chelated tablets and soft gel capsules for instance were a major breakthrough. At one time tablets became overly large and seemed to get stuck in the throat no matter how much water you drank. Tablets that could be chewed instead of swallowed were a big improvement, especially for the junior market.

As we move further into the 21st century technology will come up with many new and exciting ways of balancing conventional supplements. New plants are being discovered all the time some of which have been used for centuries by people such as American Indians or tribes living deep in the Amazon jungle.

Some cultures in the Far East and Asia have long been aware of the health giving properties in plants and roots that were previously unknown to us. By drawing on this knowledge and using modern technology to harvest and reproduce these plants we will be able to make them available to a wider population.

Though supplements are consumed by swallowing, it is how the nutrients are delivered to the system that is important. If nutrients are consumed naturally then the body takes time to digest the food and release of the nutrients is slow. With tablets the release of the nutrients is very fast, so the body is unable to absorb them before they are wasted. Gel capsules have improved on this by making the body dissolve the gel casing before the nutrients are released. Once the gel has dissolved however, they are released just as quickly. Now a revolutionary method of delivery has hit the market and will change the face of the wellness industry.

The latest method is called "suspension gel technology". The nutrients are suspended in gel packets very similar to the energy gel pack that is used by athletes. Now you have a true slow release system where the body can absorb a greater amount of the goodness we are trying to give it. This is a brilliant concept, easy to use and ideally suited to life in the 21st century. The gel packs are small, can be transported easily and can be taken anywhere at any time.

A good example of one of these products is the exotic blend of fruit from plant extracts. The gel pack contains a single measure of blended rare and exotic fruits that act as antioxidants. These will help slow the aging process, help mobility, co-ordination, memory, vision, skin and hair. So for prolonging healthy life these are a must.

Taste is very important, so gel packs are designed to tickle the taste buds with distinctive flavors. Just tear off the top and drink it down. It certainly beats standing in the bathroom with a load of bottles and a glass of water. Pills have been around for such a long time that it is hard to imagine that their days may be numbered but suspension gel technology might just be the concept that sees them off.

As the world changes and traditional foods supplies dry up, it is possible that supplements will play a much bigger part in our diet. As technology advances, it will find better and better ways to deliver nutrients into our bodies. With all these benefits we should be able to live longer, stay healthier and look younger.