As the world faces growing concerns about food security and sustainability, an unexpected hero has emerged – noodles.

But these are no ordinary noodles.

W0W noodles, made from upcycled spent barley grain, offer a unique solution to increasing resilience to the global diabetes epidemic and food production challenges. W0W noodles may hold the key to unlocking nature’s restorative ability to deliver a healthier future.

Natural Beginnings

As someone who highly values natural and healthy living, KosmodeHealth co-founder Florence Leong, a former pharmaceutical executive felt frustrated to see high-quality plant extracts always coming with a high price tag and being inaccessible to most people.

She was impressed when she met Professor Huang DeJian and learnt about his innovative technology for extracting plant nutrients.

Together, they founded KosmodeHealth as a spinoff company from the National University of Singapore. They share the mission of making quality plant extracts more accessible to people for a healthier lifestyle.

Introducing the Best Asian Noodles for Low Carb Diets

According to the WHO, between 2000 and 2019, there was a 3% increase in diabetes mortality rates by age. In 2019, diabetes and kidney disease due to diabetes caused an estimated 2 million deaths.

In Singapore alone, over 700,000 people live with diabetes today.

But now there is a natural solution. KosmodeHealth has pioneered W0W® noodles, a functional food that can aid weight loss and lower glycaemic indices of diabetes patients as it elicits a zero blood sugar response when consumed.

Ingrained in Our Approach

W0W® noodles are made by upcycling protein and fibre from spent barley grains (SPG) which would otherwise be treated as waste in the beer brewing industry.

This spent grain is high in fibre, protein, and nutrients and can be repurposed for various uses.

One common use for spent barley grain is as animal feed, particularly for livestock. Spent grain is also used in the production of other food products such as bread, pasta, and snack bars, and in the production of biofuels and compost.

In recent years, there has been a growing interest in the use of spent barley grain in the development of plant-based meat alternatives due to its potential as a sustainable protein source.

With the increasing focus on sustainability and reducing food waste, the utilization of spent barley grain for human food may offer a valuable solution for both the food industry and the environment.

Currently, 85% of waste in the beer brewing process comes in the form of SPG which is a rich source of fibre, protein, and phenolic compounds. Extracted using a unique food valorisation process, these healthy noodles are a world-first and truly sustainable product.

In addition to the health benefits for people on diabetic diets, the phenolic acids found in SPG have many bio functions, such as antioxidant, anticarcinogenic, antiatherogenic, and anti-inflammatory activities according to a 2017 study.

W0W® noodles are vegan, keto-friendly, and suitable for people of all ages, including those with diabetes. W0W® noodles also have high fibre content, contain 0.8% carbs and only 32 calories per 100g serving so they may play a central role in reducing blood sugar.

Studies such as the 2020 review on Glycemic Load (GL) and Dietary interventions for Optimizing Postprandial Hyperglycemia in Patients with T2 Diabetes revealed that nutrition is central in managing Type 2 Diabetes through its clear effect on weight and metabolic control.

The same study also cited that medical nutrition therapy offers an evidence-based approach to managing diabetes.

Besides the health benefits, W0W® noodles are unique in their versatility, can be eaten without cooking, and can be stored for a month – much longer than regular fresh noodles.

They can be fried or boiled, and used in hotpots, making them an easy addition to any meal.

This presents a novel nutritional convenience that is accessible to a wider demographic.

W0W® noodles have unique features that set them apart from other noodles such as shirataki or ramen noodles. They are a perfect solution to starchy foods and an alternative to other noodles with a lower nutritional value which restores the pleasure of eating for anyone with dietary concerns.

KosmodeHealth’s Unique Technologies

KosmodeHealth is dedicated to making high-quality plant extracts accessible to everyone, with the ultimate goal of improving people’s health through natural, sustainable and functional food. The company’s technology for extracting numerous plant nutrients sustainably and efficiently is a major innovation in the field of food science and technology.

What sets KosmodeHealth apart is its use of three key technologies: sustainable and Halal-Certifiable Plant Extraction Technology, Plant Protein Composite (PPCTM) Bio-Ink Formulation Technology, and Precise 3D Bio-Printing Technology.

These technologies enable the company to extract more natural ingredients and create higher-quality products. With its unique Plant Extraction Technology, KosmodeHealth has created a truly Singaporean product that has attracted interest from as far afield as the USA and Europe.

Harnessing the Power of Nature for the People and the Earth

As scientific research continues to uncover new benefits and applications for functional ingredients, we can expect to see more innovative products and ingredients in the functional food market. Advances in food technology and processing methods are making it easier to incorporate these ingredients into everyday foods, making functional foods more accessible to a wider range of consumers.

As Euromonitor has highlighted, due to the growing demand for healthier food options and changing lifestyles, the high-protein staple food industry will likely continue to grow and evolve rapidly.

KosmodeHealth Singapore looks forward to playing a role in a healthier and more sustainable future for the people and the earth. KosmodeHealth are now listed as part of the APEC – Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Partnership Policy on Food Security (PPFS) WG1 Workplan.

To learn more about Kosmode Health

Already want to find out more about the noodles, and KosmodeHealth? Head on to their sites to find out more.

This was written by Holly Naylor, the founder of Inspire and Create, a copywriting studio.