From Niche to Necessity: Vollsante Leads India’s Plant-Based Nutrition Movement
The world today, reeling under an epidemic of chronic diseases, is increasingly realizing the impact of dietary choices that affect not only human health but also environmental health.
Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], June 20: As the world grapples with a growing epidemic of chronic lifestyle diseases, there’s a rising awareness of how dietary choices directly influence not just personal health, but also the health of our planet.
Our global food systems, historically focused on maximizing output, are now under scrutiny for having sidelined human and environmental well-being. According to a study published in The Lancet, nearly one in five deaths globally can be linked to diet-related chronic illnesses and associated conditions.
Plant-based diets are emerging as a powerful alternative, gaining global recognition not just for their health benefits but also for their environmental sustainability. These diets come with significantly lower carbon and water footprints—while producing 1 kg of meat requires nearly 10 times more water than the same amount of wheat, plant-based foods offer a far more efficient and eco-friendly path forward.
In urban and affluent communities, the paradox of being overfed yet undernourished continues. Despite advances in modern medicine, diet-driven illnesses show no signs of slowing. This very paradox drove Prof. Satya Dev Tiwari—after two decades in the pharmaceutical industry and an academic stint at NMIMS School of Business Management—to embrace the principles of “food as medicine” and nutritional therapeutics.
Determined to bring nutrition into the healthcare spotlight, especially the benefits of a plant-based approach, Prof. Tiwari founded Voll Sante Functional Foods & Nutraceuticals Pvt. Ltd. in July 2017. With a mission to mainstream plant-based diets through an innovative range of functional foods and nutraceuticals, Vollsante is redefining wellness at its roots—starting with what’s on our plate.
Voll Sante’s product philosophy has been rooted in twin concepts of `Food is Medicine’ and `Nutritional Medicine’ that focus on correcting macro & micro-nutrient deficiencies seen as one of the root causes of various diseases, unlike conventional medicine that treats symptoms with synthetic drugs and surgery.
Accordingly, Voll Sante is serving the growing plant-based diet & healthier snacking market with its range of tastier plant-based protein supplements such as Voll Pro Protein bars with added probiotics, prebiotics, and herbs besides more delicious and healthier millet-based cookies, savories, muesli and even superfruit-based amla barfi (a rich source of Vitamin C) for those with a sweet tooth.
What distinguishes Voll Sante is its impressive portfolio of Plant-based Nutraceuticals viz. Algae-based calcium supplement under the brand Calgal Plus. When most calcium supplements are derived from rocks, shells, or bones – sources that are not only poorly absorbed and may contain heavy metals but also unsuitable for vegetarians, Voll Sante chose instead to formulate Calgal Plus using red marine algae harvested from the pristine waters near Iceland and southern Ireland. This natural source offers calcium in a highly bioavailable form. Not only is Calgal Plus sourced right, but it is formulated better with vegetarian sources of Vitamin D3, Magnesium, and Vitamin K2-7, which work synergistically to ensure calcium is absorbed properly and directed to where it’s actually needed – into the bones, rather than settling in arteries or soft tissues. This approach not only strengthens skeletal health but also reduces the risk of vascular calcification, a common concern with conventional calcium supplements. Calgal Plus – the country’s top prescribed algal calcium supplement with a higher bioavailability and body-friendlier calcium source with USFDA GRAS status is Benefic, Balanced & Beyond Calcium.
Likewise, Voll Pro plant-protein powder is formulated with specified ingredients having supportive roles in fertility, pregnancy, and respiratory illnesses, including. Tuberculosis. Voll Sante is a registered Ni-Kshay Mitra under `Pradhan Mantri TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan’ and regularly supports non-affording TB patients with its nutritional products free of cost.
Voll Sante’s functional Oils of Black seed, Pumpkin seed, Moringa seed, Fenugreek, Turmeric, Ginger, and Garlic, filled in 100% vegetarian HPMC capsules, are rich sources of phytonutrients. The structural complexity and molecular diversity of plant-based specialized metabolites make them potential drug-like candidates and often safer than synthetic pharmaceuticals. Many phytonutrients have been linked to various health benefits in humans, including reduced risk of chronic diseases like heart disease, cancer, and diabetes, and also helpful in bone & joint health, building immunity, managing stress, sleep, virility, vitality, and improving cognitive function.
The real challenge was to introduce plant-based nutrition to the mainstream. To address this, Voll Sante has been innovative in its product development, creating tastier and more convenient on-the-go formats. These products are accessible through non-traditional channels for both healthcare professionals and consumers. Voll Sante’s flagship campaign AHWAN (Actioning for Health & Wellness through Awareness of Nutrition), involving leading Dietitians as influencers, started targeting corporations, Hospital cafeterias, Colleges & Universities as well as Government channels to enhance reach, awareness, recommendation, and active consideration of plant-based nutrition.
Voll Sante, on a mission to make plant-based nutrition mainstream, is devoted to Full Health, Full Life for a healthier, happier world in harmony with a more sustainable future – Good for consumers, Good for farmers, and Good for the planet.
