A well-balanced diet rich in fruits and vegetables, as well as the correct macronutrient ratios, is essential for good health. Although in some situations, we may not obtain enough of these essential nutrients. Lack of nutrition can cause oxidative stress, which can lead to additional health problems.
Nutritional research is always evolving, with new findings and cutting-edge technologies. Nutraceutical supplements are one such breakthrough that fills the gap across nutrition and medicine.
How Nutraceuticals Derived
Nutraceuticals are food-derived supplements that have both nutritional and therapeutic properties. The following terms are also used to describe nutraceuticals:
- Functional foods
- Medical foods
- Phyto chemicals
- Nutritional supplements
Dietary supplements, nutritional diets, herbal products, genetically modified foods, and vitamins are all examples of these products. They have a large concentration of bioactive constituents that are sourced from a natural source and offer physiological benefits as well as aid in illness prevention and treatment.
Pre- probiotics, fortified cereals, nutrients foods, and beverages are all examples of nutraceuticals.
Nutraceuticals can help people live longer by improving their health, delaying the ageing process, preventing chronic diseases, and supporting the body’s structure and function. They’re also utilised to prevent and treat mental health problems and illnesses.
How Nutraceutical Supplements Work
A nutritious diet aids your health by giving you the nutrients your body requires to repair, grow, and perform properly. Nutraceuticals can be used as a supplement when your diet lacks these important elements and vitamins.
Nutrients, Metabolism, and Nutraceuticals
Nutrients are one type of chemical composition of food. Energy is provided by proteins, carbs, and lipids, while a healthy metabolism requires vitamins, water, electrolytes, and minerals.
Types of Nutraceutical Supplements
The function, food source, and active compounds of nutraceuticals are all used to classify them. The majority of them fit into one of two categories: dietary supplements and functional foods.
Dietary Supplements
Dietary supplements are items that include concentrated bioactive ingredients from a source of food that have been processed into a dose form that is acceptable for human consumption. Amino acids, vitamins, herbs or other botanical, minerals, essential metabolites, and specific enzymes are all possible ingredients in these supplements.
Dietary supplements come in a variety of forms, including pills, capsules, powders, liquids, candies, energy bars, and other edibles. Dietary supplements, which include nutraceuticals, not only supplement the diet but also improve health and illness prevention.
Functional Foods
Any food or food component that delivers a health benefit in addition to basic nourishment is referred to as functional food. Whole foods, as well as fortified, improved, or enhanced foods, fall under this category and can help to improve health whenever taken on a regular basis as part of a balanced diet. Functional food is available in a variety of forms, including pasta, cereal, whole grains, yoghurt, snacks, and more.
Benefits of Nutraceutical Supplements
Nutraceuticals have grown in popularity in recent years. They’re being utilised as a complementary or alternative treatment to medicines to help stop and treat a variety of problems. Nutraceuticals can aid in a variety of biological processes in the body, helping to avoid diseases and promote general health and well-being.
Prevention and Treatment of Chronic Disease
Nutraceuticals are effective in stopping the onset of serious conditions and reducing the difficulties that come with them. They may be utilized in the treatment and prevention of cardiovascular illnesses, cancer, diabetes, obesity, and inflammatory diseases.
Improve Immune Function
Immune-boosting nutraceuticals such as green tea, blueberries, amino acids, and vitamin D have been reported to aid in the improvement and strengthening of the immune system, hence helping to avoid disease.
Echinacea and astragalus, for example, are herbs and plant-derived extracts that aid in the formation and regeneration of stem cells. Garlic’s anti-inflammatory properties can help the immune system work well.
Support Reproductive Health
Many nutraceuticals are beneficial to both men’s and women’s reproductive health. Nutraceuticals aid in the treatment of male infertility and dysfunction, as well as the prevention of sperm destruction. Certain nutraceuticals have the ability to impact hormones and are utilised to promote fertility, preconception, pregnancy outcomes, and menstrual support in women.
Treat Inflammation
Due to the inclusion of phytochemicals, nutraceuticals are showing promising benefits in the management and cure of inflammation. They can help with chronic inflammatory disorders like asthma, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid, cancer, and autoimmune diseases by decreasing oxidative stress.
Prolong Life
Nutraceuticals deliver prevention services to the body, extending life expectancy by lowering the risk of various diseases and assisting the body’s recovery.
Certain nutraceuticals, such as those found in citrus fruits and soybeans, aid in cell renewal and gene expression. Some nutraceuticals can help you live longer by slowing down the ageing process.
Other Nutraceutical Applications
Here are some more advantages of nutraceuticals.
- Enhance overall health
- Boost energy
- Boost sleep
- Control physiological functions
- Improve skin appearance
- Boost mental clarity
- Reduce the desire to eat more