Is Nutraceuticals a smart choice for a healthier tomorrow?
SHIVANGI KARN
General well-being and preventive healthcare have long been associated with health enthusiasts and the elderly until the COVID-19 outbreak. The pandemic brought about a generational reset forcing people to view personal health from a fresh perspective. This reset has shifted the focus from curative healthcare to preventive health practices and products. One such category of pre-emptive health products that have been seeing extensive use since the onset of the pandemic is nutraceuticals. This class of health products has evoked interest worldwide and the Asia Pacific region has registered the fastest growth.
Nutraceuticals are the class of consumable products derived from food sources that offer high nutritional value, often for specific health benefits. They are usually categorised under non-specific therapies used to promote general health and well-being. Nutraceuticals are derived from natural substances like herbs, vitamins, minerals and other substances like dietary fibre, Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid (PUFA), prebiotics and even spices that are known to boost immunity in humans. They are marketed in various consumable forms, such as pills/capsules, chewable gummies and water-soluble powders. Nutraceuticals are not limited to oral consumption, and they can have dermal and ophthalmic use as well.
The term “nutraceutical” is a conjunction of the words, “nutrient” and “pharmaceutical.” The term was coined in 1989 by Stephen DeFelice, who is the founder and chairman of the Foundation for Innovation in Medicine, New Jersey (US). Nutraceutical products lie between dietary supplements and drugs. The major focus of this class of healthcare products has been the prevention of health problems by providing the right kind of nutrition to the body. The nutraceuticals market has grown alongside modern technology.
The concept of using foods high in nutritional value for improving bodily strength and wellbeing is not new. Alternative branches of medicine like Ayurveda, Naturopathy and Unani have long been using dietary nutrition for tackling both seasonal and chronic illnesses and for boosting general health as well. With more research being done on alternative healthcare practices in the last few decades, the role of dietary nutrition in both mental and physical health has gained greater focus.
Studies like this paper published in the International Journal of Preventive Medicine reported promising results in treating allergies, diabetes, eyes, inflammation, obesity and other health complications with nutraceuticals and boosting immunity. Given their potential preventive and therapeutic effects, nutraceuticals have gained sizeable traction in the health markets across the world.