If you mix the words “nutrition” and “pharmaceutical,” you get “nutraceutical.” When eaten properly, these are the kinds of goods that are not only eaten as food but can also help with health issues. Many people use nutraceutical products, including herbal products, dietary supplements, and drinks. Using the right products regularly can be good for your body and help lower your chance of getting some chronic diseases. Let us get a better understanding of the same.
What Exactly are Nutraceuticals?
When it comes to health benefits and nutrition, nutraceuticals are goods that come from natural food sources. People from South Asian countries have relied on native foods and herbs to help their health in many ways. Nutraceutical products are like these foods, but they are better and have more study behind them.
These products are becoming more common because they can improve health, slow down aging, help your body work better, extend your life, and stop chronic health conditions. You can group nutraceuticals into different groups based on their origins, what they do, and some beneficial ingredients they contain. Here is a general list of the categories:
1. Nutritional Supplements
Dietary supplements are concentrated types of nutrients that are made into different doses. These are good for you because they have plants, amino acids, some enzymes, vitamins and minerals, and other essential chemicals like glutamic acid, lactic acid, and more.
2. Functional Foods
A lot of people think that nutraceuticals only mean food supplements. But there’s more to them than that. Besides taking dietary supplements, you can also count on functional foods that help you reach your health goals and give you all the macro and micronutrients you need. Salmon, which is high in omega-3s, and tomatoes, high in lycopene, are two healthy foods you can eat more. You can call these “traditional functional foods.” There are also helpful foods that aren’t your typical ones, like juice that has been fortified with calcium or iron, and so on.
Nutraceuticals: Advantages and Applications
Now that you know what a nutritional supplement is, let’s talk about what it can do for you. They can help your body’s natural processes, keep you from getting some diseases, and make you healthier generally. Here are some of the health perks of taking nutraceuticals:
1. Preventing Prolonged Illnesses
Consuming nutraceutical pills and other similar products can help delay the onset of several chronic illnesses. Numerous studies indicate that these may be helpful in the treatment and prevention of illnesses such as cancer, diabetes, obesity, heart disease, and inflammatory-based illnesses.
2. Enhancement of Eye Health
Nutraceuticals can help treat glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration, and other vision problems. Vitamins C, E, lutein, and zeaxanthin contribute to a lower risk of cataract development, while omega-3 fatty acids support healthy retinal function and visual development.
3. Enhance Sports Medicine
Nutraceuticals are helpful in sports medicine because they help players do better and lower oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction that happen when you work out a lot.
Scientists have found that mitochondria-targeted nutraceuticals (MTNs) like resveratrol and quercetin can help the body’s antioxidant defenses at the molecular level. This makes mitochondria work better, which improves workout performance and recovery.
4. Improvement of Immune Function
Regular usage of nutraceutical tablets can offer the benefits of immune-boosting foods and supplements, such as amino acids, green tea, blueberries, and vitamin D. Certain herbs have the ability to lower inflammation and promote stem cell growth and regeneration.
Some other applications for these dietary supplements and nutritious foods could be:
- Maintenance of reproductive health
- Enhanced digestive system well-being
- Assistance for mental health
- Reducing inflammation
Safety Factors to Consider When Taking Nutraceuticals
It is believed that for healthy people, consuming nutraceuticals is probably harmless. When ingesting the same, there are a few things you should take into account. Among the crucial things you should remember are the following:
- Make sure you take the right amount of medicine for your needs. If you go over the same, you might experience some bad results.
- You should carefully read the list of chemicals on the package and look for any allergens that might be there.
- Pay close attention to how your body responds to a particular product. If it starts to make you feel bad, stop using it.
- It is essential not to use these items instead of a healthy, well-balanced diet. Instead, use the nutrients they contain to ensure your meal is balanced.
- Before using it, you should talk to your healthcare expert. This can help you determine if the product is right for you, how much to take, and any possible risks.
The Bottom Line
To sum up, nutraceutical products are beneficial for people who want natural health options because they are safe and good for you. So, by adding these foods to a healthy, well-balanced diet, you can ensure you’re getting all the nutrients you need and improve your health.
