- General Aspects of Nutraceuticals cover food-derived products providing health benefits, disease prevention, and nutritional support.
General Aspects of Nutraceuticals
- The term “Nutraceutical” is derived from “Nutrition” and “Pharmaceutical” and refers to food or food-derived substances that provide health benefits beyond basic nutrition.
- They are used for disease prevention, health maintenance, and therapy.
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Characteristics of Nutraceuticals
- Derived from natural sources (plants, animals, microorganisms)
- Provide medicinal or therapeutic benefits
- Help in preventing or managing diseases
- Can be consumed as dietary supplements or functional foods
Categories of Nutraceuticals
- Dietary Supplements: Vitamins, minerals, amino acids, probiotics, prebiotics.
- Functional Foods: Foods with added health benefits, such as fortified cereals and probiotic yogurt.
- Medicinal Foods: Foods formulated for specific diseases (e.g., medical nutrition therapy for diabetes).
- Farmaceuticals: Genetically modified food products that provide therapeutic benefits.
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Sources of Nutraceuticals
- Plant-based: Fruits, vegetables, herbs, and spices.
- Animal-based: Fish oil, dairy products, collagen.
- Microbial-based: Probiotics, fermented foods (e.g., yogurt, kimchi).
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