The Nutraceutical ingredients are principally composed of functional foods and dietary supplements. The products which are counted under this category are dietary supplements, isolated nutrients, processed foods and beverages which include soups, soyfood, cereals and fortified juices. Functional foods are those which are consumed on the basis of normal diet. On the other hand, dietary supplements are those which are taken with a motive of supplementing the normal diet. These are pharmaceutical doses of sources with high nutrient content or other substances which have nutritional or physiological effects. The Nutraceutical ingredients can be naturally extracted from plants, animals, microorganisms. These can also be synthesized into any form including pastilles, pills, capsules, tablets, ampoules of liquid, sachets of powder and drop dispensing bottles.
The global market for nutraceutical ingredients is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.3% during the forecast period of 2017-2022. The shifting demand of the populations from pharmaceutical drugs to nutraceutical products around the globe has is the market driving factor and has led to the growth of the market industry of nutraceutical ingredients.
Advantages:
These can extend physiological benefits. They also help in reducing the potential risks of chronic diseases such as cardiovascular diseases and cancer.
They can help in promoting the development and growth in an individual. Thus, resulting in an enhanced performance.
These ingredients help in maintaining the health of an individual in several ways. They help in controlling blood sugar levels.
These can also support in preventing the accumulation of fat. They improve the metabolism and hence results in increased rate of burning of body fat.
They can be helpful in preventing constipation and in the treatment of acidity. These can also assist an individual in fighting allergies.
These can help in lowering and maintaining a safe cholesterol level. In addition to this, they can also be helpful in reducing weight.
They can reduce the risk of bone loss. They have the potential to make the bones strong, thus minimizing the risk of osteoporosis in the future.
Disadvantages:
Nutraceuticals do not serve any useful purpose in their natural forms.They need to be in their purified form and have to be delivered as scientifically designed medicines in order to be effective.
Many of them are not useful when taken alone. They need to be combined with respective drugs for serving the desired purposes.
With the developing scenarios, a number of health supplements have been brought into the market. Most of these carry their own pros and cons. At last, what matters the most is an individual’s expectations and demands, keeping the outcomes in mind.