Nutraceuticals are foods or their derivatives that are used to prevent and treat diseases. Some of its benefits are that they reduce inflammation and modulate immunity among others. Examples of nutraceuticals are oats, bamboo, ginkgo biloba, ginseng, bifidobacterium, and garlic.
A good diet helps for a healthy organism, and this principle was used to incorporate a new concept: nutraceuticals, a term that originated from the fusion of the words “nutrient” and “pharmaceutical”. The term and its definition were coined only in 1991 by Dr. Stephen DeFelice. Every day they become more relevant because alternative medicine is in high demand thanks to its minimal side effects, so if you want to know more about this topic, we invite you to continue reading this EcologíaVerde article Are. What are nutraceuticals, their benefits and examples,
What are nutraceuticals and their ingredients
Nutraceuticals, also called bioceuticalssubstances are considered food, or obtained from food, that serves to treat and prevent diseases, It is this definition that coined the term. The intent is to replace drugs.
On the other hand, the Nutrition Business Journal, which is the current authority on nutritional products, notes that nutraceuticals are sold and consumed for health reasons, as opposed to foods that are used for taste, to satisfy hunger, or for family tradition. are done. , Today its definition includes pills, supplements, extracts, powders, meal replacements, functional, organic or natural foods, performance foods and beverages, and more recently natural personal care.
There is still no regulation or consensus that indicates what is a nutraceutical and what is not, especially because of marketing prowess that seeks to include all kinds of foods under this definition. However, we can say that Nutraceuticals want to use food as medicine,
To round out the definition of nutraceuticals, it is important to highlight that the purpose of their inclusion is to achieve a Health Benefits Beyond Basic Nutrition,
The term is mainly used in the field of medicine and scientific research, leading to the importance of a good diet in achieving health benefits.
The benefits of nutraceuticals and what they are for
The Most Important Thing About Nutraceuticals Is What They Look At First prevent disease, something that makes them quite different from drugs and medicines. wants to eat it Improve health conditions before problems arise,
On the other hand, nutraceuticals also work to treat and cure diseases. they have a big advantage side effects are minimal,
It has been observed that they may directly affect proteins or genes involved in cellular processes associated with diseases, although each nutraceutical acts to achieve a specific benefit. Thus, there are some diseases it can help fight:
- neurodegenerative diseases
- obesity
- cancer
- rheumatoid arthritis
- arteriosclerosis
Some nutraceuticals have also been shown to be effective for:
- increase transplant acceptance
- reduce swelling
- improve reproductive performance
- reduce infertility
- regulate the immune system
Examples of Nutraceuticals
If you are wondering which nutraceuticals can be consumed, here are some of them.
Oatmeal
Oats can be found in a variety of forms, each with different nutraceutical benefits. Oat bran has the ability to reduce high cholesterol levels, thanks to its beta glucan content, which is a form of fiber. Whole grains have a high content of proteins and peptides, which have a regulatory potential with therapeutic benefits, including its antioxidant, antidiabetic, antithrombotic, immunomodulatory, hypertensive, antihypoxic and hypocholesterolemic properties.
In this other post you can learn more about oats: properties, benefits and prohibitions.
Ginseng
This root is often found as a supplement, as it has immunoregulatory activity to combat autoimmune diseases and bacterial or viral infections. It works by activating both the innate and adaptive immune responses. The main phytoactive polysaccharides and ginsenosides that give it this property are. It also acts to stimulate brain activity, especially helping individuals with fatigue.
bamboo
Bamboo has many health benefits, and many Asian cultures use it as a culinary ingredient. The leaves contain phenolic compounds that have antioxidant activity that works to enhance immunity and prevent degenerative diseases. Tender lowers high blood pressure, is antitumor, lowers high cholesterol and also contains antioxidants.
ginkgo biloba
It is used as a nutraceutical, especially in the form of an extract from the leaves. It was used centuries ago, and today its use has increased even more due to the fact that its benefits are scientifically proven. These come from flavonoids and terpenoids. It has been shown to be neuroprotective, reduce stress, help with the consequences of aging, improve memory, reduce tinnitus, and even help patients with mental disorders.
Here you can read about ginkgo biloba: properties, what it is for and contraindications.
Garlic
Garlic is one of those plants that has been used for a long time ago for a large number of properties including antibiotics, antithrombotics and anticancer. It also helps in reducing metabolic disorders, diabetes, blood pressure and inflammation. These abilities come from polyphenolic and organosulfur compounds.
In this link you can learn more about raw garlic: properties, benefits and contraindications.
Bifidobacterium
Not all nutraceuticals are of plant origin, and one example is bacteria that fall within the definition. It is part of the intestinal microbiota in animals, acting as probiotics that aid digestion, regulate immune function, prevent colon infections, and even prevent colon cancer.
As you already know better what nutraceuticals are, their benefits and examples, we now encourage you to discover Blue Spirulina: what it is, properties, what it is for and contraindications.
If you want to read more articles like this Nutraceuticals: What are they, Benefits and ExamplesWe recommend that you delve into our Natural Remedies category.
bibliography
- Hassler, C. (Ed.) (2008) Regulation of Functional Foods and Nutraceuticals: A Global Perspective. Germany: Wiley.
- Biruete Guzman, A., Juarez Hernandez, E., Cierro Ortega, E., Romero Viruegas, R., & Silencio Barrita, JL (2009). Nutraceuticals. What is convenient to know. Mexican Journal of Pediatrics, 76(3).
- Rafiq, H., Dong, R., Wang, X., Aleem, A., Adil, R.M., Li, L., … & Hu, X. (2010). (2022). Diet-nutraceutical properties of oat proteins and peptides. Frontiers in Nutrition, 9.
- Nirmala, C., & Bisht, MS (2017). Bamboo: A potential ingredient for functional food and nutraceuticals. Bamboo Journal, (30), 82–99.
- Ansari, J., Forbes-Hernandez, TI, Gil, E., Cianciosi, D., Zhang, J., Alekpuru-Zabaleta, M., … & Battino, M. (2020). Potential health benefits of garlic based on human intervention studies: a brief overview. Antioxidants, 9(7), 619.
