What Are Nutraceuticals?
June 13, 2008 by GiGi
Welcome back!
As I was getting ready to post my next article, I realized a short lesson in the difference between nutraceuticals and dietary supplements may be in order.
Okay, I’ll admit it, I didn’t really know the difference myself.
According to the aaps Journal (The American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists):
A nutraceutical is a combination of the words “nutrition” and “pharmaceutical” and refers to “a food (or part of a food) that provides medical or health benefits, including the prevention and/or treatment of a disease.”
Functional Foods
Now we need to know what a “functional food” is. When food is being cooked or prepared using “scientific intelligence” with or without knowledge of how or why it is being used, the food is called “functional food.” Thus, functional food provides the body with the required amount of vitamins, fats, proteins, carbohydrates, etc, needed for its healthy survival.
When functional food aids in the prevention and/or treatment of disease(s) and/or disorder(s) other than anemia, it is called a nutraceutical. Examples of nutraceuticals include fortified dairy products (eg, milk) and citrus fruits (eg, orange juice).
So What Is A Dietary Supplement?
The Important Difference Between Nutraceuticals and Dietary Supplements
I highlighted that because it’s an important distinction to note.
In my next article, I’ll be talking about nutraceuticals – and now you’ll understand what they are.
Till then,
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Very interesting post. I really like your site and I’m sure I will be back to read more news.
Good post GiGi. I had never heard of nutraceuticals before but it’s always god to learn new things. I think I understand the difference but could you provide a specific example of a nutraceutical and a dietary supplement. For example, would I be right in thinking vitamins are dietary supplements but the spice tumeric (which you mention in other posts) would be a nutraceutical if used to make a curry?
Funny you should mention tumeric, Tom. That’s exactly what I covered (again) in my next post http://antiagingnutritionnews.com/blog/181/the-good-news-and-bad-news-on-alzheimers/
But yes, basically, you have it right. It becomes fuzzy to me when the scientists are giving nutraceutials (as in the case of Curcumin) as a supplement to aid in the prevention of Alzheimer’s.
Thank you for this accurate definition. I’ve been in the nutraceutical industry for a very long time and it’s nice to see a proper distinction between supplements and nutraceuticals. Thanks!