Nutraceuticals And Functional Foods

Nutraceutical is usually considered a non-specific biological therapy, which is often used to promote general well-being, control obesity, and prevent cardiovascular diseases & malignant processes. The word nutraceutical is a combination of the words, nutrient (a nourishing dietary ingredient) and pharmaceutical (prescription medication).

Nutraceutical products substances or ingredients plays a part in an extensive range of biological functions, which include antioxidant defenses, cell growth, gene expression, and maintenance of mitochondrial integrity.

Functional foods are highly nutritious and offer potent health advantages. These functional foods prevent sickness, stop dietary deficits, and encourage healthy growth & development. Functional foods include ingredients with both health advantages and nutritional value. Some of them include extra components or supplements to boost health.

The major market trends of nutraceutical & functional food are rising product penetration, increasing demand for nutrition-rich bakery products, and changes in the snacking patterns of consumers. The advent of innovative technologies, demand & supply scenarios, and optimization of the supply chain are the major factors that determine the industry path.

Drivers:

• Growing demand for fortified food owing to increasing health-consciousness amongst consumers
• Significant prevalence of metabolic disorders
• Gradually increasing geriatric population
• Increasing penetration of nutraceutical & functional food products