Nutraceuticals & Health Benefits – A Potential Solution to Your Woes
Apr 29, 2024
Have you ever felt off but can't pinpoint why? It might be your body calling out for help! Ensuring you're getting a wholesome diet packed with essential nutrients is more than half the battle won. However, sometimes, despite our best efforts, we fall short. Poor eating habits or poor-quality foods, illness, or any number of other issues can create a gap that can lead to oxidative stress and open a can of worms for other health issues. This is where nutraceuticals come in.
What Are Nutraceuticals
Ultimately, nutraceuticals are a type of preventative care for the body, offering nutritional and health benefits beyond basic nutrition. They are essentially nutrient rich substances, made from foods or parts of food sources. They provide vital bioactive compounds that support your health and well-being, bridging that gap between what your body is getting and what it should be getting to operate at optimum levels. Think pre- and probiotics, herbal products, and even some specially designed foods. They are also naturally occurring in foods such as fruits, vegetables and legumes.
There are two main categories of nutraceuticals: dietary supplements and functional foods (which are further broken down into two types - traditional and non-traditional functional foods). These classifications are all based on the nutraceutical’s bioactive components, their function, and their food source.
Dietary Supplements
From amino acids to essential vitamins, herbs, and even some super enzymes, nutraceuticals that fall into the dietary supplements category pack a powerful punch in tiny packages like capsules, powders, tinctures, and yes, even gummies! They serve to both fill the gaps in your diet while also improving your health and keeping illnesses at bay.
Functional Foods
Nutraceuticals that fall under the functional foods category are basically foods (and food ingredients) that offer health benefits in addition to simple nutrition. Traditional functional foods are natural foods like salmon (which is full of omega-3 fatty acids) that pack a nutrient punch in their natural state. Non-traditional functional foods, on the other hand, have been fortified with bioactive components to boost their potency. Think orange juice fortified with calcium, for example.
Benefits of Using Nutraceuticals?
Nutraceuticals have emerged as a promising option for preventing diseases and enhancing overall health. They can be used in conjunction with pharmaceuticals or as an alternative therapy and have garnered significant attention due to their nutritional value, safety, affordability, and therapeutic benefits. As a result, they are becoming an increasingly popular choice for those seeking a natural and effective way to improve their health and wellbeing.
There is a long list of benefits associated with nutraceuticals. In addition to general support of the body’s structure and functions, nutraceuticals have been credited with many other benefits. They include:
- Improve the immune system
- Treat inflammation
- Increase life expectancy
- Prevent chronic diseases
- Help to prevent and treat mental health disorders
- Support reproductive health
- Improve gut health
- Improve eye health
- Prevention and treatment of chronic diseases
- Slow the aging process
Specific Benefits
To get more specific, nutraceuticals that contain phytochemicals can help reduce the effects of inflammatory diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, asthma, even cancer! Those that contain omega-3, vitamins B and D, magnesium, iron, zinc, curcumin, lycopene, and b-carotene have been shown to improve mood, lower stress hormones, and improve cognitive function. Those with antioxidant properties are great in helping to treat neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. Some play a role in reproductive health, improving fertility, for example. Some (such as probiotics, magnesium, flavonoids, resveratrol, aloe vera, and omega-3 and -6 acids) improve the body’s gut mechanism and gut health. Some, like those found in blueberries and green tea, are natural immune boosters. Certain nutraceuticals like lutein, zeaxanthin, vitamin C, and vitamin E have been shown to reduce the risk of cataracts.
Supplementary Benefits
There are additional knock-on effects that result from the benefits listed above, effects that relate to improved overall quality of life from integrating nutraceuticals into your diet. Feeling foggy? Nutraceuticals improve mental focus and clarity, not to mention sleep. Feeling groggy? Nutraceuticals increase energy levels while also curbing food cravings that might be contributing to brain fog, bad sleep, and low energy.
Potential Adverse Effects
As you can probably see by now, there is plenty to rave about when it comes to nutraceuticals. However, that does not mean there isn’t the possibility of adverse reactions and side effects to taking them, including potential toxicity. You should never embark on any changes to your dietary regimen without the guidance of a trained professional. If you add nutraceuticals to your diet, always, always remember to share that information with your physician to ensure you avoid any potential allergic reactions from drug interactions.
Why Choose Integrative Wellness Advisors?
As a holistic health coach, functional medicine coach, functional diagnostic nutrition practitioner, and national board-certified health and wellness coach licensed by the American Association with Drugless Practitioners, I am well-versed in working with nutraceuticals. I have extensive training on them, having successfully completed several comprehensive curriculum programs on the science of nutrition and dietary supplementation.
For the past 30 years, I have been advising my clients on safe and effective use of nutraceuticals as part of an overall holistic strategy for optimal health. My philosophy on nutraceuticals and supplements is that well-formulated, evidence-based products can significantly contribute to overall health and well-being. While not a substitute for a proper diet, nutraceuticals represent an important piece of the puzzle.
If you’re interested in learning if nutraceuticals are a good choice for you, reach out to me for a consultation today!
