The Benefits Of Nutraceuticals

The Benefits Of Nutraceuticals

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Credit: Getty ImagesNutraceuticals. Functional foods. Phytochemicals. Phytonutrients. Phytofoods. You may have heard some of these buzzwords recently and wondered what the heck they mean. Well, they all refer to the same concept, but the term nutraceuticals encompasses many of the other categories, so I will stick to it.

Read on to find out what they are and why they've been blurring the traditional line between food and medicine.

what are nutraceuticals?

Nutraceuticals are whole foods, food ingredients or supplements that have specific health or medical benefits. For example, they may prevent or treat specific diseases, which means that they have properties extending beyond simple nutritional functions.

Nutraceuticals can come from plant, marine, animal, and microbial sources. Specifically, nutraceuticals include whole foods, food additives, herbs, phytonutrients (nutrients found in the skin of many vegetables and fruits, as well as in grains and seeds), probiotics (see below), and vitamin, mineral and herbal supplements.

The following list covers only a few of the large number of nutraceuticals out there. Since most of these can be found in pill form, if it's too much of a hassle to incorporate all these foods in your diet, go to your local health food store and pick up some supplements.

whole foods & additives

Value-added dairy products
What are they found in? Milk and eggs

Why are they good? "Regular" milk and eggs are already important sources of protein and polyunsaturated fats or essential fatty acids (EFAs). Since the body cannot manufacture EFAs on its own, we must get them in our diet. And why should you care about EFAs? They are essential for rebuilding and producing new cells, they can reduce blood pressure, help prevent many diseases (including cancer, arthritis and cardiovascular disease), lower cholesterol, reduce the risk of blood clots, improve skin and hair, and more.

The good news is that new technologies have enabled the production of value-added milk and dairy products, which simply means that their nutritional value is increased. For example, you can find eggs with added gamma linolenic acid (GLA) — which has many benefits, including preventing cardiovascular disease and managing blood pressure — and omega-3 essential fatty acids.

Your favorite cereal and energy drink might be even healthier than you thought...


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