Greek physician HIPPOCRATES KNOWN AS FATHER OF MEDICINES SAID “LET FOOD BE THE MEDICINES”

Greek physician HIPPOCRATES

KNOWN AS FATHER OF MEDICINES

SAID

“LET FOOD BE THE MEDICINES”

The term “Nutraceutical” was coined from “Nutrition” & “Pharmaceutical” in 1989 by Stephen De Felice,MD, Founder and Chairman of the Foundation for Innovation in Medicine (FIM).

A food or part of food or nutrient, that provides health benefits, including the prevention and treatment of a disease.”  

According to dietary supplement, health and education act (DSHEA) dietary supplements are products intended to supplement the diet that bears or contains one or more of the following dietary ingredients: a vitamin, a mineral, an herb or other botanical, an amino acid, a dietary substance for use by man to supplement the diet by increasing the total daily intake, or a concentrate, metabolite, constituent, extract, or combinations of these ingredients

Nutraceuticals is a term used to describe any product derived from food sources that provides extra health benefits in addition to the basic nutritional value found in foods. Products typically claim to prevent chronic diseases, improve health, delay the aging process, and increase life expectancy.

Why nutraceuticals……………?

The regular consumption of synthetic drug may cause organ failure and so many other after effects. 

Numerous epidemiological studies suggest that the risks for  many chronic diseases are diet related and could be decreased significantly through the change of dietary habits.

TYPES

Probiotics:-These are living microorganisms, improve intestinal microbial balance, and also involves functioning of large Intestine ex., Lactobacillus species

Prebiotics :-These are nutraceuticals which promote the flourishing of probioics.bedore reaching the colonic region,ex.,Inulin it also acts as Dietary fiber

Dietary fibers:-Fibers are non- digestible polysaccharides found in plant cell wlls,fibers which we eat in diet are called dietary fibers, insufficient intake of fibers cause Constipation, Colorectal cancer etc..

Omega 3 fatty acids (Poly unsaturated Fatty Acids PUFA):present in various vegetable and marine animals,ex.,mustarad oil, cod liver, fish liver oil, they helps in prevention of cholesterol formation/deposition.(EPA,DHA)

Antioxidants :-Most importantly reactive oxygen species (ROS) and other free radicals.These species are continuously produced during physiological cellular metabolism. To counteract the harmful effects of ROS, Vitamin C. Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) antioxidant system to maintain equilibrium between the pro-oxidants, or damaging agents,

FUNCTIONS OF VITAMINS

Fat Soluble Vitamins

Vitamin A: Acts as antioxidant, essential for growth and development, maintains     healthy vision, skin and mucous membranes,

Vitamin D: Essential for formation of bones and teeth, helps the body to absorb and use   calcium

Vitamin E: Antioxidant, helps to form blood cells, boosts immune system

Vitamin K: Essential for blood clotting

Water Soluble Vitamins

Vitamin C: Antioxidant, necessary for healthy bones, gums, teeth and skin. Helps in wound healing, prevent from common cold

Vitamin B 1: Helps in carbohydrate metabolism, essential for neurological function.

Vitamin B 2: Energy metabolism, maintain healthy eye, skin and nerve function. 

Vitamin B 3: Energy metabolism, brain function

Vitamin B 6: Helps to produce essential proteins, convert proteins to energy

Vitamin B 12: Help in producing genetic material, formation of RBC, maintenance of CNS, synthesis of amino acids, involved in metabolism of protein, fat and carbohydrate.

Folic acid: Helps in RBC formation, formation of genetic material of cell, very much essential during pregnancy

Pantothenic acid: Aids in synthesis of cholesterol, steroids, and fatty acids, crucial for intra neuronal synthesis of acetylcholine.

Herbals:

Aloe vera: Anti-inflammatory, emollient, wound healing,

Evening Primrose oil: Dietary supplement of linoleic acid, treatment of atopic eczema,

Garlic: Antibacterial, antifungal, antithrombotic, antiinflammatory,

Ginger: carminative, antiemetic, treatment of dizziness

Ginseng: Adaptogen,

Green tea: Antioxidant, reduces risk of CVD, enhances humoral and cell mediated Immunity,

Vegetables, fruits, whole grain, herbs, nuts and various seeds contain an abundance of phenolic compounds, terpenoids, sulphur compounds, pigments etc.