Characteristics And Categories Of Nutraceuticals

In this assignment I will be describing the characteristics of nutrients and the benefits to the body.

Evidently, the people who are a part of the Nutritional community are focused on living a healthy and lasting life. For example, a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and grain products that contain dietary fiber, particularly soluble fiber, and low in saturated fat and cholesterol may reduce the risk of heart disease (Food). Whether they would like to gain, lose, or maintain their weight they refer to this label which is ultimately the deciding factor as to whether or not they will purchase/use the product.

An increasing number of people are using products to enhance their diets. A recent estimate indicates, “Americans are spending some $6 billion annually on nutritional supplements, and the market is growing by 20% every year” (Zahn, 1997). Of these supplements, the increase in herbal remedy use is most dramatic. Zahn holds that the increase can be attributed to the widely held belief that herbal substances are healthy and harmless because of their natural origins (1997). Unfortunately, research on these supplements, herbal or otherwise, has not transmitted to the public as quickly as the diet enhancers themselves. The phenomenon leaves many consumers misguided by skewed advertising and

Nutrients are the substances obtained from food that are vital for growth and maintenance of a healthy body throughout life.

Throughout the years we have been prescribed with regular medications for whatever illness we have and also in using supplements for our weight loss program. We at times neglect or willfully forget the side effects and risks we are faced off with regular medications. This is the reason why a lot of herbal supplement companies are increasing in popularity because of the supplements they are recommending in exchange of the regular medications. There are more and more people being aware of these supplements performance. They prevent the onset of a possible health problem and also increase performance with considering very little complications or side effects.

The article discusses the regulations of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) on health claims and structure/function claims of food products. It explains that the FDA approves a health claim that is supported by

“There is some evidence that omega-3s and alpha-lipoic acid improve common diabetes complications such as heart disease and neuropathy” (“The Pros and Cons of Dietary Supplements,” 2012.). ““One type of supplement stands above the rest” – Catherine Buettner, MD., omega-3 fatty acids, particularly eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)” (“The Pros and Cons of Dietary Supplements,” 2012.). There is evidence these fatty acids and their properties improve heart health (“The Pros and Cons of Dietary Supplements,” 2012.). For those people who do not consume fish, omega-3s are over-the-counter fish oil supplements. Catherine Buettner says “not all fish oil product has the same amount of omega-3s so be sure to check the labels” (“The Pros and Cons of Dietary Supplements,” 2012.). Alpha-lipoic acid, an antioxidant made by the body that may potentially reduce the symptoms of peripheral neuropathy; blood glucose can help prevents the nerve damage caused by diabetes but not a lot of treatment is out for the pain and tingling caused by the disease, so a supplement might be a better option. (“The Pros and Cons of Dietary Supplements,” 2012.). Dietary supplements have also been used to enhance sport performance. Creatine, a naturally occurring, non-essential, guanidine compound (Bishop, 2010.). “Creatine can be obtained in the diet or synthesized from amino acids glycine, arginine and methionine” (Bishop, 2010.). Creatine is taken in supplement form to help improve an athlete’s energy in some

Nutrients can be grouped into six categories: carbohydrate, protein, lipid (fat), water, vitamins, and minerals.

In 2000, the US Food and Drug Administration issued a health claim which states that consuming foods containing plant sterol and stanol esters along with other low cholesterol and saturated fat foods can reduce the risk of coronary heart disease (Jones, Vanstone, Raeini-Sarjaz, & St-Onge, 2003). Today, many functional foods in the form of margarines, spread, yogurt, and others, have been enriched with phytosterols and advocated as being able to reduce the risk of coronary heart disease. Phytosterols have been known for its cholesterol-lowering effect by blocking absorption of cholesterol in the intestines. However, there are controversies surrounding the efficacy of phytosetrol that are enriched in foods in reducing cholesterol levels. Many studies have also demonstrated the efficacy of phytosterol-enriched foods. Vásquez-Trespalacios and Romero-Palacio (2014) and Amundsen, Ose, Nenseter, and Ntanios (2002) have demonstrated the efficacy of phytosterol-enriched foods in reducing total and LDL-cholesterol levels. However, there are also many studies that show otherwise. For example, Jones et al. (2003) and Weingärtner et al. (2016) have shown that phytosterol-supplemented foods did not have any effect on total and LDL-cholesterol levels. The debate regarding the efficacy of phytosterol in functional foods is crucial as phytosterol-enriched foods can potentially be a solution to a continuous increase in population suffering from cardiovascular diseases. The

Sustenance is such an astounding thing, it sustains us in such a large number of ways. From each nutritional category you get diverse supplements: minerals, vitamins, starches, fats, protein, fiber.

Raisio, a Finnish grain and chemical company, is the proud owner of a product that has been deemed one of the ten most important nutritional innovations in the world (“Benecol®,” 2010). This product is a unique compound composed of plant stanol esters and has been scientifically proven to help lower cholesterol levels in humans. With the prevalence of high cholesterol in the world population and the incidence of mortality associated with a high cholesterol level, it is no wonder that Raisio had a deep desire to share

Based on this 2011 documentary featuring the numerous statistics and examples from physicians on their patients making changes to their health, showed the high improvements on their health after a few weeks on a plant-based diet. They showed not only the crucial medications and prescription drugs the patients were each taking, but they helped them create exponential changes to their cholesterol, weight, and health problems of their western diet that made it possible for them to no longer take them. This documentary captured the many risks people can get such as diabetes, heart disease, arteries of blood clotting, cancer, high blood pressure, osteoporosis, and much more in which costs the United States more than a million dollar each year. According

Nutrients are substances needed for normal bodily operations. Essential nutrients, derived from healthy food choices, are virtually indispensable to the body. Without them, the normal functions of the body begin to deteriorate. They must be derived via the diet.

There are seven major classes of nutrients: carbohydrates, fats, fiber, minerals, protein, vitamin, and water.

“a product, intended to supplement the diet, that 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 dietary intake; or a concentrate, metabolite, constituent, extract, or combination of any of these ingredients; 2) is intended for ingestion in tablet, capsule, powder, softgel, gelcap or liquid form; 3) is not represented for use as a conventional food or as a sole item of a meal or the diet; and 4) is labeled as a dietary supplement.” (3)