| Nutraceutical sciences or nutraceuticals take their | | | | product regularly. This being the case, it's easy to |
| name from a combination of the two words | | | | understand how a market this size is worth billions |
| 'nutrition' and 'pharmaceutical'. As one might | | | | of dollars. |
| expect, this is because nutraceutical sciences | | | | Nutraceutical sciences may be a relatively new |
| focus on using the health benefits of foods for | | | | and fancy name for something that's seemingly |
| medicinal purposes. | | | | so obvious, however, the health benefits of the |
| Foods can be broken down into functional | | | | properties of food needed to be taken more |
| compounds - the chemical compositions that give | | | | seriously, and within this industry, it's easier for |
| active benefits - by examination, investigation and | | | | companies, regulators and training organisations to |
| testing through nutraceutical sciences. Once this | | | | refer to something that explains what it is |
| has been done, these functional compounds can | | | | scientifically. |
| be used to treat known illnesses and can be given | | | | Nutraceutical sciences have been practiced to |
| to patients in the form of prescription medicines in | | | | some degree since the times of the Ancient |
| addition to specific dietary requirements, or simply | | | | Egyptians and the Chinese, who have long |
| on their own as a food or dietary supplement to | | | | recognised the importance of this kind of science, |
| a normal healthy balanced diet. | | | | albeit, using different terminology. For them to |
| Nutraceutical sciences are a growing area of | | | | remain important in a world where food fads, |
| science which can help prove the benefits of | | | | poor diet and general unhealthy lifestyle decisions |
| dietary resolution to numerous health problems, | | | | are often made, the nutraceutical science industry |
| including such things as arthritis and heart disease. | | | | needs to possess the ability to explain the work it |
| With arthritis as a prime example, the functional | | | | does in detail to all those who could benefit in the |
| compounds of fish oil, which can help with joint | | | | future. The Western world could benefit greatly |
| suppleness. In the USA, around two-thirds of all | | | | from the medicinal advantages that this kind of |
| citizens use dietary supplements or nutraceutical | | | | research brings. |