NUTRACEUTICALS FOR PREVENTION OF VARIOUS DISEASE CONDITIONS

Nutraceuticals are foods providing all the essential nutrients required for maintaining the optimal health. They are used as alternatives to modern medicines to promote quality of health, increase nutritive value of the diet and to prolong life expectancy. They have received considerable zest for their expected safety and therapeutic effects. Generally, consumers prefer food supplements to improve their health, as drugs show various side effects and adverse reactions. The principle reason for the growth of the nutraceutical market worldwide is current health status and lifestyle disorders. Nutraceutical market is seeing tidal growth mainly in the United States, India and European countries. This article briefly discusses about their classification and uses in various diseases. Key words:Nutraceuticals, essential nutrients, health, therapeutic effects, food supplements