What Are Nutraceuticals?
If you’ve heard the term nutraceuticals floating around, you may be wondering exactly what it means. Or maybe you have a vague idea, but you’re not sure where the word came from, or how it differs from other similar terms. Get all the answers you’re looking for from the experts at MBi by checking out our post below. We’ll explain what it means and where the term comes from.
Defining Nutraceuticals
So what are nutraceuticals? To define nutraceuticals, we first need to step back to the origins of the word. This is a term coined by the pharmaceutical and nutrition industry to describe products intended to help users improve their overall health and wellness.
The term officially came about in 1989, when Stephen De Felice, founder of Foundation for Innovation in Medicine, started using the world as a combination of the words nutrition and pharmaceutical. Nutraceuticals are usually created by fortifying a food or pill with vitamins, minerals, and other ingredients that are known to improve certain structures or functions of the body.
Nutraceuticals vs. Dietary Supplements
Nutraceuticals are sometimes used interchangeably with dietary supplements. In fact, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration uses the term dietary supplements to talk about both nutraceuticals and other types of supplements. Still, nutraceuticals is actually a broader term than supplements.
Nutraceuticals may include a variety of wellness products, including supplements, but the term also includes products like protein powders, fortified foods, antioxidants, probiotics, and other dietary supplements. In fact, nutraceuticals can be any whole food that is concentrated or repackaged into a capsule or other non-food format. Specific examples of nutraceuticals include:
- Fish oil
- Collagen
- Botanical extracts
- Protein powder
- And more
Nutraceuticals vs. Pharmaceuticals
Nutraceuticals differ from pharmaceuticals in a few key ways. Pharmaceuticals are also known as medications or drugs. Most pharmaceuticals require a prescription from a doctor, while no prescription is needed to purchase nutraceuticals. Pharmaceuticals are usually from a synthetic source, while nutraceuticals are derived from plants, animals, and minerals.
Learn More About Nutraceuticals
MBi is a leading manufacturer of nutraceutical products. For more than 30 years, we’ve offered white label manufacturing to nutraceutical companies all over the country. We source only the finest ingredients from worldwide suppliers, creating a product that stands out among the competition. Whether you’re an entrepreneur looking to start a nutraceutical business, or a consumer wanting to know more about products that can benefit your health, learn more about our nutraceutical manufacturing process today.