Nutraceuticals, functional foods with health benefits
Nutraceutics is the term derived from the fusion of nutrition and pharmaceuticals, and denotes the discipline that studies the beneficial effects of food on health. Healthy eating and the beneficial properties of functional foods were the big stars of Expo 2015; during the event it was repeatedly emphasized how conscientious eating can help prevent diseases or reduce the use of drugs. Several innovative projects were presented during the exhibition, and the Italian pavilion stood out on the topic of nutraceuticals.
A nutraceutical is a food-or part of a food-with proven beneficial and protective effects on both the physical and psychological health of the individual. Nutraceutical function have the well-known dietary supplements, which are by definition a concentrated source in predosed form of nutrients (vitamins, minerals, elements having a nutritional or physiological effect, amino acids, essential fatty acids, fibers, and extracts of plant origin).
So-called functional foods, on the other hand, in addition to their nutritional value, contain substances that positively interact with one or more physiological functions of our body.
