Nutraceutical And Functional Food Regulations

Over the past few years, a steep increase in natural prevention of diseases by leading a healthy lifestyle or by self-medicating with natural products has been noticed. Nonetheless, there has also been a steady rise in cases of coronary heart disease, diabetes or adiposity. This shows that the so-called nutraceuticals and botanicals have a vast market potential to tap into, in the food sector.

Nutraceuticals and botanicals can be purchased freely at pharmacies, markets or even at e-commerce portals as a part of a regular diet. There are a lot of products coming out in this sector through various channels, with a large focus on internet-based sales. Yet, safety concerns of the Government are unable to catch up with the marketing of distributors.

Starting with a look at potential, significance, and growth of the nutraceuticals and functional foods industry, the book goes on to discuss the increasing demand for these products as they receive recognition on a global scale. The book reviews many nutraceuticals that can be found naturally along with a report of what changes have been made in the products over time. The claimed health benefits of many of these products are also discussed.

Functional foods may have various different origins from plants to animals, and maybe fresh, semi-processed or processed; this book will also delve into fresh plants and their properties beyond the scope of their nutritional properties. It will go on to discuss the various common horticultural and fruit plants that are available for consumption, but their properties have not been categorized.

Concerning nutraceutical and functional food health value, it is difficult to categorize them as either food or drugs. As of now, they are legally categorized as neither but lie between the two. This can lead to the spread of misinformation which forces consumers to make decisions that are baseless. This book looks into the currently accepted definitions of these supplements, with a special emphasis on the legislation at the global scale. As the marketplace for dietary supplements gradually becomes global, the regulations that research points to in terms of safety, quality and efficacy are easily shared between countries. This book covers many of these challenges that are observed in supplement science. It also talks about the legal documents pertaining to the use of ergogenic aids for a sportsperson in the European region. Academic researchers and scientists around the globe wrote these chapters to provide state-of-the-art reviews. A study of the latest information available on the nutritional capabilities of plants is essential for a healthy lifestyle and a better standard of living.