Abstract

NUTRACEUTICALS IN AYURVEDA – A REVIEW

*Likhitha H. K. and Smitha Bhat U. S.

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Abstract

Nutrition is a fundamental need. Various risk factors related to health result from an imbalance in nutrition. This imbalance in India is widely prevalent leading to adverse outcomes. A certain section of the population consumes diet which does not provide sufficient calories and nutrients. In India, nearly 20% of the total population and 44% of young children (below 5 years of age) are under nourished and underweight. On the other hand, there is a huge population that is nourished in calorie intake but not in terms of nutrient intake. Hence, the requirement of external intervention, that can help to prevent nutrition-related disorders and promote wellness and treatment of various diseases, such products are known as nutraceuticals. A nutraceutical is a food or food component that claims to have health benefits, including treatment and prevention of disease. One of the novel concepts in Ayurveda, which is more than nutraceuticals, is called Rasayana. The present review study aims to correlate and describe the nutraceuticals in Ayurveda.

Keywords: Nutraceutical, Rasayana, Probiotics, Prebiotics.