Celebrating the first International Nutraceutical Day, Dr. Suman Khanuja sheds light on The Nutraceuticals to functional foods
Sep 2, 2021
Food cannot be defined as any substance that we eat or drink to survive but one that is required to live a normal life. More precisely, food supports life, sustains growth and facilitates vital metabolism, and facilitates the perpetuation of an organism, including humans. Thus, food is essential for proficient life through maintenance of body, mind, and energy and also producing healthy next generation when perpetuating.
Nature produces a diversity of foods in the form of plants, microbes, and animals. Once we start understanding the health and nutrition needs of our bodies and searching sources from nature that provide the same, it leads us to make health sense in foods and ultimately what we can call “Functional Foods”!
A nutraceutical, is a component present in food sources that can be isolated and made available in medicinal/pharmaceutical nutritional forms with demonstrable physiological benefit/ providing preventive/curative protection against disease conditions. It includes ingredients like Curcumin, Glutathione, Astaxanthin, Tocotrienol, Fenugreek, Olive oil, Omega-3 fatty acids, etc. A compendium of such ingredients that are used nutraceuticals is being launched by Expert Nutraceutical Advocacy Council (ENAC®). In conversation with Mr. Sandeep Gupta, The Nutracetuical Man of India, he mentioned “This inimitable ‘The Ultimate Compendium of Nutraceuticals, Edition 1’ is a trustworthy, easy-to-use resource for every academician, industry professionals, doctors, nutritionists, pharmacists, health professionals, health enthusiast, common consumers and literally everyone who wants to lead a healthier life”. The cover of the compendium would be revealed on The International Nutraceutical Day, 2nd September and the official launch is planned in the month of November. He said, “Everytime interacting with the Apex Regulator, the major gap and lack of reference from Industry is to represent the scientific information and evidence in a format, so why not present some facts through such compendium which might be very useful as reference point for some of Key Nutraceuticals. The entire focus in this compendium is on the Clinical Studies and Evidence for some of the very important Nutraceuticals which has evolved as most essential in management of People’s Health in both Healthy State and with Underlying Medical Conditions which can be highly value adding, and can prevent multiple complications to a larger extent with consistency. These can subside the medical condition alongside mainline therapy and may also help to improve the condition of people’s health in disease state”.
Functional foods are fast becoming a part of the meals with health benefits and better delivery across continents at a global level. Considering that, the innovations and health ingredients research efforts have led to many divergent forms of food products like medicinal foods, fortified foods, health foods, active food ingredients, food supplements, food additives, nutritional aids, and so on. However, the soul of the concept of all such products also remains the same i.e., “Adding health sense in foods”.
In an exhaustive review a decade back [Khanuja and Shukla, 2011, Human health and nutrition: Functional foods, Horticulture to Horti-Business, pp 433-445], it was highlighted to understand horticultural crops as the best examples of edible plant harvest having functional food properties with a potential to develop nutritional ingredients or supplements. The perception of horticultural crops and products only as food, pulps, and juices in various forms has to
change with developments in nutrition research. Horticultural crops are gaining importance for their metabolome capabilities to compete with conventional medicinal plants constituents for preventive health care.
Prof (Dr) Suman Preet Singh Khanuja FNASc, FNAAS ([email protected])
Innovation& Technology Mentor (Biotechnology, Agriculture, Nutrition and Healthcare) Expert, Global Executive Advisory Board of Expert Nutraceutical Advocacy Council (ENAC®)
Founder & Chairman, FloraFauna Science Foundation
Founder & Mentor, Food Innovations, SKiES India
Distinguished Professor, Bioengineering & Food Technology
Shoolini University, Solan, HP, India
Former Director, CIMAP (CSIR), (Central Institute of Medicinal & Aromatic Plants, Lucknow)
The post Celebrating the first International Nutraceutical Day, Dr. Suman Khanuja sheds light on The Nutraceuticals to functional foods appeared first on Times Applaud.
More News
How Hong Kong-raised artist Cici Wu turns her diasporic experiences into poignant works
In her New York solo exhibition at 47 Canal, Hong Kong-raised artist Cici Wu animates the gallery space with 11 paper lanterns made using traditional techniques. Inside the lanterns constructed with bamboo and willow sticks and sheathed in mulberry paper, she has placed pulsating LED lights that cast moving shadows. There is something cinematic about these luminous sculptures that are traditionally vessels of memories and loss. The pulsating light in each lantern corresponds to a section of the...
American Airlines Joins the $150 Credit Card Club. What Do Travelers Get?
American Airlines and Citi are raising annual fees on two AAdvantage credit cards to $150, adding travel credits and rewards while leaving cardholders to decide whether the benefits justify paying more. The post American Airlines Joins the $150 Credit Card Club. What Do Travelers Get? appeared first on Business Traveller.
Etihad Rail Partners with Citymapper for Journey Planning
Passengers can now use the Citymapper app to map out first- and last-mile connections alongside national rail services in the UAE The post Etihad Rail Partners with Citymapper for Journey Planning appeared first on Business Traveller.
Global Industry Leaders Take the Stage at ITB Americas Conference 2026
With the inaugural ITB Americas set to kick off in just two weeks, 90+ speakers from WTTC, Netflix, Expedia Group and beyond are set to take the stage at the ITB Americas Conference in Guadalajara. Featuring over 40 sessions, the ITB Americas Conference will bring together leading voices across the travel industry to explore the trends, challenges and opportunities shaping the future of travel. Taking place alongside the inaugural ITB Americas from 10 to 12 November 2026 at Expo Guadalajara, the ITB Americas Conference will serve as a platform for three days of strategic dialogue, industry insights and international exchange. As the show’s knowledge hub, the conference will connect senior executives, policymakers, destination leaders and innovators to explore the developments transforming travel across the Americas and global markets.
Unveiling Janu Residences, Al Marjan Island by Aman Group: A New Coastal Expression of Janu Living
Set along the shores of Al Marjan Island in Ras Al Khaimah, Janu Al Marjan Island brings Janu’s distinctive approach to coastal living to one of the United Arab Emirates’ most anticipated and exclusive waterfront addresses for the first time. Just 70 km from Dubai, the development is located adjacent to Wynn Al Marjan Island, the region’s first integrated resort. Part of Aman Group, Janu is a hotel, residence and lifestyle brand offering a new expression of hospitality, centred on connection, wellbeing and shared experiences.
WTTC Hails London as a Model for Growth as Global Travel Leaders Gather for WTM
The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) has welcomed the launch of the new Oxford Street traffic-free zone in London, supporting its view that the city is a strong model for growth in Europe and focused on attracting more tourism. As global Travel & Tourism industry leaders gather for the World Travel Market (WTM) in London, WTTC is forecasting that the sector will grow in Europe by 3.1% in 2026, continuing to outperform the wider economy and exceeding the sector’s 2.6% growth recorded last year.
Meet NFL star Drake Maye’s wife Ann Michael, whose ‘Bakemas’ TikTok series went viral
New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye may be making headlines for his prowess on the field, but his wife, Ann Michael Maye, is making a name for herself on social media. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Ann Michael Maye (@annmichaelhmaye) With over 600,000 followers on TikTok and over 584,000 on Instagram, Ann Michael went viral in December last year when she launched the “Bakemas” series on TikTok, where she baked a new holiday-themed item...
Touch grass, literally: Explore why walking therapy is on the rise
The growing practice of outdoor ecotherapy, specifically walk-and-talk therapy, uses rhythmic steps and ambient sensory grounding to help clients open up.
There’s More to Qatar: Why Business Travellers are Staying Longer
Abdulaziz Ali Al-Mawlawi, CEO of Visit Qatar, explains how the country is turning global connectivity and a packed events calendar into a compelling destination for extended stays. Visit Qatar will appear at World Travel Market (WTM) London next week. The post There’s More to Qatar: Why Business Travellers are Staying Longer appeared first on Business Traveller.
Eh, could Canada be the next big wine country? Find out at Hong Kong Wine & Dine Festival
“We’re in the golden age of Canadian wines,” legendary wine writer Tony Aspler tells me confidently. We are at an intimate showcase of the stuff at the Canadian consulate in Hong Kong’s Quarry Bay neighbourhood, where representatives of nine wineries have gathered to prove that the true north has more than ice wine to offer. As a wine drinker with no particular bias – I will happily quaff a funky Austrian pét-nat (sparkling wine) as much as a fine Burgundy – it was natural for me to enter with...
Journey Beyond Expands National Tourism Portfolio and Launches Island Connections
Continuing its growth across Australia’s tourism sector, Journey Beyond has unveiled Island Connections, a new national brand for its recently acquired SeaLink marine operations, bringing together ferry and marine transport services under a single identity. The launch follows the completion of Journey Beyond’s acquisition of Kelsian Group’s national tourism portfolio, adding 14 tourism brands to the business, significantly expanding its footprint across Australia and reinforcing its position as one of the country’s leading experiential tourism operators.
The City Beyond the Skyline: Getting to Know the Real Doha
There is a particular moment in Doha, just before sunset, when the city seems to change pace. Along the Corniche, locals and visitors gather for an evening stroll as traditional wooden dhows drift across the bay. Across the water, the towers of West Bay catch the last of the afternoon light. Nearby, the narrow streets of Souq Waqif begin to fill with families, friends and visitors settling in for the evening.
YOUR NEWS, OUR NETWORK.
Do you have Great News you want to tell the world?
Be it updates about your business or your community, you can make sure that it’s heard by submitting your story to our network reaching hundreds of news sites across 6 verticals.