As we age, we tend to make certain changes in our dietary preferences. In our youth, what is appealing to our taste buds dominates our daily intake, whereas in old age, foods that are beneficial for our overall health and well-being make up a major portion of our daily diet. Well, it’s quite obvious to be aware of nutritional indicators in old age because the body undergoes a lot of physiological changes. Our bodies go through wear and tear and we are vulnerable to many chronic diseases. In the old age, focusing on health and well-being becomes much more important and incorporating health food items, including functional foods is of immense importance.
Nutraceuticals are foods or food components that consumers use for their medicinal and health benefits. They are becoming increasingly popular nowadays particularly in assisting with the health of the elderly.
As people age, their nutritional needs change, and they might require specific nutrients and supplements to maintain their wellbeing. Nutraceuticals offer a promising avenue for addressing these needs.
Studies have found that nutraceuticals for the elderly contain omega-3 acids, which has found new demand within certain groups in the population. It has been used to improve cardiovascular disease prognosis and cognitive function. It also contains antioxidants such as vitamin C & E which is used to protect aging damages in cells and tissues.
Other nutraceuticals that have been used in relation with aging population largely include probiotics. Probiotics will help in improving digestive health and plant based compounds such as curcumin.
Elderly people have different nutritional needs that can be addressed by nutraceuticals. As people age their body becomes less efficient at absorbing nutrients, which increase incidences of age-related chronic diseases. This is turning users towards increased nutraceuticals use.
Nutraceuticals are proven as valuable components for a healthy diet for elderly. They should not be viewed as a substitute for proper medical care. It will become necessary for adults to consult with their doctors for appropriate nutritional strategy.
Nutraceuticals are used in conjunction with a healthy diet and lifestyle to achieve optimal health outcomes. Nutraceuticals can help prevent or delay the onset of age-related health problems such as arthritis, osteoporosis, and diabetes.
Although the American Dietetic Association has recommended that senior citizens must gain all the necessary nutrients through their daily diet, insufficient appetite and improper digestive health often pose a challenge to growth. Food supplements or nutraceuticals play a vital role here in providing nutrients to fight against the most common health conditions, which people often develop while ageing. They have become a key component of health and well-being in the elderly.
Why Nutraceuticals Are Getting Popular
While having a balanced diet is the necessity of any age, elderly need it the most because they discover one or more health concerns, restricting their physiological activities. A particular set of physiological changes occurring during ageing define their nutritional requirements; however, age is a crucial factor that differentiates between the dietary needs of two different elderly individuals. For instance, a 55-year-old might need nutraceuticals against vitamin D deficiency for bone health or the one for gastrointestinal disorder but an 80-year-old would probably need the supplement for malnutrition rather than anything else.
There is a range of ailments, including high blood pressure, diabetes, cancer, arthritis, CVD, osteoporosis, urinary disorders, dental problems, cataract, dementia, and side effects from medication. Though these diseases don’t always necessarily affect seniors, they’re more commonly associated with old age. Seniors are at a greater risk of acquiring a chronic disease that can cause mortality. The prime reason behind this remains ceasing immunity. Nutraceuticals have the potential to exactly tap into the immunity concerns and deliver effective results in most of cases. No wonder they’re considered to be one of the fastest growing markets globally.
Nutraceuticals are a safe and natural way to improve the quality of life of seniors and promote optimal health. Elderly population can benefit from taking supplements that are specifically designed for them and that contain the right combination of vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and other active ingredients. The use of nutraceuticals can reduce the risk of adverse drug reactions in elderly patients.
Modern consumers are looking for natural alternative to pharmaceuticals. They are interested in using products that are derived from natural sources. Nutraceuticals are made from plant-based ingredients and are perceived as being more natural and holistic than traditional medicines.
Nutraceuticals are widely available and they can be purchased without prescription. They are also often marketed as dietary supplements, making them easy to incorporate into a daily health routine.
Nutraceuticals Provide an Extensive Range of Products
Studies conclude that developing effective nutraceuticals for seniors is a challenging yet the most active section of the nutraceuticals market. They cover a host of dietary supplements, processed foods, beverages, herbal products, and isolated nutrients. Due to nominal regulatory requirements and profitable margins, a number of food and beverage companies are finding it easier to get into this business. While the key products include functional foods, beverages, dietary supplements, pharmaceuticals, and personal care products; there are a variety of elements driving each of them in the market.
Current Status of Global Nutraceuticals Market
Increasing health concerns and consciousness about leading a healthy and longer life are the primary factors fuelling the growth of the global nutraceuticals market. Other influencers include consumers’ desire to deny complete dependence on synthetically formed drugs and availability of a myriad products suitable for each specific condition. The global nutraceuticals market has demonstrated steady growth within the last decade it is expected that demand for nutraceuticals for cardiovascular health will gain prominence in the near future. Moreover, growing demand for dietary supplements is driving the maximum consumer spend in the market, contributing the largest share to the global market revenues.
People have started to consider dietary supplements as their reliable health agents. With more elderly population turning to nutraceuticals for leading a healthy life while ageing, it is clear that the market will experience remarkable growth with a lot more sources for revenue generation in the future.
