Neutraceuticals - do you need them?

The word “nutraceutical” was coined in 1989 by Dr. Stephen L. DeFelice.

A combination of the words “nutrition” and “pharmaceutical” it was to convey the need for nutrition as medicine. In this case delivered through a drug.

The concept is older. Greeks, Indians, and the Chinese have used nutraceuticals since ancient times. Using herbs to supplement or augment the capacity of human beings.

But why do we need nutraceuticals? Do they even work?

I am sitting with my friend Vivek Tannan, owner of one of the largest nutraceutical companies in India, shortly to discuss this.

But the short answer is yes.

The human body is incredibly complex. It needs a multitude of ingredients to keep it alive. You are nursing billions of cells that will fight billions of predators on a daily basis. Bacteria, fungi, viruses.

All while being born and dying in a cyclical manner. So yes, getting every nutrient, big or small matters.

Nature provides everything you need. Plants, fruits, herbs, roots and even the animals that we eat. Collectively, the human body gets everything is needs.

So then why would you need neutraceuticals?

The truth is that while everything is available in abundance, the local availability is suspect.

Soil has been delpleted. The vegetation around you grows in the best way feasible. All of which leaves us short. Worse, we fuss. We wont eat this, we wont eat that. Unless it is tasteful, I will not put it into my mouth.

Survival does not care for taste. I dont know of many tasty medicines. So one way or the other you do need that which is short. Hence neutraceuticals.

Of course, amidst all this, you will be missold. You will be told things that are not true. That is a judgement call for each of us to make.

Choose wisely. Use what you need. But dont throw the baby out with the bath water.

BTW: if you have any questions you wish to ask, we are sitting with one of the worlds top biohackers, someone who owns a neutraceutical company and someone who runs Indias best diagnostics company. Send your questions to me.

Reach out to me on twitter @rbawri Instagram @riteshbawriofficial and YouTube at www.youtube.com/breatheagain