Simply derived from two words named “nutrition” and “pharmaceuticals” the name was coined in 1989. Nutraceutical enzymes help in maintaining the nutritional value as well as the overall health of the human body. Nutraceutical products are rich in medicinal properties and are highly recommended by experts for catalysing nutritional supplements and proactive health status. The products can be easily delivered via the food industry, herbal markets, and even pharmaceutical industries.
Let’s know and understand the categories of Nutraceuticals:
1. Probiotics:
Probiotics are live supplements of microbial feeds that can be easily administered in the human body in an amount prescribed by experts. Probiotics can be found in the form of powder, liquid, capsules, etc.
2. Prebiotics:
It helps by altering the metabolic process in the human body and boosting metabolism. However, it is important to note that they cannot be digested naturally. Hence they’re often added to the food.
3. Fibers:
They can be referred to as those materials that enzymes cannot hydrolyze. It can be found in fruits, barley, oats, etc. Dietary fibers can be soluble or insoluble. Insoluble includes cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin whereas soluble include pectin, beta-glucans, or gums.
4. PUFA:
It is highly essential for the functioning of the human body and they can be put into diets via external means.
Types of PUFA can be Omega 3 Fatty Acids that protects the overall cardiovascular health, and Omega 6 Fatty Acids that helps with inflammation, and cardiovascular problems.
Now, let’s know about various Nutraceutical enzymes:
1. Xylanase
Xylanase helps in the digestion of arabinoxylans and one can definitely use this enzyme for the treatment of endosperm cell walls of vegetable proteins.
2. Papain
A plant protease from Papaya fruit, this enzyme is widely used by the sector of Nutraceutical and it helps in protein digestion. They separate the protein chains and free the amino acids that can be easily absorbed by the human body.
3. Neutral Protease:
It is used for the hydrolysis of protein. Neutral Protease helps in the production of peptides in a much better and more efficient manner. That greatly helps our human body.
4. Invertase:
Invertase helps in the production of invert sugar, it hydrolyses sucrose to give fructose and glucose. Invertase being a powerful anti-microbial agent and an anti-oxidant aids in the prevention of bacterial infestations and gut fermentation due to oxidation.
5. Glucoamylase:
This enzyme helps in the process of catalyzation that involves the hydrolysis of dextrin to glucose. It greatly helps in the improvement of digestion. Greatly helps when the digestive environment is acidic and helps by preventing various problems of the digestive tract.
6. Cellulase:
Cellulase enzyme is very critical for fiber digestion. This enzyme helps in degrading cellulose. Cellulose, known to be one of the most abundant biological compounds, is degraded by this enzyme.
Important to note
The number of doses matters a lot when it comes to the ingestion of Nutraceutical enzymes. Overdose can prove to have adverse effects on the body. Similarly, underdose won’t help as well. The most recommended quantity, as per the experts range from 25 to 33%.
Conclusion
With the increase in life stress, human bodies are vulnerable to oxidative stress. Therefore, it becomes requisite to have a proper nutritional diet. Nutraceutical enzymes will be highly beneficial in this process.
