The term "nutraceuticals" is a portmanteau of the words nutrition and pharmaceutical. Though coined by Dr. Stephen DeFelice in 1989, the idea can be traced back to Hippocrates. Natural herbs and spices have been used as folk medicine for centuries throughout Asia. Ancient Indians, Chinese, Egyptians and Sumerians used long ago what we would today call nutraceuticals. These creations have many therapeutic benefits, such as fighting fatigue and the prevention or delay of age-related ailments -- arthritis, cancer, metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular problems, Alzheimer's disease, Huntington's disease, osteoporosis, cataracts, brain disorders and many others.
The International Food Information Council has defined foods that have health benefits beyond basic nutrition as "functional foods." These can range from broccoli to fortified foods such as calcium- and vitamin C-added orange juice, soy-based products and dietary supplements.
