nutraceutical
noun
- a foodstuff (such as a fortified food or dietary supplement) that provides health benefits in addition to its basic nutritional value
Wiktionary
Pronunciation: /njuːtɹəˈsuːtɪkəl/
noun
Etymology: Blend of nutrient + pharmaceutical, a marketing term coined by Stephen DeFelice in 1989.
- A nutrient or food believed to have curative properties; a food used as a drug.
“The latest nutraceutical nostrum could come from the blueberry.”
“Japan, where the probiotic drink Yakult was invented in 1935, is regarded as the homeland of nutraceuticals. Thanks to a lighter legislative touch than in Europe it’s also relatively easy for food manufacturers to claim special powers for their products.”