Overview
Plant extract is a substance or an active with desirable properties that is removed from the tissue of a plant, usually by treating it with a solvent, to be used for a particular purpose. Extracts may be used in various sectors of activities : Food and functional properties for foodstuffs (antioxidant, texturizer, etc…), Processing aids, additives – chemical replacer, pharmaceutical for therapeutic properties - preventive and/or curative – cosmetic for functional properties forbeauty and well-being, etc.
Vitamins and minerals are essential substances that our bodies need to develop and function normally. The known vitamins include A, C, D, E, and K, and the B vitamins: thiamin (B1), riboflavin (B2), niacin (B3), pantothenic acid (B5), pyridoxal (B6), cobalamin (B12), biotin, and folate/folic acid. A number of minerals are essential for health: calcium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, chloride, magnesium, iron, zinc, iodine, sulfur, cobalt, copper, fluoride, manganese, and selenium. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2015-2020 recommends that people should aim to meet their nutrient requirements through a healthy eating pattern that includes nutrient-dense forms of foods.
Probiotics are beneficial bacteria that are present in a healthy GI tract and that make up part of the intestinal microbiome (the total of all the different kinds of microbes within the gut). These living organisms normally maintain a mutually beneficial relationship with the host, bringing with them far-reaching metabolic, immunological, nutritional, and psychological benefits.
Digestive enzymes are non-living, protein-based molecules made and secreted by the GI tract. They are designed to break down the proteins, carbohydrates, and lipids in the foods we eat, so that we can absorb and use the nutrients they contain for the many thousands of biological tasks the body must carry out everyday to be healthy and functional.
Sports nutrition is the study and practice of nutrition and diet with regards to improving anyone's athletic performance. Nutrition is an important part of many sports training regimens, being popular in strength sports (such as weightlifting and bodybuilding) and endurance sports (e.g. cycling, running, swimming, rowing). Sports nutrition focuses its studies on the type, as well as the quantity of fluids and food taken by an athlete. In addition, it deals with the consumption of nutrients such as vitamins, minerals, supplements and organic substances that include carbohydrates, proteins and fats.