Introduction
The Indian health and wellness scenario has seen a progressive change through the ages from a very primitive stage to a more advanced stage. Nutraceutical supplements are increasingly finding their importance in enhancing health outcomes, more so because of the current population embracing wellness and demanding efficient solutions for better after-effects.
This blog explores past and current opinions on health in India, how citizens’ perceptions have evolved over the years, and the importance of encapsulated nutrients in augmenting people’s health.
Ancient Wisdom
It is quite interlinking to understand that India’s health philosophy has its roots in India’s antiquity. Ayurveda can be described as one of the world’s oldest systems of treating diseases, and it is based on the principles of dosha balance through diet, herbs, and behavior.
Due to Ayurveda’s concept of high importance to human health and its attempt at synthesizing the human philosophy and aims at total health and not just sickness, yoga has provided the necessary platform and foundation for positive health.
Colonial Influence: Modern Medicine or Western Medicine
Technologies and treatments from the British medical model in India provided by Western-trained doctors included prevention by the use of vaccines, use of antibiotics, and surgical procedures.
During the spread of western medicine people got better treatment and their health condition was improved but here again the over-whelming stress was towards the disease from the holistic traditions. This period paved the way to the blend between the contemporary practice of western and indigenous mode of health care that exists in India today.
Current State of Health and Wellness in India
- Shift to Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs)
In the last few decades, the emerging NCDs that have become prevalent in India include type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and respiratory diseases. These factors include changes in the trend of living, increased population density, and alteration of diet. Health care has, therefore, turned more to handling and offering a means to avoid long-term illnesses.
In the modern world, disease control and prevention programs focus more on the early identification and management of NCDs and encourage people to change their behaviors to adopt healthy lifestyles. Public awareness crusades on exercise, balanced diet intake, and common check-ups are slowly gaining popularity. In recent years along with starting of National Rural Health Mission and Ayushman Bharat, efforts are pinning to improve the Indian people’s access to the public health facilities.
- Modern and the Traditional Cultures
Use of practices like Ayurveda and yoga is gradually finding its way and being incorporated with the conventional central medical care approach. This integrated care model has an objective of offering complete patient care since the best of both worlds is achieved.
- Technological Innovations and Accessibility
Many changes have continued to occur in the delivery of health care in India due to the development of technology. M-health, tele-health, and e-health are enhancing the availability of health services, particularly to the rural population. The programs launched by the government of India, like the Ayushman Bharat scheme, ensure current top health insurance to the population of a certain country and improve accessibility to health care.
Nutraceuticals: Nutra supplements can best be described as a product that is situated in between a nutrient and a drug. They provide additional health qualities apart from the energy values. Thus, knowledge about nutraceuticals in India is rising and is more widespread in large metropolitan regions. Such supplements are vitamins, minerals, natural plant extracts, and functional foods.
Changing Perspectives on Nutra Supplements
Role of Nutra Supplements:
- Micronutrient Deficiencies: India is said to be burdened with micronutrient deficiency and this can include vitamin D, iron and zinc. These are some of the deficiencies that nutra supplements can fill.
- Immune Support: Immuno-supporting nutraceuticals (for example, vitamin C and Zinc) are useful more than ever to support the immune system in the period of a pandemic.
- Joint Health: Greissons, chondroitin, and omega-3 fatty acids are well-known fundamentals of joint health.
- Cardiovascular Health: Omega-3s are good for the heart, and so are CoQ10 and plant sterols.
- Cognitive Function: There are some other recognized substances which helps to sustain brain vitality and they include Ginkgo biloba, Omega-3 fatty acids and antioxidants.
Conclusion
India’s growth and development of health and wellness have evolved from a period of ancient civilization to the contemporary advancement of new-age technology and thinking. These changes have transformed the face of health management from traditional practices to an integrative approach, increased the incidence of non-communicable diseases, and increased the work of technology, which are indeed the dynamics that have raised the bar in the management field. New additions are nutraceutical supplements that have now integrated into the changing new age market as specific supplemental support to various health issues.