Probiotics, Prebiotics, and Synbiotics: Advanced Nutraceuticals

Nutraceuticals are dietetic supplements used to enrich health, delay aging, prevent diseases, and support overall functioning of the body. In view of their availability in food items, probiotics, prebiotics, and synbiotics (containing probiotics as well as prebiotics) have been given due consideration as nutraceuticals and health supplements. Innovations in starter cultures employed to ferment and process dairy and meat products and making beverages have boosted the use of probiotics to ameliorate diseases including metabolic disorders and infectious and noninfectious diseases. Probiotics, prebiotics, and synbiotics or synbionts, available in the form of fermented dairy foods, vegetables, and pickles, augment intestinal microbiota and hence the overall well-being of the host.