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India’s wellness wave: Rising to global dominance in nutraceuticals

In an age where health and wellness are not just personal goals but global priorities, India is positioning itself to become a world leader in the nutraceuticals industry—a sector that sits at the intersection of food, nutrition, and pharmaceuticals.

Nutraceuticals, a term coined from “nutrition” and “pharmaceuticals,” refer to products derived from food sources that provide additional health benefits beyond basic nutritional value.

These include dietary supplements, functional foods, herbal products, fortified nutrients, and more.

With its deep-rooted tradition in Ayurveda, biodiversity-rich agriculture, and a growing focus on health-conscious consumerism, India has the potential to become the global hub for nutraceutical innovation and production.

A market on the rise

The Indian nutraceuticals market, which is expected to surpass $18 billion by the end of 2025, is growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of more than 20%.

This growth is driven by multiple factors: increasing lifestyle-related diseases, a rising middle class with disposable incomes, urbanisation, and a shift toward preventive healthcare.

Globally, the nutraceuticals market is projected to reach over $400 billion by 2030, and India aims to grab a significant share of that pie.

A key growth segment is dietary supplements—vitamins, minerals, and herbal extracts—which constitute over 60% of India’s nutraceutical sales.

Functional foods and beverages, such as probiotics, energy bars, and fortified dairy products, are also gaining popularity, especially among urban youth and health-conscious millennials.

Traditional wisdom meets modern science

India’s edge lies in its unique ability to blend ancient holistic healing systems with modern scientific rigour.

Ayurveda, Siddha, and Unani systems of medicine have long advocated food as medicine.

Herbs like ashwagandha, turmeric, giloy, and tulsi are now global buzzwords in wellness circles, and Indian companies are capitalising on this trend by standardising formulations, ensuring quality control, and backing claims with clinical evidence.

This convergence of traditional knowledge and modern research is creating a new generation of nutraceuticals that are both natural and evidence-based.

It is this synergy that makes Indian products especially appealing in international markets looking for alternative, plant-based, and sustainable health solutions.

Government support and regulatory framework

Recognising the potential of the nutraceutical sector, the Indian government has taken several steps to create a conducive ecosystem.

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has laid out guidelines to ensure the safety, quality, and efficacy of nutraceutical products.

It has also created a separate regulatory framework for health supplements, nutraceuticals, and foods for special dietary uses (FSDU).

Further, the Ministry of AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and Homoeopathy) has been instrumental in promoting traditional health products, both domestically and globally.

Initiatives like “Make in India,” “Start-Up India,” and the production-linked incentive (PLI) schemes have encouraged the manufacturing and export of high-quality nutraceuticals.

The government is also fostering research and innovation through partnerships between academia, industry, and research institutions.

For instance, the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) are actively supporting nutraceutical-based clinical studies to establish therapeutic efficacy and safety.

Export potential and global ambitions

India is already a significant exporter of herbal ingredients and dietary supplements, particularly to markets like the United States, Europe, and Southeast Asia.

With the global appetite for natural health products surging — especially post-COVID-19 — India is well-placed to become not just a supplier of raw materials, but also a trusted brand for finished nutraceutical products.

To achieve this, Indian companies need to invest in branding, R&D, and compliance with international quality standards like the US FDA, EFSA (European Food Safety Authority), and GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices).

Collaborations with global nutraceutical giants and contract manufacturing opportunities can also help Indian firms tap into premium markets.

Companies like Himalaya Wellness, Dabur, Patanjali, and Organic India have already established a strong global presence, while newer players such as Kapiva, Cureveda, and Wellbeing Nutrition are making waves with innovative, tech-driven approaches to nutraceutical delivery.

The future is functional

Looking forward, the future of nutraceuticals in India is deeply intertwined with global health trends: personalised nutrition, preventive healthcare, clean-label ingredients, and sustainable sourcing.

With the increasing use of artificial intelligence, genomics, and gut microbiome research, the next wave of nutraceutical products will be highly tailored to individual health profiles.

India is uniquely placed to lead this transformation.

With its blend of rich biodiversity, traditional knowledge, skilled workforce, and growing industrial capacity, the country can become the world’s nutraceutical powerhouse — much like it did with generic pharmaceuticals in the 2000s.

India’s journey toward global leadership in the nutraceutical space is not merely an economic opportunity — it’s a cultural resurgence.

By blending its ancient health wisdom with scientific innovation, India can offer the world a new paradigm of health: one that is natural, sustainable, and deeply rooted in holistic well-being.

As the world wakes up to the power of food as medicine, India’s time to shine on the global nutraceutical stage has truly arrived.

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