phrase requests - What is a word that encompasses drugs, supplements, and foods?


I want a word to use to describe a drug, vitamin, mineral, supplement, herb, food, or spice that you can take to treat a disease or that would affect the body.


I want to put a label on these things. I want to be able to write something like:


_____s that have been shown to be effective in treating heart disease: garlic, resveratrol, aspirin, and statins.


The word "treatment" might be good above, but I'd like to be able to use the same word for things that are not treatments. It may not be a disease either. It may just be a mechanism. For example:


_____s that may increase blood pressure: sodium, caffeine, and some antidepressants.


It would be nice if the word could encompass activities, like exercises, or diets, like a paleo diet or Mediterranean diet. Those would be nice to have.


I suppose I could use the word "drugs" or "supplements" even though it would not always be accurate. I'm considering using the word "agents". The word "biologics" sounds general, but the definitions I have read are too specific.



Answer



For me, the obvious choice would be



agent n
3. A means by which something is done or caused; an instrument.
4. A force or substance that causes a change: a chemical agent; an infectious agent.
TFD



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