Exploring The Nutrition And Health Benefits Of Functional Foods

Health and nutrition have become global focal points as the population continues to grow exponentially. While providing food for the global population is crucial, it is also necessary to provide options that are nutritious in order to promote healthier lifestyles around the world. Exploring the Nutrition and Health Benefits of Functional Foods provides a comprehensive overview of how dietary nutrition can impact people’s lives, prevent disease, and maintain an overall healthier lifestyle. Highlighting theoretical and practical attributes of different functional foods and how they are utilized globally, this book is an essential reference for researchers, academics, students, policy makers, government officials, and technology developers.

In the last three decades, revolutionary achievements have taken place in nutraceutical and functional food research including the introduction of a number of cutting-edge dietary supplements supported by human clinical trials and strong patents. Novel manufacturing technologies including unique extraction processes, bioavailability improvements through delivery technologies such as nanotechnology, and innovative packaging have been critical steps for their successful positioning in the marketplace and consumer acceptance worldwide. Nonetheless, mixed messages have emerged from both the scientific community and the media concerning the potential benefits of foods and nutrients in the treatment and prevention of disease. This confusion, in addition to existing marketed products making questionable health claims, have led health practitioners and consumers to become skeptical about nutritional claims of new and emerging food products. Clinical Aspects of Functional Foods and Nutraceuticals provides an extensive overview of the clinical aspects of functional foods and nutraceuticals. It contains information on both nutritional challenges and potential health benefits of functional foods and nutraceuticals. In addition to exploring the underpinning science, the book also focuses on food innovation, functional foods in human health, food–drug interactions, functional foods in medicine, the seed-to-clinic approach, global regulatory frameworks, challenges, and future directions. The book provides an essential overview of the clinical aspects surrounding functional foods and nutraceuticals for key stakeholders, drawing links between areas of knowledge that are often isolated from each other. This form of knowledge integration will be essential for practice, especially for policy makers and administrators.

Nutrition and Functional Foods for Healthy Aging aims to equip anyone studying geriatric nutrition or working with aging adults with the latest scientific reviews of critical topics. The major objective of this book is to review, in detail, the health problems of the aged and how normal food, lifestyle, or nutritional and dietary supplements can help treat them. Nutrient requirements for optimum health and function of aging physiological systems are often quite distinct from those required for young people. The special nutrition problems of the aged are intensively researched and tested, especially as the elderly become a larger percentage of the population. Many chronic diseases and cancers are found with higher frequency in the aged, and it is also widely known that many elderly people use foods and nutrients well above the recommended daily allowance, which can be detrimental to optimal health. Explains the evidence supporting nutritional interventions relevant to age-related diseases Reviews the macro- and micro-nutrient requirements of aging adults and their variables Describes how alcohol, drugs, and caffeine can impact deficiencies, also exploring functional food and dietary supplements that can be used for prevention and treatment

Functional foods are foods which contain bioactive components, either from plant or animal sources, which can have health benefits for the consumer over and above their nutritional value. Foods which have antioxidant or cancer-combating components are in high demand from health conscious consumers: much has been made of the health-giving qualities of fruits and vegetables in particular. Conversely, foods which have been processed are suffering an image crisis, with many consumers indiscriminately assuming that any kind of processing robs food of its “natural goodness”. To date, there has been little examination of the actual effects – whether positive or negative – of various types of food processing upon functional foods. This book highlights the effects of food processing on the active ingredients of a wide range of functional food materials, with a particular focus on foods of Asian origin. Asian foods, particularly herbs, are becoming increasingly accepted and demanded globally, with many Western consumers starting to recognize and seek out their health-giving properties. This book focuses on the extraction of ingredients which from materials which in the West are seen as “alternative” - such as flour from soybeans instead of wheat, or bran and starch from rice – but which have long histories in Asian cultures. It also highlight the incorporation of those bioactive compounds in foods and the enhancement of their bioavailability. Functional Foods and Dietary Supplements: Processing Effects and Health Benefits will be required reading for those working in companies, research institutions and universities that are active in the areas of food processing and agri-food environment. Food scientists and engineers will value the new data and research findings contained in the book, while environmentalists, food regulatory agencies and other food industry personnel involved in functional food production or development will find it a very useful source of information.

The global market of foods with health claims remains highly dynamic and is predicted to expand even further. Consumers have become increasingly aware of the importance of consuming healthy foods in order to have a well-balanced diet and this has increased the demand for foods with health benefits. On the other hand, the food sector companies are trying to meet the new consumers' expectations while designing a variety of novel, enhanced products. Thus, understanding the potential uses of bioactive compounds in food products, the wide range of therapeutic effects, and the possible mechanisms of action is essential for developing healthier products. Covering important aspects of valuable food molecules, this book revises the current knowledge, providing scientifically demonstrated information about the benefits and uses of functional food components, their applications, and the future challenges in nutrition and diet.

"Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food" said Hippocrates, the father of medicine approximately 2500 years ago. Is food also medicine? Are products that intend to cure diseases medicinal products and not food? Do we know the combination of foods or food components with functional properties that can help promote the well-being or reduce the risk of chronic diseases? In general terms, all foods are functional because they provide the nutrients necessary for a healthy diet. So what are the components that functional foods have beyond their nutrition value? What is the definition of functional foods? What scientific research is needed to validate health claims for functional foods? This book will provide answers to all of these questions. It is important for scientists to have the opportunities to study the relationship between a food type or a food active component and the improved state of health or reduction of diseases. The communication of health benefits to consumers is of critical importance so that they have the knowledge to make informed choices about the foods they eat and enjoy.

"Accuse not Nature! She has done her part; Do Thou but Thine!" Milton, Paradise Lost 1667 The concept that nature imparted to foods a health-giving and curative function is not new. Herbal teas and remedies have been used for centuries and continue in use in many parts of the world today. In modern society, we have turned to drugs to treat, miti gate, or prevent diseases. However, since the discovery of nutrients and our increasing analytical capabilities at the molecular level, we are beginning to become more knowledgeable of the biochemical structure-function relationship of the myriad of chemicals that occur naturally in foods and their effect on the human body. The holistic approach to medicine and diet that began in the 1970s has now seen a renewal as we realize that certain foods, because of the presence of specific biochemicals, can have a positive impact on an individual's health, physical well-being, and mental state. In fact, because of the negative image of drugs, and the grey area of s- xi Foreword xii plements, the use of foods that are "functional" is becoming a growth area for the food industry. In Japan this concept has led to one of the largest growing markets, where they have defined "functional foods" as regular foods derived only from naturally occurring in gredients. The Japanese further require that the functional foods be consumed as part of the diet and not in supplement form (i. e.

Functional Foods and Nutraceuticals in Metabolic and Non-communicable Diseases presents strategies for the prevention of non-communicable diseases and undernutrition through the use of functional foods and nutraceuticals. Research has shown that the use of certain functional foods and nutraceuticals, including spices, herbs, and millets, animal foods and plant foods can play a role in the treatment and prevention of various diseases and in health promotion. Finally, the book explores epigenetic modulation as a new method for the development of functional foods and functional farming. Intended for nutritionists, food scientists and those working in related health science professions, this book contributes to the discussions focused on nutritional transition, globalization, how to administer foods in the treatment of metabolic syndrome, hypertension, diabetes, heart attacks, neuropsychiatric disorders, bone and joint diseases, and carcinogenesis. Places emphasis on food diversity to provide perfect combinations of nutritional ingredients Presents the utility and necessity of functional food production for health promotion Offers suggestions to increase functional food production while simultaneously decreasing production costs