Functional Cereal Foods For Health Benefits

This book volume sheds light on the health benefits of selected cereal grains, processing technologies of cereals, specific roles of bioactive compounds of cereals in chronic disease prevention, and traditional and latest technologies to improve the functional benefits of cereal-based products. It presents a thorough review of the functional components of some lesser known or forgotten cereals and their role in maintaining good health. With advancements in cereal science and technology, new methods of processing have emerged that help to preserve or even enhance the health-benefitting properties of cereal grains. Further, plant breeding and biotechnology have contributed greatly in improving nutritional quality and functionality of these grains. This book provides comprehensive information on the simple as well as advanced methodologies for enhancing the properties of cereals that benefit human health. Some new approaches such as bio-fortification and extraction of bioactives from cereals are also included in the text.

The objective of this book is to provide complete coursed content of functional foods related subjects in ICAR, CSIR and UGC institutions in Food Technology, Dairy Technology, Food & Nutrition, Post Harvest Technology, Agricultural and Food Process Engineering discipline. The book contains fourteen chapters on the topics such as Introduction to Functional Foods, Nutrition for all Ages, Food Fortification, Low Calorie Food, Sports Food, Herbs as Functional Foods, Prebiotics, Probiotics & Synbiotics, Functional Dairy Products, Role of Cereal in Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, Functional Components from Fruits & Vegetables, Functional Meat Products, Immunomodulatory Response of Fermented Dairy Products, Consumer Response towards Functional Foods. The content of the book will be helpful for B.Tech, M.Tech, M.Sc. & Ph.D. students of above mentioned disciplines. These topics will also be helpful for the students preparing for ICAR-ARS examination as these provide subjective information of the subject.

In recent years, consumers are concentrating more on the health benefits of food in order to preserve a healthy lifestyle and therefore becoming more aware of the relationship between diet and disease. This has resulted in a gradual shift from animal-derived to plant-based meals. Functional foods have turned into one of the rapidly expanding areas of the food industry due to the increasing awareness of consumers working to prevent lethal diseases like cancer, diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular disease. Functional foods are seen as the food or food components that manifest efficiency in protecting from diseases and attaining a healthier lifestyle by administering additional benefits on human physiology and metabolic functions apart from basic nutritional requirements of the body. Cereals hold a prominent place in this new market. Cereals and cereal foods are important energy sources and many phytochemicals such as dietary fiber, resistant starch, vitamins, minerals, lignans, phytic acid and phenolic compounds that provide a variety of health benefits. Eating functional cereal foods is an easy method to increase nutrients associated with whole grains without changing eating habits. Functional Cereals and Cereal Foods: Properties, Functionality and Applications comprehensively covers the Chemistry and nutritional composition of functional cereals components, their functionality and therapeutic significance, current innovations and functional approaches in improving attributes and biofortification and quality improvement of cereal products. The different types of functional cereals and their unlimited opportunities for the production of functional foods are covered in full, including gluten-free products and all the newest cereal processing technologies. For researchers in search of a fully up-to-date look at functional cereal foods and technologies and their important place on the current market, this text provides a timely and comprehensive overview.

Cereal foods comprise a large variety of products that make up the main part of the diet of the world population. Despite decades of research to improve cereals and cereal food quality, worldwide research coordination is now required due to market needs, processing, and climate change. Cereals and cereal foods are an important source of energy (carbohydrates, proteins, and fat), and offer a range of non-nutrient bioactive components (i.e., vitamins, minerals, dietary fiber, and phytochemicals) that provide different grades of health benefits. The main challenges for the near future include the exploration, valorization, and improvement of genetic variation for nutrients and bioactive food components; the use and implementation of biotechnological, preprocessing, and processing strategies to improve content; and the evaluation of health properties for health claims.

Cereal foods comprise a large variety of products that make up the main part of the diet of the world population. Despite decades of research to improve cereals and cereal food quality, worldwide research coordination is now required due to market needs, processing, and climate change. Cereals and cereal foods are an important source of energy (carbohydrates, proteins, and fat), and offer a range of non-nutrient bioactive components (i.e., vitamins, minerals, dietary fiber, and phytochemicals) that provide different grades of health benefits. The main challenges for the near future include the exploration, valorization, and improvement of genetic variation for nutrients and bioactive food components; the use and implementation of biotechnological, preprocessing, and processing strategies to improve content; and the evaluation of health properties for health claims.

Cereal grains and their fractions contain many health-protecting compounds such as phytochemicals, vitamins and indigestible carbohydrates, but the texture and taste of functional cereal products can be less than ideal. This important collection reviews technologies for producing a wide range of cereal products with different health-promoting properties and more acceptable sensory quality. The first part of the book discusses the health effects of cereals, with chapters on topics such as whole grain foods, cereal micronutrients and resistant starch. Consumer perception of health-promoting cereal products and regulatory and labelling issues are also described. The second part focuses on technologies to improve the quality of functional cereal products, reviewing issues such as grain improvement, novel cereal-derived ingredients and formulation of low GI products. Chapters dedicated to a wide range of product types are also included, covering cereal foods made from oats, rye, barley and speciality grains and breads fortified with vitamins and minerals, soy and omega-3 lipids among others. Technology of functional cereal products is an essential reference for all those involved in research and development of health-promoting cereal-based foods. Reviews technologies for producing a wide range of cereal products Discusses the health effect of cereals, including whole grain foods and cereal micronutrients Describes consumer perception of health promoting cereal products

Cereal and pulse crops are staple foods that provide essential nutrients to many populations of the world. Traditionally, whole grains were consumed but most current foods are derived from refined fractions of cereal and pulse crops. Consumption of processed or refined products may reduce the health benefits of food. In wheat-based processed foods, for example, the removed 40% of the grain (mainly the bran and the germ of the wheat grain) contains the majority of the health beneficial components. These components, particularly non-essential phytochemicals such as carotenoids, polyphenols, phytosterols/ stanols, and dietary fibers, have been shown to reduce the risk of major chronic diseases of humans, such as cancer, cardiovascular diseases, and Parkinson’s disease. Such bioactives are therefore good candidates for ingredients of nutraceuticals and functional foods. There are many factors that can affect the bioactive content of cereal and pulse-based food ingredients, including genetics, growing and storage conditions, post-harvest treatments, food formulation and processing. All of these factors ultimately affect human health and wellness. Bioavailability is also important for these compounds for exerting their protective roles. Cereals and Pulses: Nutraceutical Properties and Health Benefits provides a summary of current research findings related to phytochemical composition and properties of cereal and pulse crops. The nutraceutical properties of each major cereal and pulse are discussed. Coverage of cereals and pulse crops includes barley, oats, rice, rye, corn, adlay, wheat, buckwheat, psyllium, sorghum, millet, common beans, field peas, faba beans, chickpea, lentil and soybeans. Chapters for each crop discuss methods to improve crop utilization, nutraceutical components and properties, bioactive compositions, antioxidant properties, beneficial health effects, disease prevention activities, and areas for future research. Also included are two chapters that examine the beneficial health properties of dietary fibers and antioxidants. Edited and written by an international team of respected researchers, this book is a reference guide for scientists working in food ingredients, food product research and development, functional foods and nutraceuticals, crop breeding and genetics, human nutrition, post-harvest treatment and processing of cereal grains and pulses. It will enable them to effect value-added food innovation for health promotion and disease risk reduction.

Cereals, pulses, roots, and tubers are major food sources worldwide and make a substantial contribution to the intake of carbohydrates, protein, and fiber, as well as vitamin E and B. The Handbook of Cereals, Pulses, Roots, and Tubers: Functionality, Health Benefits, and Applications provides information about commercial cereals, pulses, and their nutritional profile, as well as health benefits and their food and non-food applications. Split into four sections, this handbook covers all the recent research about the related crops and outlines matters needing further research in the field of agriculture sciences. Both qualitative and quantitative analysis of nutrients and bio-actives, and their beneficial effects on human health, are highlighted in this book. The conclusions drawn and future perspectives proposed in each chapter will also help researchers to take more focused approaches. FEATURES Covers the full spectrum of cereals, pulses, roots, and tubers grain production, processing, and their use for foods, feeds, fuels, and industrial materials, and other uses Contains the latest information from grain science professionals and food technologists alike Provides comprehensive knowledge on the nutritional and non-nutritional aspects of cereals, pulses, and tubers Discusses the latest development in modification of native starch Provides information in enhancing shelf life and its utilization in phytochemical rich product development The result of various well-versed researchers across the globe sharing their knowledge and experience, this handbook will be a valuable resource for students, researchers, and industrial practioners who wish to enhance their knowledge and insights on cereals, pulses, roots, and tubers.