Functional Foods: What are they?
What are Functional Foods?
Functional Foods are those foods that possess health-promoting and disease- prevention functions in addition to their nutritional functions.
What makes Foods 'Functional'?- Phytochemicals!
What are Phytochemicals?
Phytochemicals are naturally occurring, biologically active chemical compounds in plants. They act as a natural defence system for host plants and provide colour, aroma and flavor. Phytochemicals are protective and disease-preventing particularly for some form of cancer and heart disease. The most important action of these chemicals with respect to human beings is somewhat similar in that they function as antioxidants that react with the free oxygen molecules or free radicals in our bodies.
Phytochemicals that have been discovered are grouped based on function and sometimes sources. These groupings include the flavonoids, phyto-estrogens, phytosterols and carotenoids. These classes and others can be further divided into subclasses.
The flavonoids include more than 1500 separate compounds with varied functions. Flavonoids enhance the effect of vitamin C and function as antioxidants. They are also known to be biologically active against liver toxins, tumours, viruses and other microbes, allergies and inflammation. Some of the important flavonoids include hesperidin, quercitin, tangeretin, resveratrol and anthocyanins.
Phyto-oestrogens are naturally occurring plant compounds that structurally resemble mammalian oestrogen. They copy or counteract the effect of oestrogen in the body. Consumption of isoflavone, a phytoestrogen, is associated with cancer prevention, improved cardiovascular health and bone health.
Phytosterols are plant sterols that occur in many plant species but appear to be more abundant in the seed of green and yellow vegetables. They are important in the humandiet because they help to reduce the amount of dietary cholesterol absorbed by the body by blocking uptake in the intestine. They also facilitate cholesterol excretion from the body. Carotenoids are plant pigments found in bright yellow, orange and red fruits and vegetables.
Carotenoids are generally well known as vitamin A precursors. Phytochemicals are found in all plant products. Some good sources include vegetables, spinach, tomatoes, peppers, carrots, watermelon, citrus fruits, mangoes, papaya, grapes, apples, red grape, pears, oats, barley, sweet potatoes, corn, ginger, thyme, onions, green tea.
According to Hippocrates 'let food be thy medicine and let medicine be thy food'. Eat right and stay healthy!
Functional Foods are those foods that possess health-promoting and disease- prevention functions in addition to their nutritional functions.
What makes Foods 'Functional'?- Phytochemicals!
What are Phytochemicals?
Phytochemicals are naturally occurring, biologically active chemical compounds in plants. They act as a natural defence system for host plants and provide colour, aroma and flavor. Phytochemicals are protective and disease-preventing particularly for some form of cancer and heart disease. The most important action of these chemicals with respect to human beings is somewhat similar in that they function as antioxidants that react with the free oxygen molecules or free radicals in our bodies.
Phytochemicals that have been discovered are grouped based on function and sometimes sources. These groupings include the flavonoids, phyto-estrogens, phytosterols and carotenoids. These classes and others can be further divided into subclasses.
The flavonoids include more than 1500 separate compounds with varied functions. Flavonoids enhance the effect of vitamin C and function as antioxidants. They are also known to be biologically active against liver toxins, tumours, viruses and other microbes, allergies and inflammation. Some of the important flavonoids include hesperidin, quercitin, tangeretin, resveratrol and anthocyanins.
Phyto-oestrogens are naturally occurring plant compounds that structurally resemble mammalian oestrogen. They copy or counteract the effect of oestrogen in the body. Consumption of isoflavone, a phytoestrogen, is associated with cancer prevention, improved cardiovascular health and bone health.
Phytosterols are plant sterols that occur in many plant species but appear to be more abundant in the seed of green and yellow vegetables. They are important in the humandiet because they help to reduce the amount of dietary cholesterol absorbed by the body by blocking uptake in the intestine. They also facilitate cholesterol excretion from the body. Carotenoids are plant pigments found in bright yellow, orange and red fruits and vegetables.
Carotenoids are generally well known as vitamin A precursors. Phytochemicals are found in all plant products. Some good sources include vegetables, spinach, tomatoes, peppers, carrots, watermelon, citrus fruits, mangoes, papaya, grapes, apples, red grape, pears, oats, barley, sweet potatoes, corn, ginger, thyme, onions, green tea.
According to Hippocrates 'let food be thy medicine and let medicine be thy food'. Eat right and stay healthy!
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