Nutrition: What are “functional” foods?

By | May 8, 2023

Further of never sometimes, he people show interesting for he improvement his relationship between his diet his and his health his. At the same time, he science and he medicine they reveal he narrow relationship between of intestine and of brain.

Further of he 95% of population believe that he diet can to improve such he physical as much as and his mental health. whath that he diet, he quality of life and he management of danger appearance diseases they have narrow relationship between his.

Also read: Nutrition: How does it affect our skin?

According to the Institute of Food Technologists of Chicago, “functional foods” provide the nutrients necessary for the growth and maintenance of the body. They can help prevent or treat a disease.

What are the ingredients of functional foods?

Fiber

Fiber is resistant to digestion by human gastrointestinal (GI) enzymes. Cellulose, pectin, and lignin are types of plant fiber. Some foods with soluble fiber include:

  • Beans
  • Oatmeal
  • legumes
  • Barley
  • plums

The first functional food ingredient approved to claim a health-enhancing effect was fiber.

Numerous studies show that daily fiber intake is associated with a significant reduction in the risk of cardiovascular disease. Fiber reduces total cholesterol and low-density lipoproteins (LDL), the so-called “bad cholesterol.”

The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey found that men who consumed more than 27 grams of fiber per day significantly reduced their risk of dying from coronary heart disease.

They also lower LDL cholesterol by altering glucose and cholesterol metabolism, reducing the absorption of fat and cholesterol in the gastrointestinal tract.

probiotics and prebiotics

HE gastrointestinal pipeline is inhabited of one enormous number several microorganisms, he WHO are affected of them food where Are consumed. He probiotics is alive organizations, he WHO, in enough numbers, they have beneficial effects to population of bacteria of gastrointestinal tube.

They can to reduce he cholesterol, to protect of gastrointestinal ailments and to strengthen he mode of immune systemic. It was considered that he bacteria cause them probiotics effects, but he has also to be tested that he products where they are produced of he bacteria can to is he asset factors. HE

thrown off food where contain probiotics is he yoghurt, he kefir and he fermented vegetables.

He prebiotics is components food where to stimulate his development he he activity one he further guys bacteria in it thick intestine. He oligosaccharides soy is to guy prebiotic.

He fermented milk, as probiotic, increases him number of bacteria in it thick intestine. suspends his production cholesterol in it liver he redistributes he cholesterol of he blood in it liver. He probiotics microorganisms where They are located in it yoghurt, assist in prevention home microorganisms where cause diseases in it thick intestine.

He probiotics reinforce also his immune mode of mucous membrane of gastrointestinal tube and some can to they protect he thick intestine of carcinogenic substances.

Some compounds where they are produced against he fermentation can to strengthen his reproduction of normal cells of mucous membrane and to lay off his production No normal cells of mucous membrane.

Plant sterols and stanols

Plant sterols and stanols are functional food ingredients found in yogurt or spreads used as butter substitutes.

These compounds act in the small intestine, reducing cholesterol by inhibiting its absorption. Sterols and stanols may also improve symptoms and urine flow in patients with benign prostatic hypertrophy.

Fish oil – fatty acids

The benefits of fatty acids found in fish are receiving attention for their role in both risk and control of cardiovascular disease. They present health benefits in various common diseases.

It has been known for 20 years that omega-3 fatty acids are important for the health of the nervous system, especially during development. Foods rich in omega-3 are salmon, herring, anchovy, tuna, and others.

Some eggs are enriched with omega-3 fatty acids. Clinical studies have shown that the intake of fish oil reduces serum triglyceride levels in normal and hypertriglyceridemic subjects.

Triglycerides are a type of fat necessary for good health, but in excess they contribute to a variety of heart diseases. Lowering blood triglyceride levels reduces the frequency of abnormal heart rhythms and slows the progression of coronary heart disease.

soy protein

HE protein soy, he WHO is consumed in combination with to diet low in crowded fats and cholesterol, can to reduce him danger coronary disease and the traffic his LDL (bad») cholesterol.

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