Functional Foods and Nutraceuticals, Sources and Functions

I would start by defining Functional Foods, Nutraceuticals/Natural Health Products.

Functional Food is any food that is similar in appearance to or may be a conventional food which is consumed as part of a normal diet and has been shown to have physiological benefits and /or reduce the risk of chronic disease beyond basic nutritional functions (Health Canada, 1999).

Functional food is a natural processed food that contains biologically-active compounds which when consumed in a quantitative and qualitative amounts provides a clinically proven health benefit and therefore is an important source in the prevention, management and treatment of chronic diseases (Wikipedia, 2016).

Nutraceutical is a product which has been isolated or purified from foods that are usually sold in medicinal forms that are not usually associated with food. It is demonstrated to have a physiological benefit or provide protection against chronic disease (Health Canada, 1999).

Nutraceuticals are products that have been derived from food sources that give extra health benefits in addition to the basic nutritional values found in them (Tomislav, 2016).

Antioxidants are defined as molecules that inhibit the oxidation of other molecules. Oxidation is a chemical reaction which produces free radicals that leads to further chain of reactions that damages the cell. An example of an antioxidants are Vit. C and Vit. E.

You would say "why are you writing this?", Well I was hoping to inform my fellow Nigerians basically because of the type of food products/Medicinal products that come into the country and the rate at  which people market them and consume them. They say Knowledge is Power and therefore I would Love to empower my fellow Nigerians with the Little I have learnt as a Nutrition Student at the University of Manitoba.

I will list as many functional foods as I can, its sources and functions. I will also list as many antioxidants as I can.

Functional Foods, Sources and its Functions.

1. Lycopene is a functional food found in tomatoes and this helps reduce the risk of prostate cancer and other types of Cancer.

2. Saponins found in Oats, oatmeal help reduce the Total and Low-Density Lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterols and also lower blood pressure.

3. Isoflavones, soy protein and genistein found in soy products (e.g., soy-nuts, edamame, soybeans, and tofu) help reduce the total blood cholesterol and the LDL.

4. Omega-3 FA (DHA and EPA) found in fish (salmon, Tuna, Halibut, sardine, trout) reduce the risk of coronary heart disease.

5. Plant Sterols and Stanol Esters found in fortified margarines like Bencol, and also margarines from plant sterols (Becel) help reduce the total cholesterol and reduce LDL especially with people with high Cholesterol.

6. Lactobacillus (probiotics) found in cultured/fermented yogurt (i.e. yogurt that has been fermented using a probiotic), fermented soy product e.g. tempeh. It helps boost immune system and also supports the gastrointestinal health.

7. Monounsaturated Fatty Acids (MUFAs) and Vit. E(an antioxidant) found in nuts such as peanuts, cashew nuts, hazelnuts, walnuts, almonds, pecans, pistachios, they help reduce the risk of coronary heart disease.

8. Resveratrol found in grape juice and red wine(serving size of 5 ounces/day) has been shown to reduce the risk of heart disease (research has not really proven if it reduces the risk of cancer therefore it is advisable to refrain from consuming).

9. Carotenoids, sulforaphanes, apigenin, and lutein/zeaxanthin found in leafy greens such as kale, spinach, and broccoli, prevents carcinogens from entering cells, enhances immune function.

List of Antioxidants:

1. Dark Chocolates

2. Green Tea

3. Grapes

4. Blueberries

5. Nuts

6. Sweet potatoes

7. Orange vegetables

8. Dark green vegetables

9. Whole grains

10. Beans

11. Fish