Nutraceuticals & functional foods

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Functional foods and nutraceuticals

The function of food extends beyond its nutritional worth, to include prevention and treatment of diseases. The level and efficacy of food in the prevention and treatment of diseases are different between food items. Those food items associated with health benefits that extend beyond their nutritional value are referred to as functional foods or nutraceuticals. Functional foods contain ingredients with anti-inflammatory capacity e.g. Beta gluten in oats, fruits, and vegetables are rich in antioxidants.

Functional foods can be classed into two: conventional and fortified.

1. Conventional functional foods are whole food ingredients that are rich in antioxidants and anti-inflammatory ingredients.

Here are some examples of conventional functional foods:

  • Fruits: berries, kiwis, pears, peaches, apples, oranges, bananas
  • Vegetables: broccoli, cauliflower, kale, spinach, zucchini (wild vegetables)
  • Nuts:
  • Seeds: sesam seed, flax seeds, hemp seeds, pumpkin seeds
  • Legumes: black beans, chickpeas, lentils
  • Whole grains: oats, barley, Ales, wheat, couscous
  • Seafood: sardines, anchovies, mackerel
  • Fermented foods:
  • Herbs and spices: turmeric, cinnamon, ginger, cayenne pepper
  • Beverages: coffee, green tea, black tea

2. Fortified functional foods are foods that are fortified with antioxidants, fruits and vegetables, probiotics, and essential fatty acids.

Here are some examples of modified functional foods:

  • fortified juices
  • fortified dairy products, such as milk and yogurt
  • fortified milk alternatives, such as almond, rice, coconut, and cashew milk
  • fortified grains, such as bread and pasta
  • fortified cereals and granola
  • fortified eggs

In general functional foods are a category of food associated with several powerful health benefits. While Nutraceuticals represent a special group of healthcare products: not pharmaceuticals and not dietary supplements but somewhere in between. Nutraceuticals as bioactive compounds that are extracted from their original food matrix. Some examples of nutraceuticals are carotenoids, flavonoids, and glucosinolates.