SA B INSA
The magic of fortification in natural bakery products Globally, nutrient deficiencies have become a major public health problem. In the wake of a growing prevalence of COVID-19 cases and lifestyle changes, such as processed food intake, smoking, and alcoholic habits, we need a drastic change in the way we approach our immunity and how best to enhance it.
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n South Africa, bakery products (bread, cake, pastries for example) are the second most important staple food consumed as daily routine after maize meal. South African legislation reported that they are in need of modified food fortification to fulfil nutrient deficiency. Fortification by natural products in bakery may be the most effective and accessible way of preventing malnutrition and related health consequences during and after the pandemic.
Products and their health benefits: Natural products have been playing a vital role in health care for decades. A natural product is a chemical substance which is produced by living organisms such as plants, animals, microbes and marine found in the nature. Natural products, including polyphenols (e.g., curcumin, resveratrol),
cardiotonic steroids (e.g., bufalin and digoxin), terpenoids (e.g., paclitaxel and artemisinins), and polysaccharide extracts (e.g., lentinan) have various pharmacological benefits (Chintoju et al., 2015 & Dar et al., 2017). Plant-based natural products serve a major part in the supplement market, which supports to maintain the healthy blood sugar levels, weight management, fat control, circulation support and much more. Plant-based extracts and supplements are reported to have various health benefits while having nil to very low side effects. The same cannot be said about drugs. Therefore, taking good quality food items and natural product supplements are what consumers around the world are positively experiencing. We also know that the commensal bacteria in the gut supports digestion and improves immunity (Round et al., 2009). Hence, natural products
In 2003, South Africa introduced legislation for the mandatory fortification of bread flour
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are represented as some of the safest alternatives to improve one’s lifestyle. In a regular diet, consuming a variety of spices, vegetables and fruits are essential for healthy living. It has direct impact on our immune system which demands appropriate and adequate nutrients including macro, micronutrients, and minerals to function properly. Consuming natural products is a safe option due to their various rich nutrients, environmental friendliness and can help your gut, your immunity, and even aid in brain health (Orhan IE and Deniz SS, 2020).
Fortification of natural products in processed food More than two billion people worldwide have micronutrient deficiencies because they are not getting enough essential vitamins and minerals each day. The reason for nutrient deficiencies is primarily due to highly processed bakery food products with insufficient nutrients. Bakery products such as bread, cakes, biscuits, etc., are the second most important staple food, taken daily after maize meal in South Africa. Processed foods are mainly made from sugar, salt, trans-fats, and synthetic food additives. It is well known that sugar contributes to obesity, which can then lead to a host of other chronic diseases, metabolic syndrome (diabetes and hypertension, etc). A recent study reported that, intake of processed foods causes inflammatory bowel disease, autoimmune disease, anxiety, depression, nausea, weakness, headaches, difficulty in breathing and it may also damage the human nerve cells which is alarming (Sharma et al., 2018).
