7 minute read
Food over medicine:
the importance of purposeful ingredients
Functional food is gaining popularity within health and wellness circles, and a growing number of consumers are taking a proactive approach by turning to food rather than medicine for the health benefits of these foods. This trend has given rise to a new sub-category under the nutraceuticals umbrella.
Functional foods offer health benefits beyond their nutritional value. In addition to nutrient-rich products like fruits and vegetables, the category also includes foods fortified with vitamins, minerals, probiotics and fibre.
A functional ingredient is a bioactive compound that can be used in the manufacture of functional food products.
These bioactive compounds can be obtained from various sources such as plant-based produce, marine sources, microorganisms, and inorganic raw materials. Functional ingredients
April also be derived from food processing waste, providing additional economic benefits to food businesses [1].
WE NEED IT
Eating habits have a direct impact on gut health, which predominantly determines the individual’s overall health. The change in food consumption, increased high-energy processed food and unbalanced diets have led to several chronic diseases like obesity, osteoporosis, cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases – and even allergies. Functional foods can help in mitigating these health problems and improve the overall health of society.
DIGESTIVE HEALTH
consumers. Probiotics can deliver improved digestive health, which in turn shows an effect on general wellness. With more consumers and brands experimenting with the ingredient, the global probiotics market is projected to continue its steady exponential growth. Probiotics also play a role in the host’s health due to its involvement in nutritional, immunological and physiological functions [2].
HEALTH & IMMUNITY
Immune health has gained focus in the current world, especially after the pandemic. A healthy immune system can significantly improve productivity, mood, mental clarity, stress, and energy. While a wide range of consumers value immunity, it is especially critical for families with children, athletes, older adults, and anyone experiencing stress.
WEIGHT MANAGEMENT
Weight management and obesity prevention are among the primary aims of health organisations to decrease the prevalence of various metabolic disorders. Positive effects in managing obesity by natural components and selected foods have drawn attention to the potential side effects of obesity drugs [4]. As part of the diet, functional foods could help weight management by thermogenesis and modify the trafficking of nutrients in the body [3, 4].
FACT BOX
Obesity is a global problem and numbers are rising at a fast pace in developing countries and it becomes a major public health concern. Economic costs associated with obesity are high and increasing as the rate of obesity. Obesity leads to its co-morbidities; namely diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, osteoarthritis, stroke and inflammatory diseases. Changes in life-style along with modifications of diet are important in the management of obesity. Positive effects in managing obesity by natural components, and selected foods have drawn attention due to the potential side effects of obesity drugs. The food industry has developed low-density foods to reduce energy intake. Now focus has been geared towards the development of foods that possess more than one mechanism
to alter the progression of obesity. In this review, selected foods and their components with potential anti-obesity properties are discussed.
SPORTS NUTRITION
Increasing health consciousness and society’s regard for successful athletes have inspired a larger population to get involved in physical fitness-related activities. Improving the nutritional status of food and beverages can help in managing frequent illness, muscle pain, and injuries [5].
SABINSA’S RANGE OF FUNCTIONAL INGREDIENTS
For new product formulators, Sabinsa’s ingredients can easily be incorporated into daily food products to get a better nutritional outcome and its range of functional ingredients are guaranteed with a Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS)-status. These ingredients are considered safe by regulatory authorities and does not require a pre-market review [6]. • Citrin K (potassium salt of hydroxycitric acid from Garcinia combogia) in a sports drink can be a functional beverage that can help with fuelling the body, rehydration, and maintaining muscle mass [7, 8]. • Cococin (freeze-dried tender coconut water solids rich in nutrients) in health drinks can make it a great symbiotic functional drink and thus beneficially influence the balance of microbiota in the gastrointestinal tract [9]. This powdered ingredient is easy to formulate and can be used for a wide range of applications when it comes to adding a wide range of vitamins, minerals, and amino acids to food. • Curcumin C3 Complex with Curcumin C3
Reduct are well-known supplements from the roots of the turmeric plant (Curcuma longa). As a functional food, curcumin can be used in fruit juices like mango and orange. The former can act as a colouring agent and their combination can improve antioxidant values [7, 10]. The addition of
BioPerine (a standardised black pepper
extract from Piper nigrum) can improve bioavailability [11]. Curcumin C3 Reduct in breath mints and chewing gums can help with oral hygiene, oral health and can add antioxidant benefits [12, 13]. • LactoSpore (Bacillus coagulans MTCC 5856) is a health stable probiotic that can be incorporated into foods like yoghurt, fermented dough for cooking/ baking, cookies, bread, beverages such as kombucha, tea, coffee, beer, and whiskey to improve gut health. LactoSpore in candy, jelly, flavoured yoghurt, and jams can help with probiotic intakes in children. This particular strain is resistant to high heat processing. It can therefore withstand rigorous activity to be included in food products, making way for great probiotic claims that consumers can obtain health benefits from. • Saberry (extract of fruits of Emblica officinalis) in juices and smoothies can improve the overall nutritional value, especially with its high antioxidant values, and the addition of BioPerine can help with better absorption and can be a digestive aid [14]. • Selenium SeLECT (organic selenium obtained from garlic grown in seleniumenriched substrate) can be added to canned vegetables, vegetable broth, garlic-flavoured butter, salad dressings, and seasonings and can benefit vegetarians and the emerging vegan communities in meeting their daily selenium needs. Healthy selenium levels can positively affect weight management, brain health, heart health, bone strength and immune strength [15]. • Calebin A in a protein bar can be a great post-workout snack, helping with bone strength and body mass management [16, 17]. • Calebin A, Curcumin C3 Complex and
Selenium SeLECT in combination can be added to post-workout meals to help with muscle soreness and muscle injuries [18].
Functional foods is the category of food that is associated with several health benefits. They can help with or prevent nutrient deficiencies, protect against disease, and promote proper growth and development. Incorporating functional ingredients can help fortify the nutritional value that is often diminished with heavy processing and lowquality food supply. The ultimate goal is to make a whole healthy food, to promote a society with better health. •
References
1. Introduction to Functional Foods and Ingredients, S.A.F.I. Centre, Editor. 2. Cencic, A. and W. Chingwaru, The role of functional foods, nutraceuticals, and food supplements in intestinal health. Nutrients, 2010. 2(6): p. 611-25. 3. Konstantinidi, M. and A.E. Koutelidakis, Functional Foods and Bioactive Compounds: A Review of Its Possible Role on Weight Management and Obesity's Metabolic Consequences. Medicines (Basel), 2019. 6(3). 4. Sunkara, R. and M. Verghese, Functional Foods for Obesity Management. Food and Nutrition Sciences, 2014. 05: p. 1359-1369. 5. Spano, M., Functional Foods, Beverages, and Ingredients in Athletics. Strength & Conditioning Journal, 2010. 32: p. 79-86. 6. Wong, A.Y.-T. and A.W.-K. Chan, Genetically modified foods in China and the United States: A primer of regulation and intellectual property protection. Food Science and Human Wellness, 2016. 5(3): p. 124-140. 7. Majeed, M., V. Badmaev, and S. Team, Curcuminoids - antioxidant phytonutrients. 2003. 8. Majeed, M., V. Badmaev, and R. Rajendran, Potassium hydroxycitrate for the suppression of appetite and induction of weight loss. 1998, Google Patents. 9. Segura-Badilla, O., et al., Use of coconut water (Cocus nucifera L) for the development of a symbiotic functional drink. Heliyon, 2020. 6(3): p. e03653. 10. Nilani, P., et al., Invitro antioxidant activity of selected antiasthmatic herbal constituents. Anc Sci Life, 2009. 28(4): p. 3-6. 11. Shoba, G., et al., Influence of piperine on the pharmacokinetics of curcumin in animals and human volunteers. Planta Med, 1998. 64(4): p. 353-6. 12. Kuwatada, J., M. Raja, and P. Sood, Turmeric: A Boon to Oral Health. International Journal of Oral Care & Research, 2017. 5: p. 338-341. 13. Okada, K., et al., Curcumin and especially tetrahydrocurcumin ameliorate oxidative stressinduced renal injury in mice. J Nutr, 2001. 131(8): p. 2090-5. 14. Al-Rehaily, A.J., et al., Gastroprotective effects of 'Amla' Emblica officinalis on in vivo test models in rats. Phytomedicine, 2002. 9(6): p. 515-22. 15. Rayman, M.P., Selenium and human health. Lancet, 2012. 379(9822): p. 1256-68. 16. Tyagi, A.K., et al., Calebin A downregulates osteoclastogenesis through suppression of RANKL signalling. Archives of biochemistry and biophysics, 2016. 593: p. 80-89. 17. Lai, C.S., et al., Calebin-A inhibits adipogenesis and hepatic steatosis in high-fat diet-induced obesity via activation of AMPK signaling. Mol Nutr Food Res, 2015. 59(10): p. 1883-95. 18. Delecroix, B., et al., Curcumin and Piperine Supplementation and Recovery Following Exercise Induced Muscle Damage: A Randomized Controlled Trial. J Sports Sci Med, 2017. 16(1): p. 147-153.
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