Chapter 10.5: Phytochemicals and Functional FoodsWhat Are Phytochemicals?- Plant chemicalso Not considered nutrients- Reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, alzheimer’s disease, cataracts, and age-related functional declineHow Do Phytochemicals Reduce Our Risk of Disease?- Flavonoids and phenolic acids are the most abundant - Reduce inflammation- Enhance the activity of certain enzymes- Protect against cancer- Protect against infections- Reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseaseIs There an RDA for Phytochemicals?- Phytochemicals interacts with each other in the body to produces a synergistic effecto Tomatoes-lycopene - Interact with macronutrients and vitamins and minerals- Can act in different ways under different circumstances in the bodyo Phytoestrogens in soy - Appear to be protective in the low doses commonly provided by foods, but may have very different effects from supplementso Instead of protecting our cells, phytochemicals might benefit our healthy by stressing our cells, causing them to rev up their internal defense systems What Are Functional Foods?- Functional foods: provides a health benefit beyond basic nutrition as a food or food component.o Include conventional foods, fortified, enriched, or enhanced foods, and dietary supplementso May contain naturally occurring phytochemicals, helpful bacteria required for production of the food, or a level of micronutrients higher than what would be providedby the same food in an unprocessed form - Are Functional Foods Safe?o Fda hs no official definition or regulatory category for functional foodso In order for foods to be allowed on the market, any “functional” ingredient added to that food must be generally recognized as safe. - Are Functional Foods Effective?o Probiotics: “pro-life” o Enviga: “calorie-burning beverage”o Epigallocatechin gallate(EGCG): a phytochemical that occurs in green tea. No negative
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