Functional Foods: What They Are And How They Work

In the brain, a typical protein can live for approximately ten days. The thoughts, feelings and memories of a human being are made up of what was in the stomach only a few days before. As you can see, in choosing one's diet, you actually can determine who and what you are going to become.

About 2500 years ago, Hippocrates said, "Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food."

Functional Foods and Nutraceuticals are designer foods and supplements that are combined with nutritional value that are disease-preventative and have medicinal benefits. These are usually natural products which may reduce or prevent chronic and acute disease or promote good health.

Many chronic and acute diseases are caused or irritated by nutritional imbalances or deficiency. The link between diet, disease and the ability to process thought are sometimes subtle and complex. Many studies suggest that some 40% of cancers are linked to dietary choices. Unhealthy eating habits are sometimes caused by farming practices, lack of money, and a manufacturing industry that promotes the ignorance of true, beneficial nutrition.

There is conjecture and speculation in the field of Nutritional Science that mood and aggressive behavior has more to do with diet than what was first thought. The most effective way to raise neural serotonin levels, which is the chemical that helps the body relax, is to eat a high carbohydrate meal. The insulin released lets more tryptophan cross the blood-brain barrier by moving competing amino-acids out of the blood stream. A high-protein diet will tend to lessen the serotonin function at the expense of norepinephrine and dopamine, with a more aggressive and temperamental reaction from the subject.

Functional Foods and Nutraceutaicals work by balancing out the human bodies deficiencies or excessive chemical make-up. When foods are broken down in the mouth and stomach, they become massive ingredients for thousands of chemical reactions. Everything that a human consumes becomes a storehouse for chemical reactions that maintain the bodies life force. An example of this would be the cholesterol lowering effects of eating Oatmeal. How does this work? When a person consumes oatmeal, they consume carbohydrates called glucans, small fibers that fill the intestines which decreases the ability to absorb carbohydrates, it increases the movement of the food in the intestines and colon, and cleanses the body as it moves out as waste. The following would be other examples of how functional foods are working:

Erythema may be reduced by eating tomato paste ( Stahl W, Heinrich U, Wiseman S, Eichler O, Sies H, Tronnier H. J. Nutr. 131: 1449-1451, 2001 ).

Tomato and Tomato products may reduce the risk of chronic diseases.

(Sanjiv Agarwal and Akkinappally Venketeshwer Rao Canadian Medical Association Journal 2000; 163(6):739-44. )

Soy may prevent bone loss in menopausal women. (Arjmandi BH, Smith BJ Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry 2002, Vol. 13:130-137 )

Soy with isofalvones can reduce cholesterol. ( Vitolins MZ, Anthony M, Burke GL Current Opinions in Lipidology 2001, 12:433-437)

Garlic may reduce Cancer risk. (Dorant et al., 1993)

Cranberries aid in treatment of Urinary Tract Infection. (Schmidt and Sobota, 1988)

Dairy products aid in the prevention of Osteoporosis and Colon Cancer. (Fuller, 1994)

There are many, many more studies by accredited universities that have been done on a variety of plants and animals for functionality in nutritional therapies.

A diet of Functional foods can not only maintain better health, it can also repair chronic health issues. Functional foods would be foods that help to maintain better glucose control for diabetics, while having components that aid in repairing the pancreas. Foods that help to lower cholesterol levels in heart patients, foods that build the immune system in autoimmune patients.

Functional Food Specialists will be the physicians of tomorrow and those who manufacture functional foods will be the pharmacists that aid in healing the world of chronic and acute diseases.

D.S. Epperson is the top formulator for Home Blend Gourmet / South Pacific Health, a leader in the functional food industry in the U.S. With 20 years of experience in Nutritional Biochemistry, she has written reference books on botanicals and manufacturing of medicines from botanicals, and published articles on health, fitness and foods. She has formulated over 240 formulas and inventions for health, the environment and agricultural uses, and continues to research and study microbial advantages in nutraceuticals and functional foods. For more information or to view the articles that she has written: http://www.sugarblend.com

---

Do You Eat Breakfast?

It is not a myth. Eating breakfast is an important... Read More

Food Intolerance

Many people experience unpleasant reactions to foods they have eaten... Read More

Inactive Alert: Essential Proteins for Sedentary People

The importance of protein in diet has been clearly established... Read More

How to Stop Bad Breath In 4 Refreshing Steps

OK, no more excuses. Here's how to stop making everyone... Read More

Whats The Truth About Fat?

When I hear the word fat I usually think of... Read More

5 Secrets of Reading Food Labels Revealed

Whether you're concerned about cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, or simply... Read More

Put a Zing in your Step with Ginger!

Zingiber officinale has been held in the highest regard by... Read More

Eating to Health? Think Again!

So, what is new about this that you already don't... Read More

Hypertension -Twelve Simple Things You Can Do To Lower Your Blood Pressure

Headlines:Nearly a quarter of American adults just got diagnosed with... Read More

How To Prevent Hypoglycemia

Today's tip is on hypoglycemia (low blood sugar).Hypoglycemia affects both... Read More

Correct Your Acid / Akaline Balance by the Water You Drink: What the Experts Say

In health circles there has been much recent talk about... Read More

Finding Your Reason Why to be Healthy

The most incredible thing you can do for yourself is... Read More

Alcohol as a Key Ingredient to a Healthy Diet

Evidence suggesting that alcohol is "cardio-protective" first appeared in the... Read More

Is Eating a Raw Food Diet Actually Healthy for You?

Whatever diet you choose to live by, the food you... Read More

Saturated Fat Diet Piles on Pounds Around Organs

Having a large amount of such "visceral fat" is associated... Read More

Copping Out the Positive Effects of Copper

One must always keep in mind that copper is not... Read More

Can a Child Thrive on a Vegan Diet? YES!

Can a child thrive on a vegan diet? The answer... Read More

How to Grow Sprouts

Sprouts not only taste good, but they are also a... Read More

Fruits for Summer: Summer Skin Care

Summer is the time when we sweat highly and beating... Read More

The Role of Nutrition in Martial Arts, Police, Military Personnel

For a considerable amount of time, nutrition has not played... Read More

4 Important Facts You Should Know About Whey Protein

Are you concerned about taking care of your body before... Read More

The Joys of Being Healthy

It is amazing to be able to say I am... Read More

The Danger of Curbing Hunger Artificially

Unhealthy eating is a harmful problem in America, and contrary... Read More

How Good Is Your Health?

It is a question we must ask ourselves continually if... Read More

Fiber in a Nutshell?

There are numerous diets out there that guarantee that they... Read More

Turn to Diet for Everyday Ailments

The old cliché that you are what you eat is... Read More

Startling New Evidence: You Can Slow the Aging Process, Scientists Say

What if you could actually slow your rate of aging,... Read More

The Myths Associated with Human Growth Hormone

I would like to dispel some of the myths and... Read More

Foods Can Lower Cholesterol and C-reactive Protein

If you have high cholesterol, the American Heart Association's low-cholesterol,... Read More

Juice Sensibility

Apart from eating many of the wonderful vegetables and fruits... Read More

Vitamins and Minerals for a Healthy Reproductive System

Vitamins, minerals and other nutrients are essential to the development... Read More

Whey Protein Importance

Studies on whey demonstrate it's an even better protein supplement... Read More

Odd Fact or Oxymoron: Learning How To Cook Will Help You Drop a Few Pounds and Gain a Few Friends

Finding simple ways to reduce my waistline is always a... Read More