function food science and benefits on health

Question 1

describe what functional foods are

Answer 1

1. foods that can beneficially affect one or more target functions of the body beyond nutritional affects to improve state of wellbeing and reduce risk of disease
2. they contain biologically active compounds which offer the potential to enhance health or reduced risk of a disease BEYOND BASIC NUTRITION

Question 2

what are the differences and similarities between functional foods and dietary supplements

Answer 2

similarities: impacts normal structure or function of the human body, reduces the risk of disease of health problem, not a drug

differences:
1. functional foods do not have a legal definition whereas dietary supplements do

2. functional foods can be approved as a food ingredient and therefore must be approved. Whereas dietary supplements cannot be added to food

Question 3

give examples of functional foods

Answer 3

yoghurt, wholegrain, salmon, garlic, berries

Question 4

what is the difference between probiotics and pre-biotics

Answer 4

prebiotics stimulate the growth of live bacteria in the colon whereas probiotics is when live bacteria is present in food such as cheese which optimises intestinal function and microbiota

Question 5

what is the difference between nutrition claims and health claims

Answer 5

nutritional claims is when a product uses a nutrient in a way that implies it is beneficial

(contains high levels of calcium which is beneficial for healthy bones)

whereas health claims are when the food has a link to health such as a reduction of a disease

Question 6

what is FUFOSE group, what are the 6 areas they are interested in and what do they recommend

Answer 6

European Commission Concerted Action on Functional Food Science in Europe with an interest in functional foods.

1. Growth & development
2. Substrate metabolism
3. Defence against oxidative species
4. Gastrointestinal physiology
5. Effects of CV system
6. Effects on behaviour

recommendations

• Functional foods must be in the form of normal foods
• They demonstrate their effects in amounts of food that can normally be consumed.
• May be targeted at the whole population or smaller groups

Question 7

describe the benefits of probiotics

Answer 7

prevent pathogenic microbes
adhered with gut epithelium 
produce useful substances 
strengthen the host immune system 
colonisation resistance 
resistant to host GIT conditions 
improve barrier function

Question 8

name the three criteria for classification of prebiotics

Answer 8

i. Should be resistant to acidic pH of stomach, cannot be hydrolysed by enzyme, shouldn’t be absorbed in the GI tract.
ii. It can be fermented by intestinal microbiota
iii. The growth/activity of the intestinal bacterial can be stimulated to improve host’s health

Question 9

describe the benefits of prebiotics

Answer 9

increased cognitive function
decreased dementia
increased mood 
increased calcium absorption 
increased water retention 
decreased IBS
decreased Crohn's disease

Question 10

explain why plant sterols decrease net released of cholesterol into the blood stream

Answer 10

plant sterols resemble cholesterol. Plant sterols compete with dietary cholesterol to enter chylomicrons and inhibit the cholesterol so less is packaged and released into the bloodstream

Question 11

Describe how LDL cholesterol it the blood becomes high

Answer 11

cholesterol is packaged into chylomicrons which travels through lymphatic to the circulatory system. The chylomicron is broken down and absorbed into the liver. They are packaged into LDL within the liver. This is dietary cholesterol when it is excessive the LDL receptor is suppressed which leads to high levels