Functional Foods and Nutraceuticals

Question 1

What is the primary role of the diet?

Answer 1

To provide sufficient nutrients and meet one’s nutritional requirements.

Question 2

How is basica nutrition different from functional foods?

Answer 2

It concentrates on nutrients for normal growth and development and is just used for basic nutrients and energy.

Question 3

How are functional foods different than basic nutrition?

Answer 3

Functional foods focus on bioactive compounds such as phytochemicals in addition to basic nutrition. They are used for additional health benefits and disease prevention.

Question 4

What is a functional food?

Answer 4

Similar to a conventional food with physiological benefits and/or the ability to reduce risk of chronic disease. Goes beyond basic nutritional functions and contains bioactive compounds.

Question 5

What are bioactive compounds?

Answer 5

Naturally occurring chemical compounds contained in, or derived from, a plant, animal, or marine source, that exerts a desired health/wellness benefit.

Question 6

What is a nutraceutical?

Answer 6

A product which is isolated or purified from foods and sold in its medicinal form.

Question 7

How are nutraceuticals different from pharmaceuticals?

Answer 7

They are demonstrated to have a physiological benefit or protect against disease rather than being treatment fro a disease.

Question 8

Compare functional foods and nutraceuticals.

Answer 8

Functional foods are conventional with bioactive compounds whereas nutraceuticals are isolated from food and contain those bioactive compounds (like omega-3 fatty acid pills).

Question 9

What components of milk make it a functional food?

Answer 9

Conjugated linoleic acid, sphingomyelin/ceramide, butyric acid, calcium-high bioavailability, bioactive peptides, oligosaccharides, and lactoferrin

Question 10

What are functional properties of conjugated linoleic acid?

Answer 10

poten anticarcinogen

Question 11

What are functional properties of sphingomyelin/ceramide?

Answer 11

potent anticarcinogen, improves cell membrane functionality, used to treat psoriasis

Question 12

What are functional properties of butyric acid?

Answer 12

anti-microbial

Question 13

What are functional properties of calcium?

Answer 13

prevent osteoporosis

Question 14

What are functional properties of bioactive peptides?

Answer 14

antioxidants and antihypertension

Question 15

What are functional properties of olgiosaccharides?

Answer 15

Act as prebiotics

Question 16

What are functional properties of lactoferrin?

Answer 16

Antimicrobial

Question 17

What is the functional component of carrots?

Answer 17

Bioactive beta-carotene

Question 18

What are 3 ways to classify functional foods?

Answer 18

1. Basic Foods
2. Processed Food with Additives
3. Foods enhanced to have more of a functional component

Question 19

What are basic foods?

Answer 19

Food with a natural level of functional properties.

Question 20

What are processed foods with additives?

Answer 20

Normal foods with added ingredients to be more healthful.

Question 21

What are foods enhanced to have a more functional component?

Answer 21

Foods that are genetically engineered or bred to contain a higher functional component.

Question 22

What categories are there of bioactive components?

Answer 22

1. Bioactive carbohydrates
2. Bioactive lipids
3. Bioactive peptides
4. Bioactive polyphenols
5. Bioactive carotenoids

Question 23

What are examples of bioactive carbohydrates?

Answer 23

soluble and insoluble fibre, resistant starch, and prebiotics

Question 24

What are examples of bioactive lipids?

Answer 24

short chain fatty acids, omega-3 PUFA, and CLAs

Question 25

What are examples of bioactive polyphenols?

Answer 25

flavonoids and phenolic acids as well as phytosterols

Question 26

What are examples of bioactive carotenoids?

Answer 26

beta-carotene and lycopene

Question 27

What is the most imporant structural feature of bioactive carbohydrates?

Answer 27

Their resistance to digestion in the upper tract of the GIT. Because they are not digested tehy become food for micro flora in the colon and turn into bioactive compounds. This is also used to fuel beneficial bacteria.

Question 28

Why is soluble fibre beneficial?

Answer 28

They mix well with water and form highly hydrated masses that are fermented in the colon by microorganisms. They increase bacteria growth and decrease stool weight.

Question 29

Why is insoluble fibre beneficial?

Answer 29

Because they are undigested by upper GIT but are fermented by colonic microorganisms to from short chain FAs with health benefits.

Question 30

What are some types of soluble fibre?

Answer 30

pectin, guar gum, beta-glucan

Question 31

What are some types of insoluble fibre?

Answer 31

cellulose, wheat bran, etc.

Question 32

What are resistant starches?

Answer 32

Starch molecules that contribute fewer calories than regular starch molecules during digestion due to their low glycemic index. Help to control levels of blood glucose and reduce impact of metabolic disorders such as obesity and type 2 diabetes.

Question 33

What are prebiotics?

Answer 33

Non-digestible ingredients that stimulate growth of limited number of bacteria in colon like bifidobacteria and lactobacilli to eliminate pathogenic bacteria. Examples include inulin and fructooligosaccharides

Question 34

Why are short chain fatty acids beneficial?

Answer 34

Promote intestinal health because they fuel colon cells enhancing blood floow in the colon, decreasing luminal pH, and reducing the risk of developing abnormal colonic cells. They are anti-inflammatory agents in the colon. Include acetate, propionate, and butyrate.

Question 35

How do peptides become bioactive?

Answer 35

By being released by enzymatic or chemical hydrolysis.

Question 36

Why are bioactive polyphenols recently being considered to be health-promoting agents?

Answer 36

Because they can act as antioxidants and free radical scavengers.

Question 37

What are the 6 subclasses of flavonoids?

Answer 37

1. flavones
2. flavonols
3. flavan-3-olds
4. falvanones
5. anthocyanidins
6. isoflavones

Question 38

What beneficial properties do plant sterols (phytosterols) have?

Answer 38

They are structurally similar to cholesterol and therefore compete with it decreasing the amount of cholesterol in the blood. It is oil soluble.

Question 39

What are some benefits of carotenoids?

Answer 39

They neutralize free radicals, reduce loss of vision, and reduce risk of prostate cancer.

Question 40

What are some benefits of lycopene?

Answer 40

The most potent carotenoid antioxidant most commonly found in the human body in higher concentrations.

Question 41

When is lycopene more bioavailable?

Answer 41

When cell walls are broken down. (tomato paste has higher bioavailability than tomatoes)

Question 42

What is beneficial about probiotics?

Answer 42

Live microbial food supplements which improve the intestinal microbial form. Probiotic yogurt contains more.

Question 43

What is the FFN industry?

Answer 43

A very profitable industry that markets functional foods and natural health products.

Question 44

How can one evaluate a functional food claim?

Answer 44

By determining the require concentration, if it is functionally active, if its bioavailable, if its benefits are obvious, the require amount.

Question 45

What are some benefits of resveratrol in red wine?

Answer 45

produces as an “immune” response to bacteria and fungi. Shown in rats to be anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, and lowers blood sugar.

Question 46

How much red wine would you have to drink to reap benefits of its functional properties?

Answer 46

500-1000 bottles of red wine per day.