Functional Foods and its Role in Human Health - A Review

Abstract

The relationship between food and health has grown significantly, since there is growing evidence that eating a good food lower the chance of developing deadly diseases. Foods are classified as functional, therapeutic are those nutraceuticals that not only contain the primary and necessary nutrients to meet the needs of the human body, but also have the potential to reduce the risk of a number of chronic diseases in humans. As such, they are considered the new trendsetters in the fields of food nutrition and medicine. They are probiotics, prebiotics, synbiotics, Phytosterols, phytochemicals, antioxidants have the capacity to reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, cancer and degenerative diseases. These functional foods will not only have basic nutrition like protein, vitamin, minerals for regular basic body functions but also have the phytochemicals, bioactive compounds and antioxidants to prevent from certain diseases and providing better health.