scholarly journals Potential Health Benefits of Fruits and Vegetables

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (19) ◽  
pp. 8951
Author(s):  
Luca Mazzoni ◽  
Maria Teresa Ariza Fernández ◽  
Franco Capocasa

In recent decades, the consciousness of consumers regarding the importance of a balanced diet to prevent the occurrence of chronic diseases has significantly increased [...]

2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tharani Devi Natarajan ◽  
Janci Rani Ramasamy ◽  
Kirthika Palanisamy

AbstractFood synergy is a concept of linking foods to health. Food consists of mixtures of nutrients, serving as a fuel for the body. When synergistic foods are put together, the evidence for potential health benefits becomes stronger than individual foods. Nutrient deficiency is a known phenomenon in many individuals, and synergy plays a very important role in combating the nutritional deficiency. Today’s consumer expresses high interest to build knowledge on the active role of food in their well-being, as well as in the prevention of non-transmissible chronic diseases. Functional foods and their active compounds play a vital role in preventing chronic diseases, improving immunity, and decreasing infections. The concept of synergy is an overthinking in nutrition research which can enhance effective dietary planning value added to the forthcoming nutrition research. This paper gives an overview of various synergic combinations of food components and their interactions within the food and with the human system to attain ideal health benefits.


2019 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cintia Pereira da Silva ◽  
Rosana Aparecida Manólio Soares-Freitas ◽  
Geni Rodrigues Sampaio ◽  
Adriano Costa de Camargo ◽  
Elizabeth Aparecida Ferraz Silva Torres

A high daily intake of fruits and vegetables is an important strategy to promote health. The mechanism explaining the health benefits of plant food materials is attributed, at least in part, to their high content of bioactive phenolics. Guarana (Paullinia cupana) is a typical product from Amazon biota and, mainly as a source of caffeine; its seeds are commonly used as stimulants. However, guarana seeds are also rich in catechin, epicatechin, procyanidin B1, and procyanidin B2. Guarana exhibits potential health benefits in cognitive function and prevention of cardiovascular disease. Furthermore, it is a promising source of antihyperglycemic and antibacterial compounds for prevention and/or management of type 2 diabetes and oral diseases. However, to confirm these benefits in humans, clinical trials are needed to provide evidence to support these anecdotal observations.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 1605
Author(s):  
Aikaterini Papadaki ◽  
Vasiliki Kachrimanidou ◽  
Iliada K. Lappa ◽  
Effimia Eriotou ◽  
Nikolaos Sidirokastritis ◽  
...  

This review elaborates on the significance of Mediterranean raisins, focusing particularly on indigenous Greek varieties (e.g., Zante currants) as a previously overlooked traditional food, currently brought on the spotlight, resulting from the increased consumers’ awareness to improve wellness through diet modification. Recent studies on the effect of processing steps on final quality, along with findings on the potential health benefits raisins and currants elicit, are also presented. The development of novel functional food products to further exploit the nutritional value and the bioactive compounds of raisins is evidenced in view of indicating potential food industry applications. Moreover, valorization options of waste and by-product streams obtained from processing facilities are also proposed. Conclusively, raisins and currants should be further enhanced and incorporated in a balanced diet regime through the inclusion in novel foods formulation. Evidently, both the processing of the onset material and side-streams management, are essential to ensure sustainability. Hence, the article also highlights integrated biorefinery approaches, targeting the production of high-value added products that could be re-introduced in the food supply chain and conform with the pillars of bio-economy.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
pp. 5918-5940

Procyanidin is an abundant polyphenol found in nature. It is composed of flavan-3-ol units, including catechin and epicatechin. Procyanidin is a polyphenolic polymer found in abundance in grapes, cranberries, apples, tea, cocoa, and pine bark. Procyanidin possessed antioxidant, anticancer, antitumor, anti-inflammatory, immunosuppressive, and antiallergy properties and protected against chronic diseases and metabolic disorders. Consequently, procyanidin may protect against chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, and immune-related diseases. Procyanidin acts as an anti-inflammatory, inhibits adipogenesis, melanogenesis, oxidative stress, and enhances lipid metabolism and macrophage activity. The current review summarized the numerous potential health benefits of procyanidin. Despite recent advances, multiple questions and challenges remain regarding procyanidin’s action, biogenesis, and bioavailability mechanisms. Further investigation of procyanidin’s metabolism, genetics, and cellular effects is necessary and should be pursued.


2016 ◽  
Vol 64 (19) ◽  
pp. 3767-3777 ◽  
Author(s):  
Graham W. Burton ◽  
Janusz Daroszewski ◽  
Trevor J. Mogg ◽  
Grigory B. Nikiforov ◽  
James G. Nickerson

Author(s):  
Sarah Cox ◽  
◽  
Weiqun Wang ◽  
Seong-Ho Lee ◽  
Dmitriy Smolensky ◽  
...  

Sorghum is a globally grown cereal. Many sorghum varieties contain high levels of polyphenolic compounds with potential health benefits. With a growing interest in using diet as a preventative measure against chronic diseases, the benefits of sorghum need to be examined. This chapter discusses current research on sorghum and its bioactive compounds, particularly the diversity of polyphenolic compounds present in sorghum. The effects of the phenolic compounds against cancer, their anti-inflammatory properties, anti-obesity effects and effects on gut microbiome are discussed. The chapter also discusses anti-nutritional effects of sorghum polyphenols as well as the effects of processing on bioactive compounds and bioavailability.


Processes ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (12) ◽  
pp. 1613
Author(s):  
Liana Claudia Salanță ◽  
Teodora Emilia Coldea ◽  
Maria Valentina Ignat ◽  
Carmen Rodica Pop ◽  
Maria Tofană ◽  
...  

Consumers’ demand for functional fermented food that can fulfill nutritional needs and help maintain a balanced diet while also having a positive impact on one’s health status is increasing all over the world. Thus, healthy choices could include beverages with nutrients and bioactive compounds which can be used as an effective disease-prevention strategy. Regular beer has certain health benefits which inspire further research with the prospect of obtaining special functional beers with little or no alcohol content. As observed, the special beer market remains highly dynamic and is predicted to expand even further. Therefore, brewers need to keep up with the consumers’ interests and needs while designing special beers, namely nonalcoholic beers (NABs), low-alcohol beers (LABs), and craft beers (CBs). Thus, understanding the potential uses of bioactive compounds in special beer, the wide range of therapeutic effects, and the possible mechanisms of action is essential for developing healthier beverages. This review aimed to evaluate the nutritional features of special beers, and their proven or potential beneficial actions on one’s health status and in preventing certain diseases.


2019 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cintia Pereira da Silva ◽  
Rosana Aparecida Manólio Soares-Freitas ◽  
Geni Rodrigues Sampaio ◽  
Adriano Costa de Camargo ◽  
Elizabeth Aparecida Ferraz Silva Torres

A high daily intake of fruits and vegetables is an important strategy to promote health. The mechanism explaining the health benefits of plant food materials is attributed, at least in part, to their high content of bioactive phenolics. Guarana (Paullinia cupana) is a typical product from Amazon biota and, mainly as a source of caffeine; its seeds are commonly used as stimulants. However, guarana seeds are also rich in catechin, epicatechin, procyanidin B1, and procyanidin B2. Guarana exhibits potential health benefits in cognitive function and prevention of cardiovascular disease. Furthermore, it is a promising source of antihyperglycemic and antibacterial compounds for prevention and/or management of type 2 diabetes and oral diseases. However, to confirm these benefits in humans, clinical trials are needed to provide evidence for these anecdotal observations.


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