UNIB20014 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Low-Density Lipoprotein, Coronary Artery Disease, Lactase
29 May 2018
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LECTURE'3:'PHYTONUTRIENTS'
Selling'the'promise'of'good'health'is'a'multi-billion-dollar'business.'''
FUNCTIONAL'FOODS'
&
Functional'foods'are'foods'for'a'specific'health'use'-'processed'foods'containing'added'
ingredients'that'aid'specific'bodily'functions.'The'health'benefit'of'functional'foods'go'
beyond'its'traditional'nutrients'e.g.'foods'with'added'plant'sterols'(butter/milk)'marketed'
to'reduce'blood'cholesterol,'a'known'risk'factor'for'CVD.'
- This'concept'first'introduced'in'Japan'(1980s).'–'products'such'as'Yakult'with'added'probiotics.'
This' is' controversial' in' some' regions' e.g.' Japan’s' Pepsi' with' added' dextrin' to' reduce' the'
amount'of'fat'absorbed'into'the'body'has'been'labelled'as'a'functional'food.'–'problematic'
as'this'alone'does'not'make'it'‘healthy’.''
SUPERFOODS&
Superfood'has'often'been'used'as'a'marketing'term'used'to'describe'foods'which'high'
health'benefits'–'in'reality'all'natural'whole'foods'can'be'considered'‘superfoods’'for'their'
benefits.''
1. PHYTONUTRIENTS'&'BIOACTIVE'COMPOUNDS'
Phytonutrients'are'a'substance'found'in'certain'plants'which'is'believed'to'be'beneficial'to'
have'long'term'human'health'benefits'and'help'prevent'various'diseases.'–'not'essential.''
• an'“effective'strategy”'for'reducing'cancer'and'heart'disease'risks'e.g.'fruits'and'vegetables'
may' decrease' incidence' of' CVD-' supported' by' epidemiological' evidence' –' (failing' to' eat'
fruits/veg'daily'is'correlated'with'heart'disease).''
The' natural' colours' of' whole' foods' are' due' to' secondary' metabolism' –' producing'
phytonutrients.'Phytonutrient-rich'foods'include'colorful'fruits'and'vegetables,'legumes,'etc.''
Phytochemicals'exert'dramatic'acute'metabolic'effects'at'very'small'doses.'–'different'
phytochemicals'work'differently'e.g.'antioxidants/sleep'suppressants.''
'
• ANTHOCYANIN''
o Blood'oranges,'blueberries,'purple'carrots.'–'antioxidants'(all'below'same).''
• CURCUMIN''
o Turmeric' –' used' for' anti-inflammatory' value' (possible' factor' in' the' reduced'
prevalence'of'Alzheimer’s'disease'in'India).'
• KAEMPFEROL'
o Broccoli'-'contains'phytonutrients'which'have'significant'anti-cancer'effects.'
• CAFFINE'
o affects'our'circadian'rhythms'–'controlled'by'melatonin:'secretion'increases'at'night'
and'stops'in'the'morning.'–'caffeine'affects'melatonin'secretion'and'can'alter'the'
circadian'rhythm.'
