Optimising the daily diet with nutrients and functional foods

INDIA, a country with rich culture and diversity, has varied food patterns in different regions.

- PROF DR RITA PATIL

Depending on the geographical locations and the resources available, Indian diets include ideal combinations of cereals, millets, pulses and legumes, vegetables, fruits, and spices. The combinations of foods used in the traditional meals are ideal and complement each other in terms of nutrients. Our traditional food is “functional” as it contains high amounts of dietary fibre (whole grains and vegetables), antioxidants (spices, fruits, and vegetables), and probiotics (curds and fermented batter products).

Today, the focus of nutritional science has shifted towards optimal nutrition. The objective is to optimise the daily diet with nutrients and functional foods/nutraceuticals in order to maintain good health (Ashwell, 2003).

In 1998, Hasler defined functional foods as “any food or food ingredient that may provide a health benefit beyond the traditional nutrients it contains”. A food can be regarded as ‘functional’, if it satisfactorily demonstrates to benefit one or more target functions in the body, beyond its nutritional effects.

In a 1999 position paper, the American Dietetic Association defined functional foods as foods that are “whole, fortified, enriched, or enhanced,” and also states that such foods must be consumed as “part of a varied diet regularly in order for consumers to obtain maximum health benefits (Chauhan, 2018).

Role of functional foods are varied. Some of them are immune regulation, promotion of growth and development, anti-fatigue, anti-tumour, blood lipid regulation, blood glucose regulation, improvement of nutritional anaemia, enhancement of bone calcification (Yi et al. 1999):

Some of the benefits of functional foods:

■ Beta carotene neutralises free radicals, which may damage cells.

■ Lutein, Zeaxanthin may contribute to maintenance of healthy vision.

■ Lycopene may contribute to maintenance of prostate health.