Transcript No Slide Title

Food for Health
Barbara H. Ingham
Assistant Professor
Extension Food Scientist
Food for Health
• Pharmacy Foods
• Medical Foods
• Functional Foods
Functional Food
A food product that has been
clinically shown to maintain
human health or to promote
human well-being better than
similar traditional foods
Functional Foods
Foods and ingredients
that may play a role in
optimal health
Phytochemicals
Medical edibles from plants
Medicinal agents from plants
• 25% pharmaceutical agents are
extracted from plants
• 3.2 billion people use plants as
primary source of medicine
• Can food plants be used to
prevent or fight disease?
Plant-based Products
Cancer Fighting Foods
• Broccoli, garlic, onions
• Soy
• Tea
• Tomatoes and tomato sauce
• Spinach and kale
• Cranberries
Sulfur-Containing Foods
(Allium Compounds- Sulforaphane)
Garlic and Onions
Broccoli
Sulforaphane
• Healing Benefits: Inhibit cancer
cells, lower cholesterol, protect
against heart disease
• Suggested Amount:
 1-2 garlic cloves a day
 Let garlic stand for 10 minutes before
heating
Soy
Phytoestrogens and Isoflavones
Levels of Phytoestrogens
Green beans, fresh, raw
Lima beans, raw, dry
Green split peas, dry
Alfalfa sprouts
Soybeans
Tofu
Soy flour
mg/kg
2
15
73
47
340
150
230
SOY
 Decreased risk of breast and
ovarian cancer
 Decreased atherosclerosis
 Lower blood cholesterol
 4 oz tofu; 8 oz soy milk per day
Green Tea
(catechins)
Protective effects against cancer
and heart disease
Green Tea- antioxidants
• Fluoride-prevention of tooth decay
• Caffeine-less than coffee
• Phytochemicals- stop the activity of celldamaging free radicals
• Dark chocolate too!
• Suggested amount1 cup of tea/day
Tomato-Based Products
Lycopene: Providing the red color
in tomato products, and cancer
protection too!
Lycopene Content of Foods
Tomatoes, fresh
Tomatoes, canned
Tomato sauce
Tomato paste
Tomato juice
Pizza sauce
Ketchup
Grapefruit, pink
Watermelon
mg/100 g wet wt
2.0
3.7
6.2
5.4-15.0
5.0-12
13
12
4
5
Lycopene- antioxidant
• Protection against breast cancer,
cancer of the GI tract, and skin
cancer
• Protection against
cardiovascular disease
• Suggested amount: 10 servings
per week
Spinach and Kale
(Lutein)
 Food sources: kale, spinach, collards
 Antioxidant that filters UV rays
 May protect against cataracts and
macular degeneration
 May protect against colon cancer
 Suggested amount: ½ C cooked
greens or 2 C. raw per day
Lutein-Rich Vegetables
Vegetable*
Lutein (mg/100g)
Raw carrot
Kale
Raw spinach
Broccoli
Green peas
Leaf lettuce
Collard greens
0.26
21.9
10.0
1.90
1.70
1.80
16.3
* Also in oranges, celery, tomatoes.
Cranberries
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•
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(Anthocyanins)
Protection against heart disease
Protection against age-related
mental decline
Less pain and inflammation of
diseases like arthritis and gout
Foods: berries, cherries, grapes
Suggested amount: 1 pint
Margarine
(Over-the-Top Functional Food)
• Benecol and Take Control
– Stanol and sterol ester-based (plant-based
‘cholesterol’)
• 50% of the population has high
cholesterol
–
–
–
–
10% reduction in serum cholesterol in 2 weeks
Block absorption of LDL in the blood
May reduce risk of CHD
Additional benefit if used w/ medication
• Recommended: 2 servings/day
Animal-Based Products
Cancer Fighting Foods
• Yogurt
• CLA
Conjugated Linoleic Acid
Yogurt- the ultimate functional food
• Probiotics- products that contain
health-promoting bacteria
• Lactic acid bacteria- slow or
prevent the initiation of tumors
Yogurt
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•
Calcium
Protein
B vitamins
Minerals
(Bacterial supplements have none of
these added benefits)
CLA- Conjugated Linoleic Acid
• One of the most potent naturally
occurring anti-carcinogens
• A component of animal fat
• Found in dairy products and
meat
• Suppresses heart disease in
rabbits
CLA
Physiological Effects:
• Animals eat less
• Increased body protein
• Decreased body fat
(re-partitioning agent)
CLA- Downside Risks
• Associated with fatty foods
• Link to cholesterol
• Association of some fats and
cancer(?)
Safety of Functional Foods
• Complicated inter-play between
bioactive compounds and other
substances
• Lack of research on some
ingredients
• Supplements vs foods