Functional Foods: Phytochemicals, Flavor, Fun, and Flatulence

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Functional Foods Phytochemicals, Flavor, Fun,
and Flatulence

• Jeffrey E. Harris, DrPH, MPH, RD, LDN
• Department of Health
• West Chester University

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Back in the Day

• White, Brown, Dull Green Diet
• Basic Four
• Calories, Calories, Calories
• Enrichment
• Good foods, bad foods

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Then and Now in Nutrition
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Nutrigenomics

• Study of relationship between food, nutrients,
  and genes.

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Eating Patterns Rich in Phytochemical Foods

• Mediterrasian
• Okinawa
• Portfolio Plan

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Functional Foods

• Foods that have health promoting, disease
  fighting, medicinal value,
• and performance and metabolism optimizing effects
  beyond their basic , traditional nutrients.

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Phytochemicals and Zoochemicals

• 80,000!

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Classes of Phytochemicals

• Carotenoids
• Polyphenols
• Phytates
• Lignans
• Isothiocyanates and Indoles
• Phenolic Compounds
• Saponins
• Sulfides and Thiols
• Terpenes

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How Do They Protect Us?

• Antioxidants
• ? Immune response
• Cell communication
• Estrogen metabolism
• Ca cell death
• Repair genes
• Detoxify
• Gene regulation
• ? Inflammation

• Vasodilation
• Thins blood
• Antimicrobial
• Enzyme regulation
• ? adhesion of microbes

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Key Functional Foods
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Dark Chocolate

• polyphenols
• ? blood pressure
• thins blood
• neutral fat
• ? good cholesterol
• ? diarrhea
• ? insulin sensitivity

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Cinnamon

• blood sugar control
• ? TGs
• ? bad cholesterol
• antibacterial
• sharpen thinking ability
• 20 day effect

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Blueberries

• antioxidants
• anti-inflammatory
• Vasodilation
• thins blood
• anticancer
• digestive health
• urinary-tract health
• protects retina
• brain protection

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Spinach

• powerfully anticancer
• rich in bioactive substances
• protects retina
• bone health
• ? blood pressure

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Wild Salmon

• anti-inflammatory
• increases good cholesterol
• thins blood
• ? blood pressure
• protects retina
• combat autoimmune diseases
• relieve depression

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Walnuts

• thins blood
• ? blood pressure
• omega-3s
• anti-inflammatory
• anti-diabetes
• polyphenol-rich
• anticancer
• high fiber

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Conclusions

• Dietary pattern of functional foods
• Be selective
• Foods over supplements
• Read more about this issue
• Combine functional foods in recipes
• New one once a month
• Whole, less refined foods
• Drawbacks Gas and Price

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Resources for Further Study

• Superfoods Rx, Steven Pratt and Kathy Matthews
• Superfoods Health Style, Steven Pratt and Kathy
  Matthews
• Genetics The Nutrition Connection, Ruth DeBusk
• 101 Foods That Could Save Your Life, David Grotto

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More Resources

• Center for Excellence for Nutritional Genomics
  _at_UC Davis, www.nutrigenomics.ucdavis.edu
• Network for Excellence in Nutrigenomics
  (European), www.nugo.org