Seminar discusses benefits of functional foods

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, October 15

A seminar on “Nutraceuticals to save you from diseases” was organised in the city today. Neeta Dewan, diet and nutrition expert, said, “Nutraceuticals are also known as functional foods as they delay the onset and lower the risk of certain diseases.”

She said these were first identified in Japan and given a legal name “Fishy foods”, which were foods for specific health use. “These improve the immune system, slow down the ageing process and help in recovering from specific diseases,” she added.

“The most important components of nutraceuticals are probiotics. These provide live organisms provided by foods including curd, idli, dhokla, and fermented vegetables, fruits, meat in pickles,” she said.

“These live organisms stimulate growth of other useful bacteria in the intestine, which make us healthy. Prebiotics are food ingredients, which help the useful microorganisms to grow in our intestine like bifidobacterium and lactobacillus,” she added.

“Prebiotics help in losing excess weight. Butyric acid produced by the fermentation of prebiotics makes the bad bacteria difficult to survive in the intestine,” she said.

Neeta said, “Prebiotics act as antioxidants and anti-carcinogens. They reduce incidence of intestinal infections, lower glucose and lipoid levels, besides boost immunity and reduce risk of diseases like hypertension and osteoporosis,” she added

“The best source of probiotics is yogurts, sour creams and paneer, supplemented with biofidobacteria, streptococci and lactic acid bacteria,” she said.

“The best source of prebiotics is garlic, which contains allicin that helps cardiovascular system, lowers cholesterol and is anti-inflammatory,” she added.

“Onion, which contains sulphur components and quercetin, is useful for improving immunity, reducing inflammations and is good for allergies in addition to helping useful gut bacteria to flourish. Apples have polyphenols and antioxidants, which fight harmful free radicles,” she said.

“Other good sources of prebiotics are banana, berries, legumes, whole grain, nuts, seeds and colorful fruits,” she added.