Category: Functional Nutrition

Functional nutrition is a new specialty in the field of nutrition. Functional nutrition is similar to functional medicine; it looks at the root level at which food affects the body. It is important to eat healthy in order to prevent illness and recover from a disease. Some food can be harmful to your body as well and you should avoid eating those foods. Functional nutrients are enriched with nutrients that have a positive effect on health beyond their nutritional value. You should not see functional foods as an alternative to a balanced diet. However, it does provide various health benefits. To maximize your health benefit, you must do lots of physical exercises, quit smoking, and include varied diet which includes fruit and vegetables. Functional food won’t provide a solution to all your health problems, but it can be part of a healthy lifestyle. Here are some tips and studys from a Brazilian Nutritionist Carol Faria, that works in São Paulo – SP and have in your group of specialty the “Nutrição Funcional”, you can check in “Consulta em nutrição funcional” in Carol Farias’s WebSite.

Probiotics

These are live microorganisms that should be taken in adequate amounts to gain health benefits.These foods have been consumed for many years and have a reputation for developing good health. Probiotic bacterial strains are now added to dairy products and other foods. These are also available as supplements. Regular intake of probiotics can have a positive result on your health. For example, it can reduce the duration of diarrhea in patients. It can reduce constipation problems as well. Probiotics can prevent allergic diseases as well. It helps in improving immune function, reduces cholesterol levels in blood and even helps in cancer prevention.

Sterols

These are important components of cell membranes. It controls membrane fluidity. You can find these naturally in many vegetables, fruits, seeds, and nuts. The structure of sterol is similar to that of cholesterol. So, sterols can reduce the cholesterol absorption. Plant sterols block the absorption of cholesterol partially in the gut. This reduces the cholesterol amount that passes into the bloodstream. This lowers the level of bad cholesterol in the body.

Stanols

These are similar to sterols chemically. You will find them in seeds nuts and legumes. But these are available in smaller quantities than sterols. Sterols are often combined with stanols to improve their solubility. Sterols and stanols are both found in plants naturally.

All these functional nutrients help in reducing the chance of cardiovascular diseases. Sterols and stanols are structurally similar to cholesterols and they are very effective for reducing the cholesterol levels in the blood. These must be consumed regularly to keep your cholesterol level in check and stay healthy.