SCIENTIFIC-APPLIED SIGNIFICANCE OF FUNCTIONAL FOODS IN REGULATION OF MAIN METABOLITIC PROCESSES


Authors: Rositza Toncheva, Atanas Petkov, Yana Kashilska
Keywords: functional foods, food model, physiological needs, metabolic processes

Abstract:
Healthy eating meets the metabolic needs of the body, ensures good health and active life longevity. The modern concept of nutrition is oriented not only to adequate but also to optimal intake of macro- and micronutrients. Nutritional imbalances (both deficiencies and surpluses) are an indisputable etiological factor for a number of chronic non-infectious diseases - cardiovascular, metabolic, cancerous, osteoporosis and others.
The present work is to perform a specialized analysis and discussion of the scientific and applied significance of functional foods in the regulation of basic metabolic processes.
The main importance in a balanced diet are the so-called. functional foods - one of the new directions in the science of nutrition. There are many definitions that mark the term. The most common is: "Food that satisfactorily demonstrates beneficial effects in terms of one or more target functions in the body, beyond adequate nutritional effects, as well as affecting improved health status or reducing the health risk of developing the disease."
Functional foods and nutritional supplements are expected to help balance the food model in developed countries. It is indisputable, however, that a natural diet cannot be replaced by any extracts and functional components, as food is not only a means of satisfying physiological needs, but also one of the greatest human pleasures.Download article