Advances in Nutraceuticals and Functional Foods: Concepts and Applications

This book examines the rapidly growing field of functional foods in the prevention and management of chronic and infectious diseases. Chapters explore the varied sources, biochemical properties, metabolics, health benefits, and safety of bioactive ingredients of nutraceutical and functional food products. Special emphasis is given to linking the molecular and chemical structures of biologically active components in foods to their nutritional and pharmacological effects on human health and wellness. In addition to discussing scientific and clinical rationales for different sources of functional foods, the book also explains in detail scientific methodologies used to investigate the functionality, effectiveness, and safety of bioactive ingredients in food.

The chapter authors discuss advanced nanocarriers for nutraceuticals based on structured lipids and nonlipids, nanoparticulate approaches for improved nutrient bioavailability, adulteration and safety issues, nanodelivery systems, microencapsulation, and more. The book discusses some particular health benefits from nutrition nutraceuticals, including probiotic dairy and non-dairy products and bioactive proteins and peptides as functional foods. The volume also gives an overview of emerging trends, growth patterns, and new opportunities in the field of nutraceuticals and functional foods.

Sreerag Gopi, PhD, is Chief Scientific Officer at ADSO Naturals, India, and Vice President at CureSupport, Netherlands. He is a recipient of a prestigious Erasmus Mundus Fellowship from the European Union during his PhD period. He is a materials chemist and nanomaterials scientist and has expertise in nanomaterial synthesis, characterization, biocomposites for natural products, and biomedical and water purification experiments. He has published over 20 peer-reviewed international papers and several book chapters and has book projects in the works with the Royal Society of Chemistry, Springer, and Wiley. He was selected as an associate member of the Royal Society of Chemistry in 2018, and he is a chartered member of the Royal Australian Chemical Institute.

Preetha Balakrishnan, PhD, is the principal scientist, QA, QC, at ADSO Naturals, India, and at CureSupport, Netherlands. She was a postdoctoral researcher in the research group of Professor Sabu Thomas, Vice Chancellor, an internationally renowned scientist in polymer science and engineering, polymer nanocomposites, elastomers, polymer blends, interpenetrating polymer networks, polymer membranes, green composites and nanocomposites, nanomedicine, and green nanotechnology. She has visited many foreign universities as a part of her research and has published over 15 research articles and over 20 book chapters. She has edited ten books with leading publishers. Dr. Balakrishnan has received several national and international presentation awards. She also worked as a guest lecturer in chemistry at the Department of Chemistry, Morning Star Home Science College, Angamaly, Kerala, India.