As a result of domestication - considered to be the most important cultural development of the past 13,000 years of human history - we depend today on a tiny number of domesticated plant and animal species for our food supply. Nevertheless, people continue to gather food which grows around their homes or they cultivate local varieties of food plants (as well as keep land races of domestic animals). Generally, wild varieties tend to be richer in micronutrients and bioactive secondary metabolites, which are produced in adaptation to local environmental conditions. These metabolites trigger further adaptive responses by producing 'protective', bioactive compounds which, when ingested, result in the transfer of protective effects to our organism. The preservation of local knowledge for future generations as well as the identification of new nutraceuticals by means of characterizing plant extracts with potential health beneficial effects are the main objectives of this book. The first part therefore focuses on the ethnobotanical study of local food plants in selected regions of the Mediterranean, i.e. their use as well as beliefs and cultural practices associated with it. The biological-pharmacological effects of these plants on selected (mostly in vitro) targets of the central nervous system and the cardiovascular system make up the second part, highlighting the potential of these plants for developing novel health foods, herbal medicines or local products with beneficial effects on health. Those interested in an integrated approach to the identification of new and health beneficial foods will undoubtedly find this book a valuable source of information and an inspiration for new scientific approaches to this age-old topic.

A volume in the Consumer Science and Strategic Marketing Series, Case Studies on the Business of Nutraceuticals considers nutraceuticals from a strategic marketing perspective, exploring consumer needs and trends as a pathway to defining novel opportunities in developing and marketing these products.In addition to highlighting the importance of consumer needs in shaping a market strategy for nutraceuticals, this book also defines emerging trends and explores recent developments in the nutraceutical industry.Containing 11 chapters, this book, explores the competitive landscape of the global and European nutraceutical market, focusing on key market drivers, consumer and product trends, and marketing and technological challenges.Case Studies on the Business of Nutraceuticals outlines the processes that lead to the introduction of new products and the entrance of new competitors in the market and highlights how a market strategy that's focused on consumers' needs can contribute to a company's strategy.The case studies and examples contained in this book demonstrate how companies can employ consumer science strategies to revise existing or develop new products and are sure to be a welcomed resource by new product developers, policy makers, food scientists, academicians, and students studying related fields. - Explores the importance of understanding consumers when defining a market strategy - Highlights the importance of adopting a sustainable orientation in the nutraceutical industry - Addresses the competitive dynamics that are currently affecting the nutraceutical industry

This book is the result of collaboration between botanists and food chemists, with the purpose of improving the knowledge of the main wild species of traditional use as foods in the Mediterranean area, focus on ethnobotanical aspects, natural production, uses and nutritional aspects. One of the novelties of the book would be the publication of complete food composition tables of more than 40 species, which are not usually included in nutrient databases of foods. Many of the data included comes from the chemical analysis of representative samples of these species and other are compiled from the scientific literature. Since this topic had not been fully studied, this book provides an interesting tool to be used with the purpose of the revalorization of wild food species, preservation of their traditional uses, and also as alternatives to improve the diversity of modern Mediterranean diets.​

Currently 868 million people are undernourished and 195 million children under five years of age are stunted. At the same time, over 1 billion people are overweight and obese in both the developed and developing world. Diseases previously associated with affluence, such as cancer, diabetes and cardio-vascular disease, are on the rise. Food system-based approaches to addressing these problems that could enhance food availability and diet quality through local production and agricultural biodiversity often fall outside the traditional scope of nutrition, and have been under-researched. As a consequence, there remains insufficient evidence to support well-defined, scalable agricultural biodiversity interventions that can be linked to improvements in nutrition outcomes. Agricultural biodiversity is important for food and nutritional security, as a safeguard against hunger, a source of nutrients for improved dietary diversity and quality, and strengthening local food systems and environmental sustainability. This book explores the current state of knowledge on the role of agricultural biodiversity in improving diets, nutrition and food security. Using examples and case studies from around the globe, the book explores current strategies for improving nutrition and diets and identifies key research and implementation gaps that need to be addressed to successfully promote the better use of agricultural biodiversity for rural and urban populations and societies in transition.

Wild Plants, Mushrooms and Nuts: Functional Properties and Food Applications is a compendium of current and novel research on the chemistry, biochemistry, nutritional and pharmaceutical value of traditional food products, namely wild mushrooms, plants and nuts, which are becoming more relevant in diets, and are especially useful for developing novel health foods and in modern natural food therapies. Topics covered will range from their nutritional value, chemical and biochemical characterization, to their multifunctional applications as food with beneficial effects on health, though their biological and pharmacological properties (antioxidant, antibacterial, antifungal, antitumor capacity, among others).

Recent large-scale epidemiological studies have confirmed the pre-eminence of the Mediterranean diet for reducing the risk of primary and secondary heart disease and cancer. There is also increasingly convincing evidence for its protective value against diabetes, dementias and other age-related disorders, and for increasing overall longevity. The Mediterranean Diet: Health and Science is a timely, authoritative and accessible account of the Mediterranean diet for nutritionists and dieticians. It discusses the Mediterranean diet in the light of recent developments in nutritional biochemistry, disease mechanisms and epidemiological studies, and also provides advice on nutrition policies and interventions. The Mediterranean Diet: Health and Science opens with an overview of the Mediterranean diet, and this is followed by a survey of the latest epidemiological evidence for its health benefits. There is detailed nutritional information on olive oil, wine, fish, fruit and vegetables and other components of the Mediterranean diet, and this information is used to explain how the diet protects against a range of age-related diseases. The book emphasises the importance of understanding the Mediterranean diet in its totality by discussing the evidence for beneficial interactions between various components of the diet. There are also discussions of how agricultural practices, as well as food preparation and cooking techniques, influence the nutritional quality of the diet. The book concludes by discussing the social context in which the Mediterranean diet is eaten, and public health issues associated with adopting a Mediterranean diet, especially in the context of more northerly countries. Written by nutritional biochemist Richard Hoffman and a past President of the French Nutrition Society, Mariette Gerber, who between them have many years experience in this area, this exciting and highly topical boook is an essential purchase for all nutritionists and dietitians worldwide. Libraries in all universities where nutrition, dietetics and food science and technology are studied and taught should have copies of this excellent book on their shelves.

Formulations, Regulations, and Challenges of Nutraceuticals focuses on various novel micro- and nanocarriers being employed in the formulation and delivery of nutraceutical ingredients to increase their efficacy, bioavailability, safety, and stability. It also highlights the current challenges and future strategies for the development of novel nutraceuticals and functional foods with enhanced health benefits. The focus is on the formulations and regulations. As compared to traditional drugs, there are no minimal regulations on nutraceutical products, which make them more market friendly. Since nutraceutical ingredients have no defined regulations at global level, they are not considered as medicine or therapeutic agents. Some countries have devised their own guidelines for regulating the usage of nutraceuticals, either as pharmaceutical ingredients or as food supplements. This volume addresses the need for common regulatory guidelines with important research on the production of stable and efficient nutraceutical formulations. The numerous regulatory frameworks being employed in Asia and European regulatory agencies in commercialization of nutraceutical products produced by manufacturing companies are discussed. Chapters examine the factors affecting the stability of nutraceuticals in food and gut environments by stressing the results generated from in vitro and in vivo studies and suggests good manufacturing practices to be followed for the development of nutraceuticals. Formulations, Regulations, and Challenges of Nutraceuticals will be valuable for upper-level students, faculty, nutraceutical researchers and practitioners, regulatory agencies, and those involved in the production and development of nutraceutical products.