528
and civilizations had developed their own traditional food, health and medicine
from their biological resources in the natural environment (Pushpangadan
et al. 2012).
In recent years, especially over the past decade, the relationships between nutrition, physiological function and disease have advanced. The main challenge at the
start of the twentieth century was to provide calories of consistent, sufficient value
and shelf life to the population (Klaffke 2007). Nutrition is viewed with reference to
the dietary needs of the body, according to WHO. A well-balanced diet is an adequate diet that is combined with regular physical activity contributing to good nutrition as well as a pillar of good health. However, disease susceptibility is increased
as poor nutrition leads to reduced immunity. Poor immunity also results in physical
and mental impairment, and reduced productivity (WHO 2014). In maternal and
child health, nutrition plays a major role. The antagonistic birth outcomes have been
associated with poor maternal nutritional status; however, many factors such as
socio-economic, biological and demographic factors vary amid different populations that influence the complex relationship between maternal nutrition and birth
outcome (Merialdi et al. 2003).
Dietary strategies designing is based upon understanding the relationship
between maternal nutrition and birth outcomes that will enhance quality and birth
outcomes over the long term and reduce the mortality, morbidity and cost of health
care (Fall et al. 2003). A unique period in life span is pregnancy that has considerable potential to influence not only maternal health but also have a remarkable effect
on the next generation’s health. Among the pregnancy, maternal and child health
nutrition is the main factor, so dietary intervention can impact maternal, fetal and
infant health. The adverse outcomes of fetal genetic expression and pregnancy are
associated with low maternal nutritional status, alongside metabolism and maternal
body composition, and placental nutrient supply, which are the main factors that can
have a negative or positive effect on fetal development (Cetin and Laoreti 2015).
24.2 Concept of Nutraceuticals
New concepts such as nutraceuticals, nutritional therapy, phytonutrients, and phytotherapy have emerged with this phenomenon (Berger and Shenkin 2006). These
active or therapeutic foods and phytonutrients or phytomedicines play a positive
role in improving health and immune function to prevent diseases, as well as promising to minimize side effects and maintaining ideal health (Ramaa et al. 2006).
Today we recognize the wisdom of the often-quoted saying of the Greek physician
Hippocrates, made almost 2500 years ago, “Let food be thy medicine and medicine
be thy food”. These products are classified as functional foods, dietary supplements
and nutraceuticals “any material that may be considered a food or part of a food and
that offers health and medical benefits including disease prevention and treatment”.
Perhaps the most descriptive term used to refer to this category is “nutraceuticals.”
Stephen DeFelice, founder and chairman of the Medicine Innovation Foundation in
S. Hassan et al.
and civilizations had developed their own traditional food, health and medicine
from their biological resources in the natural environment (Pushpangadan
et al. 2012).
In recent years, especially over the past decade, the relationships between nutrition, physiological function and disease have advanced. The main challenge at the
start of the twentieth century was to provide calories of consistent, sufficient value
and shelf life to the population (Klaffke 2007). Nutrition is viewed with reference to
the dietary needs of the body, according to WHO. A well-balanced diet is an adequate diet that is combined with regular physical activity contributing to good nutrition as well as a pillar of good health. However, disease susceptibility is increased
as poor nutrition leads to reduced immunity. Poor immunity also results in physical
and mental impairment, and reduced productivity (WHO 2014). In maternal and
child health, nutrition plays a major role. The antagonistic birth outcomes have been
associated with poor maternal nutritional status; however, many factors such as
socio-economic, biological and demographic factors vary amid different populations that influence the complex relationship between maternal nutrition and birth
outcome (Merialdi et al. 2003).
Dietary strategies designing is based upon understanding the relationship
between maternal nutrition and birth outcomes that will enhance quality and birth
outcomes over the long term and reduce the mortality, morbidity and cost of health
care (Fall et al. 2003). A unique period in life span is pregnancy that has considerable potential to influence not only maternal health but also have a remarkable effect
on the next generation’s health. Among the pregnancy, maternal and child health
nutrition is the main factor, so dietary intervention can impact maternal, fetal and
infant health. The adverse outcomes of fetal genetic expression and pregnancy are
associated with low maternal nutritional status, alongside metabolism and maternal
body composition, and placental nutrient supply, which are the main factors that can
have a negative or positive effect on fetal development (Cetin and Laoreti 2015).
24.2 Concept of Nutraceuticals
New concepts such as nutraceuticals, nutritional therapy, phytonutrients, and phytotherapy have emerged with this phenomenon (Berger and Shenkin 2006). These
active or therapeutic foods and phytonutrients or phytomedicines play a positive
role in improving health and immune function to prevent diseases, as well as promising to minimize side effects and maintaining ideal health (Ramaa et al. 2006).
Today we recognize the wisdom of the often-quoted saying of the Greek physician
Hippocrates, made almost 2500 years ago, “Let food be thy medicine and medicine
be thy food”. These products are classified as functional foods, dietary supplements
and nutraceuticals “any material that may be considered a food or part of a food and
that offers health and medical benefits including disease prevention and treatment”.
Perhaps the most descriptive term used to refer to this category is “nutraceuticals.”
Stephen DeFelice, founder and chairman of the Medicine Innovation Foundation in
S. Hassan et al.