2.2 Polyphenols and the Colour of Foodstuffs
27
case of black tea. The so-called fermentation process of tea involves the activity of
polyphenol oxidase in the formation of new dark-brown pigments.
On the other hand, thanks to their pigment variability, anthocyanins are used as
natural food additives (i.e. elderberry, purple corn, red cabbage).
2.3 Conclusions
Healthy, sustainable, and savoury, the Mediterranean Diet has a lot going on for it.
Once you start to get into the spicy kick of Med Diet, it is hard to imagine life without
it. When we speak of a quality food that is able to satisfy our nutritional, sanitary,
sensory and societal needs, the Mediterranean menu is able to provide a whole
mosaic of examples. Polyphenols are the magic wand of the Med Diet by configuring
the sensorial proprieties of foods; their colours, their taste (e.g. astringency and
bitterness) in addition to various nutritional functions and health benefits. However,
facing the increasing popularity of polyphenols, it is important to raise awareness on
the need of official regulations particularly in the food supplement’s market, namely
on recommended daily intakes for these phytonutrients. It is also important to claim
that phenols are just one piece of the whole puzzle of dietary components that must
be present in our dishes.
The food system is related to several Sustainable Development Goals (SDG)
involving hunger, health, climate change, natural resources and biodiversity, at least.
On the one hand, food habits and health are closely related; on the other hand,
agricultural practices, environmental impact and biodiversity are related in between
and to dietary habits.
There is an urgent need to limit environmental damage and to cope with climate change while safeguarding biodiversity (particularly of edible plants) and
simultaneously providing a nutritious diet to a growing world population.
In this sense, Med Diet may provide a path to address several SDG because of its
sustainable character, its encouragement of biodiversity and seasonality, its respect
for small producers and local economies, and the ease of providing nutritious foods
at affordable prices. Youth can be the most puzzling segment of consumers; on the
one side, teenagers tend to follow a fast-food culture and to be faithful to large
corporation’s brands. On the other side, youngsters are becoming more and more
aware of climate change and the impact of their dietary choices.
References
Abdel-Aal ESM, Young JC, Rabalski I (2006) Anthocyanin composition in black, blue, pink, purple,
and red cereal grains. J Agric Food Chem 54(13):4696–4704. https://doi.org/10.1021/jf0606609
27
case of black tea. The so-called fermentation process of tea involves the activity of
polyphenol oxidase in the formation of new dark-brown pigments.
On the other hand, thanks to their pigment variability, anthocyanins are used as
natural food additives (i.e. elderberry, purple corn, red cabbage).
2.3 Conclusions
Healthy, sustainable, and savoury, the Mediterranean Diet has a lot going on for it.
Once you start to get into the spicy kick of Med Diet, it is hard to imagine life without
it. When we speak of a quality food that is able to satisfy our nutritional, sanitary,
sensory and societal needs, the Mediterranean menu is able to provide a whole
mosaic of examples. Polyphenols are the magic wand of the Med Diet by configuring
the sensorial proprieties of foods; their colours, their taste (e.g. astringency and
bitterness) in addition to various nutritional functions and health benefits. However,
facing the increasing popularity of polyphenols, it is important to raise awareness on
the need of official regulations particularly in the food supplement’s market, namely
on recommended daily intakes for these phytonutrients. It is also important to claim
that phenols are just one piece of the whole puzzle of dietary components that must
be present in our dishes.
The food system is related to several Sustainable Development Goals (SDG)
involving hunger, health, climate change, natural resources and biodiversity, at least.
On the one hand, food habits and health are closely related; on the other hand,
agricultural practices, environmental impact and biodiversity are related in between
and to dietary habits.
There is an urgent need to limit environmental damage and to cope with climate change while safeguarding biodiversity (particularly of edible plants) and
simultaneously providing a nutritious diet to a growing world population.
In this sense, Med Diet may provide a path to address several SDG because of its
sustainable character, its encouragement of biodiversity and seasonality, its respect
for small producers and local economies, and the ease of providing nutritious foods
at affordable prices. Youth can be the most puzzling segment of consumers; on the
one side, teenagers tend to follow a fast-food culture and to be faithful to large
corporation’s brands. On the other side, youngsters are becoming more and more
aware of climate change and the impact of their dietary choices.
References
Abdel-Aal ESM, Young JC, Rabalski I (2006) Anthocyanin composition in black, blue, pink, purple,
and red cereal grains. J Agric Food Chem 54(13):4696–4704. https://doi.org/10.1021/jf0606609