317
(carotenoids, polyphenols, flavonoids, betalains, glycosides, alkaloids, saponins),
animal (colostrum, probiotics, whey proteins), mineral (Ca, Mg, I), and microorganisms (functional microbial cultures). The more industrially processed the food,
the lower the proportion of phytochemicals. When the food is refined to the end,
then no phytochemicals remain in it, such as white sugar, alcoholic vinegar, or spirits. The simplest way to ensure the presence of these health-beneficial compounds
is to have a dietary diversity rule and to provide 5–10 servings of fruits and vegetables daily. This ensures the intake of other nutrients important for the functioning of
the body (vitamins, minerals, fiber, essential fats) and then phytochemicals. As food
ingredients in their natural form, biologically active components can be in different
physical states, often composed of numerous active chemical ingredients (colostrum, probiotics, whey proteins). If they are used as food supplements, then according to the consistency, they can be in solid, gelatinous, and liquid state, and according
to the pharmaceutical form, they can be in the form of tablets, capsules, holders,
powders, syrups, etc. (WHO 2003).
11.3.2 The Effect of BAC on Certain Systems in Humans
There are many types of food that can affect different systems in the human body,
and some food ingredients are almost universal, such as antioxidants: vitamin C and
vitamin E, selenium, zinc, polyphenols, flavonoids, carotenoids, colostrum, royal
jelly, etc. Research on phytochemicals and their impact on health has been gaining
increasing attention in recent decades (Marinangeli and Jones 2010). Phytochemicals
are a group of biologically active nonnutritive substances from plants. They have a
functional value for the human body, acting in terms of protection against disease or
prevention. For example, they can act on the immune system immunomodulator,
adaptogen to the endocrine system, and protective bone system and be antimutagenic and anticarcinogenic at the cellular level, etc. Areas where their effects are
currently being intensively investigated are cardiovascular diseases, carcinomas,
bone diseases, digestive and endocrine system health, immunity, and chronic degenerative diseases (Devcich et al. 2007). Since the organism is a complex system
where the functions of individual organs are very closely related, the biologically
active components will also have an impact on the overall condition of the organism. For example, the action of antioxidants to reduce oxidative stress affects the
overall defense system of the body; the action of crude fiber in the digestive system
improves peristalsis and absorption of nutrients, which affects the proper supply of
nutrients to the bloodstream, etc. It is best to show this by the example of vitamin C
which is involved in more than 300 biological processes in the body (Shahidi 2009).
Some of them are collagen biosynthesis, the hormonal system, circulatory system,
nervous system, etc. Vitamin C is needed in vivo (in a living organism) as a cofactor
for at least eight enzymes. The best known are proline hydroxylase and lysine
hydroxylase which participate in collagen biosynthesis. Both enzymes contain iron
in their active sites. Collagen synthesized in the absence of vitamin C is insuffi11 Chemical Composition and Nutritional Properties of Functional Food
(carotenoids, polyphenols, flavonoids, betalains, glycosides, alkaloids, saponins),
animal (colostrum, probiotics, whey proteins), mineral (Ca, Mg, I), and microorganisms (functional microbial cultures). The more industrially processed the food,
the lower the proportion of phytochemicals. When the food is refined to the end,
then no phytochemicals remain in it, such as white sugar, alcoholic vinegar, or spirits. The simplest way to ensure the presence of these health-beneficial compounds
is to have a dietary diversity rule and to provide 5–10 servings of fruits and vegetables daily. This ensures the intake of other nutrients important for the functioning of
the body (vitamins, minerals, fiber, essential fats) and then phytochemicals. As food
ingredients in their natural form, biologically active components can be in different
physical states, often composed of numerous active chemical ingredients (colostrum, probiotics, whey proteins). If they are used as food supplements, then according to the consistency, they can be in solid, gelatinous, and liquid state, and according
to the pharmaceutical form, they can be in the form of tablets, capsules, holders,
powders, syrups, etc. (WHO 2003).
11.3.2 The Effect of BAC on Certain Systems in Humans
There are many types of food that can affect different systems in the human body,
and some food ingredients are almost universal, such as antioxidants: vitamin C and
vitamin E, selenium, zinc, polyphenols, flavonoids, carotenoids, colostrum, royal
jelly, etc. Research on phytochemicals and their impact on health has been gaining
increasing attention in recent decades (Marinangeli and Jones 2010). Phytochemicals
are a group of biologically active nonnutritive substances from plants. They have a
functional value for the human body, acting in terms of protection against disease or
prevention. For example, they can act on the immune system immunomodulator,
adaptogen to the endocrine system, and protective bone system and be antimutagenic and anticarcinogenic at the cellular level, etc. Areas where their effects are
currently being intensively investigated are cardiovascular diseases, carcinomas,
bone diseases, digestive and endocrine system health, immunity, and chronic degenerative diseases (Devcich et al. 2007). Since the organism is a complex system
where the functions of individual organs are very closely related, the biologically
active components will also have an impact on the overall condition of the organism. For example, the action of antioxidants to reduce oxidative stress affects the
overall defense system of the body; the action of crude fiber in the digestive system
improves peristalsis and absorption of nutrients, which affects the proper supply of
nutrients to the bloodstream, etc. It is best to show this by the example of vitamin C
which is involved in more than 300 biological processes in the body (Shahidi 2009).
Some of them are collagen biosynthesis, the hormonal system, circulatory system,
nervous system, etc. Vitamin C is needed in vivo (in a living organism) as a cofactor
for at least eight enzymes. The best known are proline hydroxylase and lysine
hydroxylase which participate in collagen biosynthesis. Both enzymes contain iron
in their active sites. Collagen synthesized in the absence of vitamin C is insuffi11 Chemical Composition and Nutritional Properties of Functional Food