Contents
10.1 Introduction................................................................................................................... 290
10.2 Cancer Influenced by Dietary Compounds ................................................................. 292
10.3 Diabetes: Sweet Genes ................................................................................................. 296
10.4 Obesity: Feed Your Genes Right................................................................................. 304
10.5 Coronary Diseases: Gene-Nutrient Connection........................................................... 307
10.6 Other Diseases .............................................................................................................. 310
References................................................................................................................................ 312
10.1 Introduction
Plants as autotroph are able to acquire the basic elements (minerals) and synthesize
the full spectrum of organic molecules required to support their growth and
propagation. Humans require the same basic elements as plants, but lack the ability
to synthesize many organic molecules (i.e., so-called essential micronutrients
[certain amino acids and vitamins]), for which plants are the main dietary source.
Therefore, human nutritional health is dependent on plant food directly or indirectly (through feeding on animals that feed on plants). In contrast with the three
major nutrients (carbohydrates, proteins, and lipids), micronutrients by definition
do not provide energy and are needed in relatively small amounts by organisms.
Micronutrient deficiency has been directly linked to human disease for well over a
century (Fitzpatrick et al. 2012).
The importance of diet to health has become even more obvious with the
realization that many of life’s modern diseases are the result of subtle but chronic
metabolic imbalances related partly to diet. One of the major issues in the twentyfirst century facing humankind is the prescription to stay healthy and delay the
onset of chronic metabolic diseases. Chronic metabolic diseases still afflict a
substantial percentage of modern human population despite advances in medical
and health care technologies (Sarmidi and Enshasy 2012).
Despite these exciting development in the healthcare products and services,
humans are increasingly overwhelm by problems ranging from malnutrition,
chronic metabolic diseases, iatropic in medical care (Lazarou et al. 1998), environmental degradation, water contamination, and increasing cost of living.
Chronic metabolic diseases such as diabetes type 2, cancer, cardiovascular disease,
hypertension, and autoimmune disorder are on the rise globally (Moussavi et al.
2007). As a result, there is a major paradigm shift in the healthcare industry from
sickness centered to wellness focus.
Plants and plant products play very important role in human life. As a food
source, plants directly constitute 93 % of the human diet, with the remaining 7 %
being indirectly derived from plants via animal products. Beside food application,
plants have been utilized as medicines for thousands of years and still used as
290
R. Campos-Vega et al.
10.1 Introduction................................................................................................................... 290
10.2 Cancer Influenced by Dietary Compounds ................................................................. 292
10.3 Diabetes: Sweet Genes ................................................................................................. 296
10.4 Obesity: Feed Your Genes Right................................................................................. 304
10.5 Coronary Diseases: Gene-Nutrient Connection........................................................... 307
10.6 Other Diseases .............................................................................................................. 310
References................................................................................................................................ 312
10.1 Introduction
Plants as autotroph are able to acquire the basic elements (minerals) and synthesize
the full spectrum of organic molecules required to support their growth and
propagation. Humans require the same basic elements as plants, but lack the ability
to synthesize many organic molecules (i.e., so-called essential micronutrients
[certain amino acids and vitamins]), for which plants are the main dietary source.
Therefore, human nutritional health is dependent on plant food directly or indirectly (through feeding on animals that feed on plants). In contrast with the three
major nutrients (carbohydrates, proteins, and lipids), micronutrients by definition
do not provide energy and are needed in relatively small amounts by organisms.
Micronutrient deficiency has been directly linked to human disease for well over a
century (Fitzpatrick et al. 2012).
The importance of diet to health has become even more obvious with the
realization that many of life’s modern diseases are the result of subtle but chronic
metabolic imbalances related partly to diet. One of the major issues in the twentyfirst century facing humankind is the prescription to stay healthy and delay the
onset of chronic metabolic diseases. Chronic metabolic diseases still afflict a
substantial percentage of modern human population despite advances in medical
and health care technologies (Sarmidi and Enshasy 2012).
Despite these exciting development in the healthcare products and services,
humans are increasingly overwhelm by problems ranging from malnutrition,
chronic metabolic diseases, iatropic in medical care (Lazarou et al. 1998), environmental degradation, water contamination, and increasing cost of living.
Chronic metabolic diseases such as diabetes type 2, cancer, cardiovascular disease,
hypertension, and autoimmune disorder are on the rise globally (Moussavi et al.
2007). As a result, there is a major paradigm shift in the healthcare industry from
sickness centered to wellness focus.
Plants and plant products play very important role in human life. As a food
source, plants directly constitute 93 % of the human diet, with the remaining 7 %
being indirectly derived from plants via animal products. Beside food application,
plants have been utilized as medicines for thousands of years and still used as
290
R. Campos-Vega et al.