Functional Food News and Research

Latest Functional Food News and Research

Transplanting human gut bugs into mice helps understanding of metabolic system

Bugs found in the guts of humans, which play an important part in people's metabolic makeup, have been transplanted into mice to further understanding of the human and animal metabolic system, reveals a new study in the journal Molecular Systems Biology.

24 May 2007

Not enough is known about long-term safety of "functional foods"

So-called 'functional foods' need to be systematically monitored because not enough is known about their long-term safety and effectiveness, say a group of scientists writing in the British Medical Journal.

18 May 2007

Omega-3 fatty acids from fish oil may prevent the loss of muscle mass in older people

A research team led by Carole Thivierge, from Universit Laval's Institute of Nutraceutics and Functional Foods, shows that omega-3 fatty acids from fish oil have a positive effect on the metabolism of muscle proteins.

10 May 2007

Researcher looks at health benefits of plant-based phytochemicals

Nutrition: It's not just the four basic food groups any more. Researcher Dr. Susanne Mertens-Talcott of Texas A&M University is looking into how plant-based phytochemicals, including antioxidants and herbal supplements, can be useful in the promotion of health and prevention of chronic diseases.

19 Apr 2007

The true value of herbs and spices on health

Compelling evidence that herbs and spices found prevalent in many popular dishes can help ward off disease remains elusive but, according to the latest issue of Food Technology magazine, some small clinical trials raise the question of whether some positive health influence exists.

19 Apr 2007

CogState issued US patent

CogState has announced that it has been issued a patent from the Unites States Patent & Trade Mark Office (US patent no. 7,163,513) for the key technology platform used in its computer-based tests of brain function.

16 Jan 2007

Eating mandarins reduces the risk of liver disease, hardened arteries and insulin resistance

Researchers in Japan say they believe that eating mandarins may cut the risk of developing liver cancer and other diseases.

12 Sep 2006

Probiotic drinks - not all brands live up to claims

According to experts as many as half of all probiotic health drinks do not contain the healthy bacteria they claim on the label.

8 Aug 2006

Green leaves may fight obesity

Could a substance found in green leaves be used as a means of combating obesity, by being added to various functional foods to keep the consumer feeling full longer?

26 Jun 2006

Large portions push people to overeat

According to a new Cornell University study, when moviegoers were served stale popcorn in big buckets, they ate 34 percent more than those given the same stale popcorn in medium-sized containers.

14 Nov 2005

Keap1 protein - a promising new target for drugs to fight many different kinds of cancer

Researchers at the University of Illinois at Chicago are unraveling the biochemical mechanism by which functional foods combat cancer.

11 Jul 2005

Eating lots of fish during and after pregnancy reduces daughters' risk of developing breast cancer

Mothers who eat foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids during pregnancy and while nursing, and who continue to feed their babies such a diet after weaning, may reduce their daughters' risk of developing breast cancer later in life dramatically, according to research presented here today at the 96th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research.

20 Apr 2005

Diabetes Busting Burgers!

Chemists with the U.S. Department of Agriculture recently presented a preliminary report to the 229th national meeting of the American Chemical Society, in which they say they have discovered a form of soluble cellulose that, if added to high-fat food. The new finding could soon benefit people who regularly eat fast-foods that are high in fat.

16 Mar 2005

Chamomile tea shown to boost the immune system and fight infections associated with colds

For centuries, people who’ve felt sick or stressed have tried drinking chamomile tea as a medicinal cure-all. Now, researchers in England have found new evidence that the popular herbal tea may actually help relieve a wide range of health ailments, including colds and menstrual cramps.

5 Jan 2005