OUR TECHNOLOGY
Functional foods – health in everyday meals
Functional foods are natural products which, in addition to their nutritional value, have a proven beneficial effect on health. They must resemble traditional foods and fit into a balanced daily diet.
- Market trend
In recent years, functional foods have become one of the fastest growing segments of the food market.
- Natural origin
Natural products that may be enriched or modified to support specific bodily functions.
- Health benefits
In addition to nutrition, they support immunity, well-being and may reduce the risk of lifestyle diseases.
Functional foods are everyday foods that form part of a normal, well-balanced diet and are intended for regular consumption. They must resemble conventional foods in both form and method of consumption.
It is not a capsule, tablet or supplement in the classic pharmaceutical form. Its beneficial effects should result from the natural consumption of the product in quantities that can be provided as part of the daily diet.
The carriers of bioactive substances in functional foods are regularly consumed products such as dairy products, cereal products and fruit juices. It is in these forms that the active ingredients can be effectively delivered to the body, combining nutritional value with proven health benefits.
In 1996, the European Commission initiated the FUFOSE (Functional Food Science in Europe) project, which defined the scientific criteria for functional foods.
Food can be considered functional if, in addition to its nutritional value, it has a proven beneficial effect on one or more bodily functions.
All about curcumin
Curcumin is a polyphenol naturally found in turmeric rhizomes (Curcuma longa), known and used for thousands of years in Far Eastern medical traditions.
Dried turmeric rhizomes contain 3–5% essential oils and 0.02–6.0% curcuminoids, such as curcumin, demethoxycurcumin and bisdemethoxycurcumin. Their quantity and proportions depend on growing conditions and extraction technology.
In addition to their colouring and flavouring properties, curcuminoids have numerous health benefits. Turmeric extracts can have the following effects:
- anti-inflammatory
- antifungal
- antiviral
- anticancer
(This is confirmed by pharmacological studies: Jennings and Parks, 2020; Amalraj et al., 2017; Yamamoto et al., 1997; Apisariyakul et al., 1995; Ruby et al., 1995)
In order for curcuminoids to have an effect on the body, they must be absorbed from the digestive tract into the bloodstream and then reach their target cells (Amalraj et al., 2017; Jäger et al., 2014).
Our solution
The product named milcu® is a food additive based on highly bioavailable curcumin, designed for dairy products as well as vegan milk alternatives, which allows for the extension of shelf life (by 100–200% compared to analogous products without the additive) and microbiological stability of dairy products and vegan dairy alternatives (plant-based beverages).
Products containing our additive gain nutraceutical properties as functional foods – in this particular case, it is antiviral activity (blocking the replication and invasiveness of foodborne viruses, e.g. rotaviruses).
Products containing our additive gain anti-inflammatory properties (alleviating inflammation associated with cancer, endometriosis and infections).
Products containing our additive gain properties that support the regeneration of joints and the muscular system (micro-injuries associated with intensive sports training and competitive sports).
Products containing our additive gain properties that modulate the stability of bacterial microflora.
Products fermented with our additive also gain potential antidepressant properties as a mild antidepressant that alleviates the symptoms of seasonal depression (the fermentation process involving our additive increases the bioavailability of curcumin in the form of glucuronide, a derivative capable of crossing the blood-brain barrier, which enables curcumin to interact with serotonin receptors).
If you want to know the details and specification, please contact our research and development department