The Role of Food Antioxidants, Benefits of Functional Foods, and Influence of Feeding Habits on the Health of the Older Person: An Overview

Wilson, Douglas; Nash, Paul; Buttar, Harpal; Griffiths, Keith; Singh, Ram; De Meester, Fabien; Horiuchi, Rie; Takahashi, Toru

Abstract

This overview was directed towards understanding the relationship of brain functions with dietary choices mainly by older humans. This included food color, flavor, and aroma, as they relate to dietary sufficiency or the association of antioxidants with neurodegenerative diseases such as dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. Impairment of olfactory and gustatory function in relation to these diseases was also explored. The role of functional foods was considered as a potential treatment of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease through inhibition of acetylcholinesterase as well as similar treatments based on herbs, spices and antioxidants therein. The importance of antioxidants for maintaining the physiological functions of liver, kidney, digestive system, and prevention of cardiovascular diseases and cancer has also been highlighted. Detailed discussion was focused on health promotion of the older person through the frequency and patterns of dietary intake, and a human ecology framework to estimate adverse risk factors for health. Finally, the role of the food industry, mass media, and apps were explored for today’s new older person generation.

Citation

Wilson, D., Nash, P., Buttar, H., Griffiths, K., Singh, R., De Meester, F., …Takahashi, T. (2017). The Role of Food Antioxidants, Benefits of Functional Foods, and Influence of Feeding Habits on the Health of the Older Person: An Overview. Antioxidants, 6(4), Article 81. https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox6040081

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Oct 18, 2017
• Online Publication Date: Oct 28, 2017
• Publication Date: Dec 31, 2017
• Deposit Date: Apr 1, 2019
• Publicly Available Date: Apr 1, 2019
• Journal: Antioxidants
• Publisher: MDPI
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 6
• Issue: 4
• Article Number: 81
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox6040081