Define Food Components Other Than Essential Nutrients?

In the previous units so far, we have read about the six major nutrients, which are essential for us. Though these vary in their requirements and roles, they have significance in our daily diets. Apart from these nutrients, there is certain health- promoting essential nutritional factors which have protective and preventive functions. In this unit, we will be studying about what are these and their beneficial, as well as, adverse health effects. The idea that food can be health-promoting beyond nutritional value is gaining a wide acceptance. This broad view of nutrition has led to the concept of 'functionality'. The American Dietetic Association (ADA) has taken the position that specific substance in food e.g. phyto chemicals may benefit health when consumed as a part of a varied diet.

Many common foods contain non-nutritive components that may provide protection against chronic diseases. It is believed that 'nutraceuticals7 or 'functional foods' will help to provide an increased 'health span', that is, medical benefits, including the prevention and treatment of disease. These substances are bioactive (extra-nutritional) constituents of foods which can act as chemopreventers i.e. have anticarcinogenic and other beneficial properties evoking physiological, behavioural and immunologic effects. This unit deals with such health promotive nutritional factors and bioactive constituents- their potential health implications and mechanisms of action to the extent that has been elucidated so far. While reading this unit you should bear in mind that despite animal research and some clinical trials, there is still uncertainty about the absolute safety and long-term benefits of supplementing the diet with some of these constituents. While functional foods in general have promoting properties, some of them may have an adverse effect on absorption or utilization of certain nutrients.