Fruit and vegetable antioxidants in health

In the history of human nutrition, one of the most widespread alimentary regimens linked to health protection is represented by the Mediterranean diet (MD). MD eating patterns consist of the wide use of whole grains, fruits, vegetables, nuts, fish, and olive oil. People obtain a wide range of antioxidants from the intake of a large variety of fresh fruits and vegetables. Investigations have shown that the risk of cancer and other chronic diseases is inversely related to the consumption of vegetables and fruits. Results are maximally oriented to attribute the highest protective role to the antioxidant compounds contained in fruits and vegetables. Processed fruits and vegetables show a wide range of phytochemical loss. The technology in the food industry should be used to reduce the loss of antioxidants and micronutrients to the minimum level by means of mild processes and the monitoring of each step of the transformation with due control assays. Functional foods, containing fruit and vegetable juices or extracts, are an important part of the healthy lifestyle, which includes a balanced diet and physical activity. To deliver their potential public health benefits, functional foods need to be quality controlled through the collaborative efforts of food-control organizations and the food industry, in order to market only those functional foods that are clearly supported with scientific evidence of nutritional value. The emerging field of nutrigenomics, or "personalized nutrition," provides individual dietary recommendations and may one day have a greater ability to reduce the risk of disease. © 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.