Optimisation of a process for production of pomegranate pulp and flaxseed powder fortified probiotic Greek dahi

A comprehensive review on recent novel food and industrial applications of flaxseed: 2014 onwards

Flaxseed or linseed is an oilseed obtained from a plant, known as the flax (Linum usitatissimum). It is a valuable source of various bioactive components such as omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, proteins, lignans, dietary fibres and phytochemicals. The in-vivo, in-vitro studies and research on human subjects and in animal models, conducted throughout the globe, on health benefits associated with the consumption of various forms of flaxseed are discussed in this review. It provides an insight into recent developments and potential applications of flaxseeds in the form of whole seeds, meals, flour or oil in an array of food and feed products and non-food industrial applications. The details about novel health benefits associated with flaxseeds and information related to commercially available flaxseed-based i.e. enriched products are also the salient feature of the review. Here, we have provided the state of the art of most recent comprehensive information post the first detailed review on flaxseed as a modern food released in 2014.

A comprehensive review on recent novel food and industrial applications of flaxseed: 2014 onwards

Flaxseed or linseed is an oilseed obtained from a plant, known as the flax (Linum usitatissimum). It is a valuable source of various bioactive components such as omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, proteins, lignans, dietary fibres and phytochemicals. The in-vivo, in-vitro studies and research on human subjects and in animal models, conducted throughout the globe, on health benefits associated with the consumption of various forms of flaxseed are discussed in this review. It provides an insight into recent developments and potential applications of flaxseeds in the form of whole seeds, meals, flour or oil in an array of food and feed products and non-food industrial applications. The details about novel health benefits associated with flaxseeds and information related to commercially available flaxseed-based i.e. enriched products are also the salient feature of the review. Here, we have provided the state of the art of most recent comprehensive information post the first detailed review on flaxseed as a modern food released in 2014.

Effectiveness of probiotics, prebiotics, and prebiotic-like components in common functional foods

The bioactive ingredients in commonly consumed foods include, but are not limited to, prebiotics, prebiotic-like components, probiotics, and postbiotics. The bioactive ingredients in functional foods have also been associated with beneficial effects on human health. For example, they aid in shaping of gut microflora and promotion of immunity. These functional components also contribute in preventing serious diseases such as cardiovascular malfunction and tumorigenesis. However, the specific mechanisms of these positive influences on human health are still under investigation. In this review, we aim to emphasize the major contents of probiotics, prebiotics, and prebiotic-like components commonly found in consumable functional foods, and we present an overview of direct and indirect benefits they provide on human health. The major contributors are certain families of metabolites, specifically short-chain fatty acids and polyunsaturated fatty acids produced by probiotics, and prebiotics, or prebiotic-like components such as flavonoids, polyphenols, and vitamins that are found in functional foods. These functional ingredients in foods influence the gut microbiota by stimulating the growth of beneficial microbes and the production of beneficial metabolites that, in turn, have direct benefits to the host, while also providing protection from pathogens and maintaining a balanced gut ecosystem. The complex interactions that arise among functional food ingredients, human physiology, the gut microbiota, and their respective metabolic pathways have been found to minimize several factors that contribute to the incidence of chronic disease, such as inflammation oxidative stress.