The current emphasis in preventative medicine encourages healthy lifestyles such as a balanced diet and exercise. In recent years a balanced diet has focused on ensuring functional foods are part of our diet. Functional foods are similar in appearance to conventional foods, but in addition to providing basic nutritional components, have physiological benefits that can reduce the risk of chronic diseases.

 The bioactive components responsible for the health benefits of functional foods are referred to as nutraceuticals. The past decade has witnessed a dramatic expansion in research activities worldwide to identify new functional foods and nutraceuticals. The latter will hopefully enhance the health and wellbeing of an aging population.