Abstract: The modern lifestyle and dietary habits increased the progression of non-communicable diseases both in developed and developing countries. Lifestyle changes associated with the consumption of healthy foods and nutraceuticals should play a significant role in preventing and managing chronic diseases. Hence, there has been a growing interest in natural resources that can be used in functional food, nutraceuticals, and pharmaceutical products. Marine algae have a long history of use in functional foods and nutraceuticals due to the presence of valuable sources of bioactive compounds and they are considered "superfoods" in the food industry. Globally, the demand for edible seaweeds has increased due to high nutritional value and is increasingly being consumed by Asians due to the functional benefits beyond the traditional considerations of nutrition and health. Edible macroalgae are rich in carbohydrates, protein, soluble dietary fiber, and a range of vitamins and minerals. Also, they are rich in bioactive metabolites of polyphenols, alkaloids, tannins, flavonoids, sterols, enzymes, essential fatty acids, peptides, pigments, and are reported to exhibit human beneficial effects. Therefore, this chapter represents the algal functional compounds and their health benefits that can be used as candidates in the food and nutraceuticals industry to improve human health.
Publication Year: 2022
Publication Date: 2022-02-24
Language: en
Type: book-chapter
Indexed In: ['crossref']
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Cited By Count: 1
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