SUMMERLAND, B.C. – Researcher Joe Mazza seeks the goodness in ordinary food at the microbiological level.
He and his team at Agriculture Canada’s Pacific Agri-Food Research Centre in Summerland look for molecules with specific health benefits. Some of those benefits come from a bowl of blueberries, a red-skinned apple or a daily glass of wine.
“A glass or two of wine is definitely of value. But don’t binge on the weekends,” Mazza said.
In Canada, functional food is defined as something that is similar in appearance to conventional food but demonstrates added benefits or reduces the risk of diseases when consumed as part of a regular diet. A nutraceutical is a product isolated or purified from food but sold in powders, pills or other medicinal forms not generally associated with food.
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Research has shown that fruit, vegetables and grain are rich in phytochemicals, which are natural compounds found in plants that can reduce the risk of heart disease or cancer.
For wine lovers, research suggests cabernet franc, merlot and pinot noir red wines contain health benefits because of compounds known as anthocyanins, which create the red, blue and purple pigment found in food. These compounds may reduce the risk of heart disease.
Mazza is looking for the source of these valuable molecules, which are found in blueberries, cherries, black currants, saskatoons and other fruit with coloured skin.
As a man of science, Mazza is hesitant to move ahead of what is scientifically proven and make exuberant claims to sell a food product.
“There is sometimes not enough evidence to support their claims,” he said.
For him, the bottom line is moderation and he encourages people to eat a good quantity of fruit and vegetables every day.
“The idea with fruits is you have to eat a minimum of five servings per day.
“You don’t have to eat five apples. The trick is to eat more variety.”
Despite the known benefits of fresh produce, North Americans do not eat enough fruits and vegetables and, in some cases, consumption might have to increase by 300 percent to meet minimum requirements.
Besides recommending a sound diet, researchers are also looking at ways to change food’s cellular formulation to provide greater health benefits. For example, golden rice in which vitamin A has been introduced, has been proven to improve eyesight when fed to malnourished children.
