Designer Herbal Foods - A New Hope

In today’s hectic world, a proper healthy routine is difficult to control and due to this people’s eating habit and lifestyle is changing.  Nowadays they are consuming junk food which is increasing the chance of various diseases and nutritional deficiencies. 

It is a matter of concern and there must be a check on the consumption pattern. The new trend of designer foods can be the best solution.  The obvious question what is ‘Designer Foods’? 

Designer Foods 

Designer foods that fortified with healthy ingredients.  These foods provide extra nutrition and health.  Designer foods can be fortified with herbs that fight against deadly diseases. Herbs are being used since time immemorial as medicine.  

Generally, pharmaceutical companies, add only the active ingredient in the drug but in designer foods, whole herb extract is added which gives immense benefit.  Designer food containing the whole herb will be more beneficial than drugs containing the only active ingredient. Market available drugs have various side effects, but these designer herbal foods will not cause any side effects. 

According to Ayurveda, the herb is used as a whole plant including the leaves, root, fruit, flower, bark etc. in designer food they are using the whole plant.  The Ayurvedic formulation is effective, easy, and safer than the western formulation.  The only disadvantage is time-consuming.

Food Safety and Standards Act 

India has the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, Food Safety and Standards Rules, 2011, Food Safety and Standards Regulations, 2011 and the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India [FSSAI] established under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 as a statutory body for laying down science-based standards for articles of food and regulating manufacturing, processing, distribution, sale and import of food so as to ensure safe and wholesome food for human consumption.  

In India, normal food, nutraceutical, designer food/functional food, etc. are not categorized separately [FSSAI 2006]. 

Herbs have been in use for uncounted time for various purposes.  Herbs are used as spices and flowering agents in the kitchen. A pharmaceutical company also used it in perfume and cosmetics. 

Herbs contain antioxidants, vitamins, essential oils and many other nutrient substances that help fight against toxins, germs and also boost the immunity level. 

HERBAL TECHNOLOGY VALUE-ADDED PLANT PRODUCTS:

Designer food: designer foods are conventional food fortified with ingredients that have disease- preventing properties.

Functional food: It is defined as food that provides health benefits to the human body.

Nutraceutical: Specific chemical compounds in food, including Vitamins and additives that may aid in preventing diseases.

Pharma food: Food and nutrient that claim medical or health benefits, including the prevention and treatment

of disease.

Phytochemicals: These are chemicals derived from plants that have disease-preventing properties.

Herbs have many properties which make them a beneficial ingredient to be incorporated into food products. Herbs have properties like:

• Alteratives-known as blood purifiers, the herb with this property is used in treating toxicity of blood, infections, arthritis, cancer and skin eruptions,
• Analgesics-Herbs which are having property to relieve pain,
• Antacids-Herbs that neutralize excess acids in the stomach and intestines,
• Antiabortives-Herbs that help to inhibit abortive tendencies,
• Antiasthmatics-Herbs which relieve symptoms of asthma, Antibiotics-Inhibit the growth of or destroy, bacteria, viruses or amoebas,
• Anticatarrhals-Eliminate or counteract the formation of mucus,
• Antipyretics- Herbs have cooling property, which is used to reduce or prevent fever,
• Antiseptics-Herbs that can be applied to the skin to prevent the growth of bacteria,
• Aphrodisias- Herbs have the active ingredients which improve sexual potency and power,
• Astringents-Herbs have to constrict, and the binding effect is used to check hemorrhages and secretions and to treat swollen tonsils and hemorrhoids
• Carminatives-Herbs and spices have the property to relieve gas and griping,
• Cholagogues- Herbs have active ingredients which promote the flow and discharge of bile into the small intestine,
• Demulcents-Herbs as soothing substances usually mucilage, taken internally to protect damaged or inflamed tissues,
• Diaphoretics-Herbs which have the property to induce sweating,
• Diuretics-Increase the flow of urine. They are used to treat water retention, Obesity, Lymphatic swellings, nerve inflammations, infections of urinary extract, skin eruptions and kidney stones,
• Emmenagogues-Herbs have the property to promote menstruation, induce abortions,
• Emallients-Substances that are softening, soothing and protective to the skin,
• Expectorants-Assist in expelling mucus from lungs and throat,
• Galactogogues-Herbs which increase the secretion of milk,
• Hemostatics- Substances that arrest hemorrhaging,
• Laxatives- Herbs promote bowel movement,
• Lithotriptics- Herbs that help to dissolve and eliminate urinary and biliary stones and gravels,
• Nervines-Herbs that calm nervous mention & nourish the nervous system,
• Parasiticides- Herbs have the property to destroy parasites in the digestive tract or on the skin,
• Rubefacients-Substances that increase the flow of blood at the surface of the skin and produce where they are applied,
• Sialagogues- Substances that stimulate the flow of saliva and thus aid in the digestion of starches,
• Stimulants-Herbs that increase the energy of the body, drive the circulation, break up the obstruction and warm the body,
• Vulneraries- Herbs that encourage the healing of wounds by promoting cell growth and repair

There are immense health benefits of Herbs.  In general, these herbs can be fortified in the conventional foods we consume. 

The table shows Herbs, Designer food & their Health Benefits

 

Herbs	Designer Foods	Health Benefits
Amla	Juice fortified with amla, Mouth freshener, Fortified candy	Anti-inflammatory,  Anti- diuretic
Ashwagandha	Fortified juice, smoothie	Blood    formation, Treat hysteria, swellings
Joe Vega	Fortified juice, jelly, capsules, smoothies	Stimulation of insulin secretion decreases cholesterol
Tulsi	Fortified tea juice, smoothies	As an antidiabetic, antifertility, antistress agent, common cold and fever, as antioxidant, stress resilience
Turmeric	Fortified instant soup, a milk fortification	Insulin resistance, control blood sugar level, stop allergy and asthma symptoms
Garlic	Fortified oil, fortified spreads	Reduce cholesterol level
Saffron	Fortified in milk, fortified in sweet dish	Anti-cancer, activity, antidiabetic activity
Shankpushpi	Fortified               in dairy products	Rejuvenation therapy, tranquillizer

 

Amla

Amla is well known for its nutritional qualities. It is rich in polyphenols, minerals and is regarded as one of the richest sources of vitamin C.  A whole amla fruit treats Asthma, stomach pain, indigestion, constipation, weakness, cough, jaundice etc.

Ashwagandha

Ashwagandha is a Sanskrit word means “smell of a horse” “Ashw” means horse and “Gandha” means the smell. It indicates that the herb is having the capacity to impart the strength of a horse in the human body. It helps to strengthen the immune system of the human body after an illness.  It acts as a nutritive tonic, stimulant and offers powerful nutritional support, energy and rejuvenation.

Aloe Vera

The Aloe vera plant mainly cures skin, health, and hair problems. Aloe vera is an Arabic word. “Aloe” means “shining bitter after substance “while vera means “truth” in Latin. It is a member of the Lilly family. It contains 7s Nutrients, Minerals, Amino acids and Active enzymes.

It mainly contains Vitamin A, B1, B2, B6, B12, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, folic acid and Niacin.  Aloe vera helps in the secretion of insulin.so, it decreases blood sugar levels.it also decreases the level of cholesterol and free fatty acid.

Holy basil (Tulsi)

Tulsi is known as the “Queen of plants”. The mother medicine of nature. The plant Tulsi or Holy Basil is a weed but also cultivated. Tulsi is an important symbol of the Hindu religion.  The leaves of basil are specific for many fevers, coughs and many others.

Tulsi strengthens the immune response by enhancing both cellular and humoral immunity.

Shankhpushpi

Shankhpushpi is a Sanskrit word that means “the plant with flower-shaped like a conch (shankh).” Shankhpushpi plant branches are spread on the ground. The flower is blue and the leaves are elliptic in shape. This whole plant is used as a herb and according to Ayurveda is considered “Medhya Rasayana. 

This plant is potential for antiulcer, antioxidant, antidiabetic, analgesic, antifungal, antibacterial, antistress, anxiolytic and cardiovascular activity.  The consumption of this herb is also to prevent medical loss and improve memory power which is why it is called  BRAIN TONIC.

It is beneficial for weight gain and overall health.  It brings a significant reduction in anxiety levels and neuroticism occurring due to varied stress.

Conclusion

Perceptibly, designer herbal foods have significant promise in the promotion of human health and disease prevention.  Health professionals, nutritionists and regulatory toxicologists should strategically work together to plan appropriate regulations to provide the ultimate health and therapeutic benefit to mankind.

The interaction of designer herbal food with food and drugs is another area, which should be taken into consideration. Still, designer food has to be explored more. Long-term clinical studies are required to scientifically validate the designer herbal food in various medical conditions.

No doubt, designer herbal foods – are a new hope to improve human health keeping in mind the health benefits and food products in which they can be fortified.