Functional Foods: Play An Important Role In Daily Life

Functional foods play an important role in daily life as they impart positive effects on health. Foods obtained from fruits and herbs are considered beneficial as they are rich in phytonutrients thereby execute vital functions in maintenance of health and prevention of diseases. Nowadays, consumers are more focused towards health boosting products due to increased awareness regarding healthy diet. Consistent ingestion of these foods are interconnected with lower incidence of various degenerative ailments (Kim et al., 2011; Engelhard et al., 2006). Due to varied phytochemistry, some frequently available fruits and herbs possess significant in vitro and in vivo antioxidant activity (Dahan et al., 2008). Furthermore, array of confirmations has
Lower intake of calcium, potassium and fiber contribute to gastrointestinal diseases, inflammatory disorders, cancers, allergies and degenerative diseases. Worldwide, use of therapies by the help of nutraceutical and functional foods opposing various ailments is getting priorities as compare to other medicinal ways. Also these functional and nutraceutical foods are low in cost and easily manageable by poor’s and they are far safer the other medicines in term of side effects. Functional foods normally provide more than 50-450 percent benefits than conventional foods. (Rajasekaran et al., 2008; Sakarkar & Deshmukh,
Almost 250 species identified yet are playing their part in modern medicines (A. Sangal, 2011). Cinnamon is using in our daily life as spices and medicines. Cinnamon also coming in use in form of phenolic compounds, flavonoids, essential oils, bark powders and isolated components. It is also in use in aroma and essence industries due to its different fragrance which after processing is incorporated into various food stuffs, perfumes and medicines (T.-C. Huang et al., 2007). Cinnamon is playing a vital role in advancements of human beings. Various antibacterial, antifungal, anti-allergic and antiseptic properties are considered when counting blessings of cinnamon. Due to the mouth freshening ability of cinnamon it is also been used as flavors in many chewing gums. Cinnamon is also used as first aid as it is a coagulant and it prevents bleeding (Z.Zahra et al., 2013)
Cinnamon is also being used as anti-inflammatory, antitermitic and insecticidal (Y.-T. Tung et al., 2010). Studies on cinnamon has been carried out in concern to its effect on insulin and insulin signaling. Type 2 diabetes is effecting more than 300 million people globally and insulin is the precursor of it which is often characterized by high blood glucose level of 5.5-6.9 mmol/L (Grant SJ et al., 2009). Oxidative stress is accepted normally as a likely causing factor of developing insulin resistance which is