Food Bioactives and Health (PDF)

Bioactive natural compounds have gained attention in recent years due to their potential health benefits, including reducing the risk of diabetes, cancer, and cardiovascular diseases. These benefits derive from bioactive compounds' anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative, anti-hypertensive and anti-hyperlipidemic activities, which serve in addition to their basic nutritional functions. Over the last decade, researchers have investigated the health impact of bioactive compounds in detail, and the development of food applications has attracted great interest. Consumer demand has surged for functional foods (nutraceuticals), superfoods, and tailor-made foods, generated by supplementing traditional food products with bioactive ingredients.

Charis M. Galanakis is a multidisciplinary scientist in agricultural sciences as well as food and environmental science, technology, and sustainability, with experience in both industry and academia. He is the research and innovation director of Galanakis Laboratories in Chania, Greece, an adjunct professor of King Saud University in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and the director of Food Waste Recovery Group (SIG5) of ISEKI Food Association in Vienna, Austria. He pioneered the new discipline of food waste recovery and has established the most prominent innovation network in the field. He also serves as a senior consultant for the food industry and expert evaluator for international and regional funded programs and proposals. He is an editorial board member of Food and Bioproducts Processing, Food Research International, and Foods, has edited over 45 books and has published hundreds of research articles, reviews, monographs, chapters, and conference proceedings.