Gut Flora, Nutrition, Immunity and Health (PDF)

Some foods, as well as contributing essential nutrients to the
body, also contain additional components that improve disease
resistance and general health status over and above that induced by
ingestion of conventional foods. The so-called functional foods,
and prebiotics and probiotics exemplify the relationship that
exists between nutrition, the gut (the largest element of the
body's immune system) and its flora, immunology and
health.

This important book contains chapters covering the basic
principles of nutrition, gut microecology and immunology, as well
as chapters which discuss the way in which this knowledge may be
used to explain the positive and negative effects of food
consumption, metabolism, probiotics and prebiotics. Food
hypersensitivity and allergic reactions, carcinogenesis, and the
role of nutrition in the reduced immunity of the aged are also
discussed in detail.

The editors of this exciting and informative book, who between
them have a vast wealth of knowledge of the area, have drawn
together and carefully edited international contributions from many
well known and respected workers in the area. Gut Flora,
Nutrition, Immunity and Health provides essential information
for a range of professionals including nutritionists, dietitians,
food scientists, microbiologists, gastroenterologists,
immunologists and all personnel working in the development and use
of functional foods and supplements, prebiotics and probiotics.
Libraries in universities and research establishments where these
subjects are studied and taught, and pharmaceutical and food
companies should have multiple copies of this very useful book on
their shelves.

Roy Fuller is a consultant in gut microecology, based
in Reading, UK; Gabriela Perdigón is based at the
Centro de Referencia para Lactobacillus (CERELA) and at the Faculty
of Biochemistry, Chemistry and Pharmacy of Tucuman University,
Argentina.