World Applied Sciences Journal 20 (5): 691-708, 2012 ISSN 1818-4952 © IDOSI Publications, 2012 DOI: 10.5829/idosi.wasj.2012.20.05.66119 Corresponding Author: S.A. El Sohaimy, Department of Food Technology, Arid Land Research Cultivation Institute, City of Scientific Research and Technology Applications, Universities and Research Centers District, New Borg El Arab, 21934 Alexandria, Egypt. 691 Functional Foods and Nutraceuticals-Modern Approach to Food Science S.A. El Sohaimy Department of Food Technology, Arid Land Research Cultivation Institute, City of Scientific Research and Technology Applications, Universities and Research Centers District, New Borg El Arab, 21934 Alexandria, Egypt Abstract: Functional foods and nutraceuticals provide an opportunity to improve the human health, reduce health care costs and support economic development in rural communities. The phrase "Let food be the medicine and medicine be the food," coined by Hippocrates over 2500 years ago is receiving a lot of interest today as food scientists and consumers realize the many health benefits of certain foods. This review article focused on the definition and differences between functional food and nutraceuticals. The challenges and opportunities, motivating the development and regulations of functional foods and nutraceuticals were discussed. This article also focused on some examples of the functional foods and nutraceuticals and their health benefits, like probiotics and prebiotics, proteins and peptides, oils and fatty acids, carbohydrates and fibers, catchine and lycopin. Key words: Definition And Differences Challenges and Opportunities Regulations Active Components Health Benefits INTRODUCTION thousands of years [2]. The modern nutraceuticals and The phrase "Let food be the medicine and medicine during the 1980. In contrast to the natural herbs and be the food," coined by Hippocrates over 2500 years ago spices used as folk medicine for centuries throughout is receiving a lot of interest today as food scientist and Asia, the nutraceuticals and functional foods industry has consumers realize the many health benefits of certain grown alongside the expansion and exploration of modern foods. These foods contain ingredients that aid specific technology [3], new research conducted among food body function and improve our health and well-being. scientists has shown that, there is more to Food Science There are many ways to think about food, in the simplest than what was understood just a couple decades ago. sense, food is a fuel, food provides the energy needed to Until just recently, analysis of food was limited to the perform daily functions and maintain normal metabolic flavor of food (sensory taste and texture) and its processes. But we all know that food is more than fuel; nutritional value (composition of carbohydrates, fats, food contains nutrients that are essential to prevent proteins, waters vitamins and minerals). However, there is diseases. For example, scurvy will occur if vitamin C is not growing evidence that other components of food may continually present in the human diet. Similarly, blindness play an integral role in the link between food and health can occur where diets are deficient in vitamin A. The [3]. Consumers are increasingly interested in the health "essential nutrients" those that are needed to prevent benefits of foods and have begun to look beyond the specific diseases have been a major focus of human basic nutritional benefits of food to the disease nutrition research for the past century [1]. The Egyptians, prevention and health enhancing compounds contained Chinese and Sumerians are just a few civilizations that in many foods [2]. This combined with a more widespread have provided evidence suggesting that, foods can be understanding of how diet affects disease, health-care effectively used as medicine to treat and prevent disease. costs and aging populations have created a market for The medicinal benefits of food have been explored for functional foods and natural health products. Functional functional foods market have begun to develop in Japan