Hi everyone! let's know a little about functional foods and some unbelievable amazing benefits of them in this blog. 

what are functional foods?                   These are the foods that provide physiological as in physical benefits and reduce the risk of chronic disease beyond basic nutrition.

These are found in many fruits and vegetables, grains, herbs, spices to provide a health benefit and to lower the risk of certain disease or affect a particular body process there.

let's look about three to four functional food components

1)Resveratrol

Skin of grapes, berries, peanuts has been stated to have immune boosting, anti-inflammatory, antioxidants and anti-cancer properties. These are rich in Resveratrol because they are the reason for deep red pigments.

2) Curcumin

This is rich in turmeric, the basic ingredient that is present in every Indian household.  Curcumin has these properties such as 

• antioxidant, anti-inflammatory
• control diabetes
• regulates blood sugar level
• promotes liver health

Turmeric and it's components may play a positive role in alcoholic liver conditions, cancer prevention, irritable bowel syndrome etc.

3)Gingerol

This is an active ingredient in ginger.  The properties of Gingerol are 

• relaxation of blood vessels
• used as a digestive aid and contains compounds that ease motion sickening, nausea and inhibit vomitting.

4)Organosulphur compounds:

They are found in garlic and other species like onion, leek.  These flavour compounds have

• anti-carcinogen properties
• lower blood lipid and cholesterol levels
• induced anti-platelet aggregation
• immunostimulants
• enhance leukocytes, macrophages and natural killer cell functions.

as y'all see, these are the ingredients that are commonly used in asian households and their benefits are enormous.  Try to include them in extra amounts in your daily diet. Some of the basic recipies that you can try with these above mentioned foods are 

1. turmeric latte - which can be prepared with milk, turmeric powder, ginger, cinnamon powder, grinded black pepper, honey.  This is a very simple drink and takes give minutes to prepare. this is also called golden milk because they cure severe diseases. 
2. Resveratrol sources can be consumed in their raw forms.  Always make sure to eat red grapes instead of green ones because red ones is nutrient dense and also PLEASE try to eat them along with the seeds. 
3. you can make pickles and Chutneys with garlic and onions. they taste amazing and can be used in daily basis too.

SOOO,,, that's it.  Hope this will help you.  These are needed to be taken in this pandemic situation since they boost our immune response to the viruses.  Please share your thoughts cause I'd love it and you can ask any doubts regarding to functional foods or anything about nutrition and dietetics.  Thank you!