This document discusses maintaining eye health through proper nutrition. It notes that the eyes can provide insights into systemic health issues like diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Many eye problems cause no symptoms, so regular eye exams are important. Maintaining overall health with a nutritious diet and natural supplements can help support eye health.

1. Brought to you by
SKC Lifesciences
KBC Harrow Exchange,2 Gayton Road, Harrow, Middlesex, HA1 2XU,London, UK.
Expectation of life at the dawn of the 21st century is higher than ever because of the reduced incidence of infectious diseases - but it
could be higher still and quality of life could also be better. Unfortunately, in place of the infections to which our ancestors
succumbed, chronic illnesses - including heart disease, diabetes and cancer have now become established as the major killers. Few
people realize that this epidemic of chronic disease is largely preventable through diet and lifestyle changes.
Although good nutrition is the foundation of good health, many people do not reach their recommended target intakes for vitamins
and minerals. This is mainly due to lack of exercise and poor food choice. Year by year, surveys show that food intakes are going
down but average body weight is increasing. The explanation is lack of exercise. People reduce their food consumption to avoid
becoming overweight, but this also reduces the intake of vitamins and minerals, as well as reducing calories. Lack of nutrient-rich
fruit and vegetables and wholegrain cereals in the diet adds to the problem.
Poor health is often associated with low intakes of essential nutrients - the cells of the immune and nervous systems are particularly
susceptible. The body's ability to maintain normal healthy functioning of cells depends on homeostasis, its self healing capacity. An
important element in homeostasis is the supply of nutrients, and each cell requires more than 40 of these, as well as protective
substances, called phytochemicals, from plants.
Another important contributor to homeostasis is the elimination of toxic end-products of metabolism from a cell. Elimination
requires a healthy circulation and good liver and kidney function, all of which rely on adequate intakes of vitamins, minerals and
phytochemicals. Inadequate nutrition or inadequate elimination results in cells becoming stressed, so they begin to function
abnormally. If this situation persists, normal homeostatic control breaks down, and eventually disease results.
Since many chronic illnesses derive from years of poor food choice, health is likely to be restored more quickly if supplements are
taken at the same time as the changeover to a good diet is made. For example, the inflammation associated with asthma, eczema,
psoriasis and rheumatoid arthritis is likely to respond much more quickly to supplementation with vitamins C and E and omega-3
EFAs than to dietary improvement alone - even though achieving improvement through diet is the long-term ideal. You may also
find your symptoms disappear more quickly if you take a combination of supplements. This is because all cells require all nutrients at
the same time.
Natural medicines are mild in effect and have greater therapeutic potential when taken in combination - herbs can be taken along
with vitamins and minerals to help speed the healing process. Scientific research backs up the historical use of the herbs described in
this book; they are rich sources of numerous phytochemicals, and, like nutrients, they have healing effects on all the body's cell, as
well as on specific organs.
It is now widely acknowledged that lifestyle changes paying close attention to the diet, exercise and weight, as well as limiting
alcohol intake and stopping smoking have a vital role to pay in the business of staying well. These kinds of changes can not only help
to prevent or relieve common complaints, including backache and constipation, but can also reduce the risk of serious ailments such
as heart disease and cancer. Vitamins, minerals and other nutritional supplements can reinforce and enhance the benefits of these
self-care measures, which are also essential to ensure not just the absence of illness but the capacity to lead a full, vital, productive life.
We have been innovating and producing fine quality nutritional supplements. Our ongoing mission is to provide consumers with
top-quality, innovative, science-based nutritional supplements to enhance their total health and well-being. We are committed to
exclusively distributing our products in the natural products industry where knowledgeable retailers worldwide can guide
consumers through the vast array of choices.
SKC Lifesciences
Gold Standard Nutrition Supplements and Vitamins with Botanical Extracts
SKC Lifesciences

2. wA vitamin is an organic compound
required as a nutrient in tiny amounts
by an organism. The term vitamin was
derived from "vitamine," a combination
word from vital and amine, because it
was suggested that the organic
micronutrient food factors which
prevented beriberi and perhaps other
similar dietary-deficiency diseases,
might be chemical amines. This proved
incorrect for the micronutrient class,
and the word was shortened. Today, a
chemical compound is called a vitamin
when it cannot be synthesized in
sufficient quantities by an organism,
and must be obtained from the diet.
Thus, the term is conditional both on the
circumstances and the particular
organism. For example, ascorbic acid
(vitamin C) is a vitamin for humans, but
not for most other animals, and biotin
and vitamin D are required in the
human diet only in certain
circumstances. The term vitamin does
not include other essential nutrients
such as dietary minerals, essential fatty
acids, or essential amino acids, nor does
it encompass the large number of other
nutrients that promote health but are
otherwise required less often.
wVitamins are classified by their
biological and chemical activity, not
their structure. Thus, each "vitamin"
refers to a number of vitamer
compounds that all show the biological
activity associated with a particular
vitamin. Such a set of chemicals are
grouped under an alphabetized vitamin
"generic descriptor" title, such as
"vitamin A", which includes the
compounds retinal, retinol, and four
known carotenoids. Vitamers by
definition are convertible to the active
form of the vitamin in the body, and are
sometimes inter-convertible to one
another, as well.
wVitamins have diverse biochemical
functions. Some have hormone-like
functions as regulators of mineral
metabolism (e.g. vitamin D), or
regulators of cell and tissue growth
and differentiation (e.g. some forms of
vitamin A). Others function as
antioxidants (e.g. vitamin E and
sometimes vitamin C). The largest
number of vitamins (e.g. B complex
vitamins) function as precursors for
enzyme cofactors, that help enzymes
in their work as catalysts in
metabolism. In this role, vitamins may
be tightly bound to enzymes as part of
prosthetic groups: for example, biotin
is part of enzymes involved in making
fatty acids. Alternately, vitamins may
also be less tightly bound to enzyme
catalysts as coenzymes, detachable
molecules which function to carry
chemical groups or electrons between
molecules. For example, folic acid
carries various forms of carbon group
methyl, formyl and methylene - in the
cell. Although these roles in assisting
enzyme-substrate reactions are
vitamins' best-known function, the
other vitamin functions are equally
important.
wUntil the 1900s, vitamins were
obtained solely through food intake,
and changes in diet (which, for
example, could occur during a
particular growing season) can alter
the types and amounts of vitamins
ingested. Vitamins have been
produced as commodity chemicals and
made widely available as inexpensive
pills for several decades, allowing
supplementation of the dietary intake.
Vitamins
Vitamins SKC Lifesciences

3. Probiotics
Probiotics & Prebiotics
The gut contains billions of bacteria.
These play a vital role in the normal
functioning of the
digestive system, the lowering of
blood cholesterol levels, the
promotion of the immune response,
protection from colon cancer, and the
synthesis of certain vitamins. They
also prevent colonisation of the gut by
harmful bacteria that may cause food
poisoning.
Stress, antibiotics, certain drugs and
female hormones can cause a
proliferation of disease causing
bacteria at the expense of numbers of
the bacteria that keep us healthy.
However, the balance of microbes in
intestines may be improved by taking
probiotics probably the most widely
available functional foods.
Probiotics come in the form of
bioyoghurts, milkbased drinks, fruit
juices with added 'friendly' bacteria.
The most commonly used , friendly
bacteria are the lactobacilli
(acidophilus) and bifido-bacteria
(bifidus) families. To be effective they
may have to be eaten daily, or the
improved colonisation of the gut may
not be sustained.
Prebiotics - also used to improve
intestinal, health - are carbohydrates
that pass unchanged through
the digestive system and enter the
large bowel, where they act as
nutrients for `friendly' bacteria, '
including those that may have been
taken in probiotics.
The `friendly' bacteria are then able to
compete more successfully against the
harmful micro-organisms,-resulting in
a healthier gut function.
Antioxidants
Although oxidation reactions are
crucial for life, they can also be
damaging; hence, plants and animals
maintain complex systems of multiple
types of antioxidants, such as
glutathione, vitamin C, and vitamin E
as well as enzymes such as catalase,
superoxide dismutase and various
peroxidases. Low levels of
antioxidants, or inhibition of the
antioxidant enzymes, cause oxidative
stress and may damage or kill cells.
As oxidative stress might be an
important part of many human
diseases, the use of antioxidants in
pharmacology is intensively studied,
particularly as treatments for stroke
and neurodegenerative diseases.
However, it is unknown whether
oxidative stress is the cause or the
consequence of disease.
Antioxidants are widely used as
ingredients in dietary supplements in
the hope of maintaining health and
preventing diseases such as cancer
and coronary heart disease. Although
initial studies suggested that
antioxidant supplements might
promote health, later large clinical
trials did not detect any benefit and
suggested instead that excess
supplementation may be harmful. In
addition to these uses of natural
antioxidants in medicine, these
compounds have many industrial
uses, such as preservatives in food
and cosmetics and preventing the
degradation of rubber and gasoline.
Carotenoids
Antioxidants
An antioxidant is a molecule capable
of slowing or preventing the oxidation
of other molecules. Oxidation is a
chemical reaction that transfers
electrons from a substance to an
oxidizing agent. Oxidation reactions
can produce free radicals, which start
chain reactions that damage cells.
Antioxidants terminate these chain
reactions by removing free radical
intermediates, and inhibit other
oxidation reactions by being oxidized
themselves. As a result, antioxidants
are often reducing agents such as
thiols, ascorbic acid or polyphenols. SKC Lifesciences

4. Minerals
wMinerals are present in the body
in small amounts: in total they
add up to only 4% of body
weight.
wThese inorganic substances are
essential for a wide range of vital
processes, from basic bone
formation to the normal
functioning of the heart and
digestive system.
wA number of minerals have been
linked to the prevention of
cancer, osteoporosis and other
chronic illnesses.
wHumans must replenish their
mineral supplies through food or
with supplements.
wOf more than 60 different
minerals in the body, only 22 are
considered essential.
wOf these, seven - including
calcium, chloride, magnesium,
phosphorus, potassium, sodium
and sulphur - are usually called
macrominerals, or major
minerals.
wThe other 15 minerals are called
trace minerals, or microminerals,
because the amount needed each
day for good health is tiny
(usually measured in
micrograms, or millionths of a
gram).
Minerals
SKC Lifesciences

5. Amino Acids SKC Lifesciences

6. Can You Battle Joint Pain Naturally and
Effectively?
If you don't bounce out of bed like you
use to or the staircase is not the only
thing creaking when you ascend the
stairs, you may be quick to dismiss it as
part of the aging process. But if those
creaking joints are accompanied by sharp
and/or radiating pain in your knees,
ankles, back, shoulders or any place
where two or more bones connect, the
condition may require more attention.
While aging is the common reason for
joint pain, it is not the only reason. Joint
pain is the result of stiff or worn cartilage
connecting two or more bones together.
The stiffness coupled with inflammation
triggers joint pain. Dr. Kristine Clark, a
world renown doctor and Fellow at the
American Academy of Sports Medicine
states, "The deterioration of cartilage in
joints may explain the loss of flexibility
and increased stiffness that many people
experience in their weight-bearing joints,
such as knees and hips. Chronic joint
symptoms are the leading cause of
disability in people 18 and over. And, the
over-50 crowd is expected to double by
2020."
What causes joints to become stiff and
inflamed?
Stiff, inflamed, achy joints are a symptom
in several conditions including injury,
fibromyalgia, bursitis, rheumatoid
arthritis, osteoarthritis, lupus and
tendinitis. These conditions are not only
painful to live with but cause a
significant decrease in one's quality of life
and daily activities. You may find it
difficult to take part in your favorite
activities such as gardening, golf, or
simply enjoying a walk in the park. You
do have options and there are
alternatives for you to consider.
Which treatment option is best for
you?
There have been many recent studies,
such as the GAIT study, which have
examined a variety of natural joint care
supplements. The clinical findings have
shown there are several substances that
alleviate inflammation and pain in
arthritis sufferers. Glucosamine and
Chondroitin, work best when taken
together. They have been shown to
alleviate pain, reduce inflammation, and
stop the progression of arthritis. Other
ingredients such as MSM
(Methylsulfonylmethane) and Boswellia
Serrata also have proven benefit in
maintaining healthy joints. Rutin,
trypsin, and bromelain have been
clinically proven to be as effective a pain
reliever as the prescription NSAID -
diclofenac.
How do you pick a great joint
supplement?
Joint supplements are becoming a viable
option for those suffering from joint
pain. There are vast differences between
joint support products. It is a scientific
fact that not all joint supplements can
achieve the same level of results or
produce the same level of positive
outcome that you are looking for. The
quality, efficacy, and potency of
products within the industry vary from
poor to outstanding. How can one make
the most informed decision? The choices
on the market are overwhelming,
having evaluated over 250 joint
supplements we looked at the most
current scientific research and
established a list of criteria that makes a
joint product outstanding. We chose
essential ingredients need to decrease
joint pain, promote joint, cartilage and
tissue regeneration, ability to prevent
recurring damage, promote joint
mobility and flexibility, and developed
our range of Joint Support supplements.
Bone and
Joint Health
Bone and Joint Health
SKC Lifesciences

7. Eye Health
Are the eyes “windows to the
soul,” as the ancient proverb has it?
Maybe. But they're also portals
through which one can glimpse
signs of health problems -- not only
eye disorders like cataracts and
glaucoma, but also systemic
illnesses like diabetes mellitus and
cardiovascular disease. Sometimes
the signs of these diseases are
visible in, on, or around the eyes
long before symptoms appear.
The eyes truly are unique real
estate; they're the only place in the
body where you can see a bare
nerve, a bare artery, and a bare
vein without doing any cutting.
And the disease processes we see
occurring in the eye are probably
occurring in the rest of the body.
The list of systemic diseases that
can have ocular manifestations is a
long one; in addition to diabetes
and cardiovascular disease, it
includes aneurysms, HIV, cancer,
and rare hereditary diseases. The
list is one reason eye experts
recommend periodic eye exams.
Everyone should have a comprehensive eye exam by age 40, people who have a family history of
eye problems should be seen earlier, and anyone who is having eye trouble should see a doctor
right away. But people shouldn't wait until they experience symptoms to see a doctor, because
many eye problems are silent, meaning they cause no symptoms. To keep the eye health under
control, proper assistance with food and natural supplements, minerals and vitamins are quite
essential.
Immune
support
The body must contend with
constant attacks by microscopic
organisms. In order to defend
against this onslaught, it deploys a
wide range of defenses that
together are called the immune
system.
People with diseases that cause
immune deficiency, fall victim to
infectious microorganisms that a
healthy person could ward off
easily. However, even healthy
people get sick from time to time,
victims of infections that manage
to sneak by the defenses. And
some apparently healthy people
get sick quite often.
If you fall into this latter category,
you may wish to find treatments
that can strengthen your immune
system. To explain how to
improve resistance to illness, we
need to delve a bit deeper into the
nature of immunity.
The Immune System
The immune system consists
primarily of various types of
white blood cells and the
chemicals that they manufacture
(such as antibodies). In certain
conditions, such as AIDS, many of
these white blood cells are
damaged or dead. In such cases,
the term immune deficiency is
clearly appropriate. The
circumstance is analogous to an
army that lacks, say, guns.
However, careful examination of most people who get frequent colds (or bladder infections or herpes attacks, for example)
fails to turn up any visible deficits in the immune system. They have all the immune cells and antibodies they need in roughly
the right amounts and all the various parts appear to work just fine. So why do such people get sick so often?
One can hypothesize that in some people the immune system fails to function properly for a relatively subtle, invisible reason,
much as a well-equipped army might lose its fighting form due to apathy or disunity. However, keep in mind that even
people who develop frequent colds manage to fight off thousands of other infections every day. (If they didn't, they would be
dead.)
For this reason, an alternate hypothesis comes to mind: that over-susceptibility to a particular type of infection may be caused
by something more specific than general immune weakness. As an example, chronically inflamed mucous membranes might
lead to frequent colds, since an inflamed mucous membrane may be more porous to cold viruses. Similarly, a woman's
bladder wall might allow particularly easy attachment of bacteria, leading to frequent bladder infections.
The bottom line is, functioning of the immune system, like most systems in the body, is dependent on proper nutrition. It has
been long known that severe malnutrition leads to immunodeficiency. Overnutrition is also associated with diseases such as
diabetes and obesity, which are known to affect immune function. More moderate malnutrition, as well as certain specific
trace mineral and nutrient deficiencies, can also compromise the immune response. SKC Lifesciences

8. Energy & Endurance
Weight
Management
Cardiovascular
Health
The circulatory system is an organ
system that passes nutrients (such as
amino acids and electrolytes), gases,
hormones, blood cells, etc. to and from
cells in the body to help fight diseases
and help stabilize body temperature
and pH to maintain homeostasis.
This system may be seen strictly as a
blood distribution network, but some
consider the circulatory system as
composed of the cardiovascular system,
which distributes blood, and the
lymphatic system, which distributes
lymph. While humans, as well as other
vertebrates, have a closed
cardiovascular system (meaning that
the blood never leaves the network of
arteries, veins and capillaries), some
invertebrate groups have an open
cardiovascular system.
Two types of fluids move through the
circulatory system: blood and lymph.
The blood, heart, and blood vessels
form the cardiovascular system. The
lymph, lymph nodes, and lymph
vessels form the lymphatic system. The
cardiovascular system and the
lymphatic system collectively make up
the circulatory system.
The main components of the human
cardiovascular system are the heart and
the blood vessels. It includes: the
pulmonary circulation, a "loop"
through the lungs where blood is
oxygenated; and the systemic
circulation, a "loop" through the rest of
the body to provide oxygenated blood.
An average adult contains five to six
quarts (roughly 4.7 to 5.7 liters) of
blood, which consists of plasma, red
blood cells, white blood cells, and
platelets. Also, the digestive system
works with the circulatory system to
provide the nutrients the system needs
to keep the heart pumping.
SKC Lifesciences

9. Sleep
Support
When many people are faced by a
stressful situation at work, they
respond with complete commitment,
by working intensely hard at
resolving it. To do this, they may
work all hours, cancel vacations and
cut back on sleep, all to make more
time to tackle the problem. If this is
short-lived, then negative effects will
be minimal and success will often be
spectacular. However, if this level of
hard work is sustained for a long
time without relief, people
increasingly risk ill-health and
burnout.
We rest and sleep because we need
to. Rest is what we do to let stress
subside. Rest at the end of a day, and
at the end of a week, helps us to calm
down. On average, people need
around eight hours sleep a night
(although this can vary between
three hours and eleven hours,
depending on the person and his or
her age).
If we are regularly short of sleep,
then our concentration and our
effectiveness suffer and our energy
levels decline. We have all seen and
experienced this.
This diminishes our effectiveness in
our job, and can therefore increase
stress: As our concentration wanders,
we start to make mistakes. As our
energy declines, we become less
proactive in what we do, reducing
our control over events. This means
that a situation that is already
difficult and stressful can become
worse, needing even more sacrifice to
bring it back under control. Make
sure you get enough sleep. If you
have become used to being tired all
the time, you will be amazed by how
sharp and energetic you will feel
once you start sleeping normally.
To ensure this we may require some
assistance externally by way of
herbo-mineral supplements and
vitamins. With this the sleep
management becomes easier and
return of the essential energy levels
are restored.
Maternal &
Infant health
Maternal & Infant Health
Pregnancy and childbirth have an
enormous impact on the physical,
mental, emotional, and
socioeconomic health of women
and their families. Research and
supports programs to improve
women's health before, during,
and after pregnancy, and to reduce
both short and long-term
complications herbo-mineral
supplements and vitamins
programs are required. Our goal is
to help ensure that all women
have a safe and healthy
pregnancy.
While maternal death is the most
extreme pregnancy-related
problem, many more women are
affected by pregnancy-related
complications, such as
— depression;
— complications of obesity;
— severe medical problems
requiring blood transfusions and
longer hospital stays;
— gestational diabetes and other
chronic medical conditions; and
— preterm birth.
Pregnancy-related health
consequences are influenced by
women's health conditions as well
as other factors such as race,
ethnicity, age, and income. CDC
collaborates with private and
public partners to reduce the high
rates of poor outcomes
experienced by some racial and
ethnic groups and to improve the
pregnancy and delivery
experience for all women.
SKC Lifesciences

10. Multiples
A multivitamin is a preparation
intended to supplement a human
diet with vitamins, dietary
minerals and other nutritional
elements. Such preparations are
available in the form of tablets,
capsules, pastilles, powders,
liquids and injectable
formulations. Other than injectable
formulations, which are only
available and administered under
medical supervision,
multivitamins are recognized by
the Codex Alimentarius
Commission (the United Nations'
authority on food standards) as a
category of food. Multivitamin
supplements are commonly
provided in combination with
minerals. A multivitamin/mineral
supplement is defined in the
United States as a supplement
containing 3 or more vitamins and
minerals that does not include
herbs, hormones, or drugs, where
each vitamin and mineral is
included at a dose below the
tolerable upper level, as
determined by the Food and Drug
Board, and does not present a risk
of adverse health effects.
The terms multivitamin and
multimineral are often used
interchangeably. There is no
scientific definition for either.
Linguistically, the terms are
compounded words of which
meaning can be derived in that
capacity.
Many multivitamins are
formulated and/or labeled to
differentiate consumer sectors e.g.
prenatal, children, mature or 50+,
men's, women's, diabetic, stress or
megavitamin. Consumer
multivitamin formulas are
available as tablets, capsules, bulk
powder, or liquid. Once and twice
per day multivitamin formulas
dominate common usage,
although some formulas are
designed for consumption 37
times per day or even allow hourly
use.
Multiples
SKC Lifesciences

11. Proteins
• Complete essential amino acid profile
• Superior biological protein value
• Highly efficient ion-exchanged, micro-filtered,
and hydrolyzed whey concentrates
• Low-heat, non-chemical whey extraction
process
• With free-form L-Glutamine
• Free-form branched chain amino acids
(BCAA’s)
• Free of lactose and starch
• Low in fat
• Easy to mix
• Smooth, natural flavor with no artificial
sweeteners or flavors.
Whey is the protein of choice because of its:
l Efficient utilization in the body due to its
high biological value (BV)
l Natural source of branched chain amino
acids
l Potent source of lactalbumin
l Unique source of immunoglobulins
Birla NourishProtein Powder is a highly
efficient, scientifically advanced protein
enhancement product. It is formulated with
a blend of three, uniquely processed whey
protein concentrates. Each process: ion-exchange,
micro-filtration, and
hydrolyzation adds to Protein Powder's
amino acid availability, absorption, and
protein utilization. Available in the
following natural flavors:
Chocolate Cocoa Bean, Honey Nut, Mixed
Berry, and Vanilla Bean.
Birla NourishProtein Powder also includes
two beneficial ingredients, free-form L-Glutamine
and free-form Branched Chain
Amino Acids (BCAA's). L-Glutamine plays
a significant role in supporting muscle
mass. BCAA's help promote protein
synthesis which assists in decreasing the
breakdown of muscle under stressful
conditions. Both L-Glutamine and BCAA's
are used by muscle tissue as a source of
energy.
In addition, Birla NourishProtein Powder is
free of starch and lactose and is low in fat.
Plus, its delicious flavor blends easily and
tastes great in water, milk, or your favorite
juice. It can even be added to sauces, soups,
cereals, muffins, pancakes, and other bake
mixes. It is an excellent way to add extra
high-quality protein to your daily caloric
intake.
Foods
Plant sterols
A group of plant chemicals
with a structure similar to
cholesterol is plant sterols.
They are not absorbed by
the gut, but have been
found to reduce the
absorption of cholesterol
both from foods;, and from
the bile that the liver
discharges into the
intestine.
Plant sterols can lower
blood cholesterol levels
and thereby reduce the risk
of heart disease. For this
reason they are added to
some margarines and sold
as functional foods; a
certain amount of the
margarine must be eaten
each day for the desired
effect to be achieved.
Bone Health
Calcium, magnesium and
vitamin D are believed to
be the most important
nutrients for bone health.
For decades white flour has
been fortified with calcium,
and margarines fortified
with vitamin D. Functional
foods containing nutrients
to aid bone health have
also now become available.
They include fortified
orange juice, cereal bars
and chocolate drinks.
Phytoestrogens
High intakes of
isoflavones, the most active
phytoestrogens in the
human diet, may reduce
the risk of coronary heart
disease and some cancers,
including breast, prostate
and bowel cancer. They
may also help to reduce
menopausal symptoms
and the risk of
osteoporosis. Functional
foods containing soya
protein or the pure
isoflavones are being
developed.
Enhanced foods such as
bioyoghurts and cereals
with added nutrients are
growing in popularity.
Some can boost vitamin
and mineral levels;
others show promise in
preventing or treating
ailments, but more
research is needed to
prove their worth. The
big advantage of these
'functional' or 'fortified'
foods lies in the amounts
of 'macronutrients', such
as calcium and omega-3
fatty acids, that they
contain much more than
tablets.
Functional foods are
foods meant to offer a
specific health benefit
over and above the level
of nutrients found in
their ' conventional
counterparts.`
Fortified foods have had
extra vitamins and/or
minerals added so that
one portion of the food
will provide a substantial
percentage of the
recommended daily
intake of that nutrient.
Examples of functional
foods include
bioyoghurts containing'
specially selected
bacteria, and spreads
with cholesterol-lowering
agents.
Folic acid
A low folic acid intake
has been linked to
increased blood levels of
homocysteine, and
possibly to
incidence of cancer of the
colon and Alzheimer's
disease.
Homocysteine is a
product of protein
metabolism found in the
SKC Lifesciences