Alimentos funcionais: legislação, comparações e um olhar sobre o café

Abstract

The term functional foods is not universally defined, nor is it clear in the Brazilian legislation, besides vague needs updates. Several definitions are surrounding the functional foods concept, and in the present work was traced a parallel between functional foods, nutraceuticals, supplements and medicines. Coffee, an african origin plant, passed by many countries before finding in Brazil a great power in its culture and exportation. Where passed, coffee won fans and researchers interested in its beneficial properties in the health maintenance. The properties related with energy metabolism, neurodegenerative diseases and liver function are addressed in this work.