A route to improved health The intersection of sustainability and health has spurred a wave of new food innovations, with smart proteins and functional foods emerging as key players in addressing global issues including climate change, chronic diseases, and malnutrition. Functional foods provide certain health benefits in addition to basic nutrition. Targeting chronic illnesses like diabetes and heart disease, they are fortified with vitamins, minerals, fiber, or probiotics. Soy, oat bran, probiotics, prebiotics, and fish oil are a few examples. Because it is high in protein and isoflavones, soy can lower cholesterol and lower the risk of heart disease. Because beta-glucan, a soluble fiber found in oat bran, prevents bile acid from being reabsorption, it lowers LDL cholesterol.Fermented foods like yogurt contain prebiotics and probiotics that support gut health and may lower cholesterol. Omega-3 fatty acid-rich fish oil has anti-inflammatory properties and may reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. Sustainable and ethical solutions are provided by smart proteins, like cultured meat and plant-based substitutes. Vegans and consumers who care about the environment will find plant-based products like Beyond Meat and Impossible Foods intriguing since they mimic the flavor and feel of animal meat. Cultured beef, raised in carefully regulated conditions, promises a more sustainable future by removing the need for animal killing. The potential for novel protein sources are further expanded by fermentation-based proteins, which are made by microorganisms. Smart proteins and functional foods together offer a potent strategy for tackling global issues.While smart proteins reduce the environmental effect of conventional protein sources, functional foods improve general health. A healthier and more sustainable future will result from the incorporation of these breakthroughs into regular meals as research improves and they become more widely available. Before making any major dietary changes, it is imperative to speak with a healthcare provider in order to optimize the advantages of smart proteins and functional foods. Although these foods have a lot of potential, things like taste, availability, cost, and consumer awareness will determine how well they do. The more benefits of these meals are discovered through research, the more well-liked they will become. A promising route toward a more sustainable and healthful future is provided by smart proteins and functional meals.

Sneha Khurana

University/College name : Manipal University Jaipur, Rajasthan