Development of Functional Foods in the Philippines

Filipinos have traditionally recognized that some foods have benefits beyond nutrition although the term “functional foods” is new to them. Various studies show the nutritional and medical benefits of common Philippine foods. This paper reviews the functional attributes of selected traditional Philippine foods such as rice (Oryza sativa L.), coconut (Cocos nucifera L.), legumes [mungbean [Vigna radiata L. Wilczek]) and indigenous legumes],...