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RESEARCH PRODUCT

Strategies to achieve a healthy and balanced diet: fruits and vegetables as a natural source of bioactive compounds

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Abstract The main world health problems are obesity and chronic diseases such as diabetes, cancer, and cardiovascular problems. They are etiologically linked with the reduced consumption of fruits and vegetables and increased intake of salt, fats from animal origins, trans fatty acids, sugars, and sugary beverages. Various strategies for educating the public tend to promote the increased consumption of bioactives from fruits and vegetables and dieting, while creating affordable and nutritious foods from sustainable raw materials. These strategies include educating the public about dietary tools and the industrial use of advanced nonthermal food processing and production technologies from renewable sources (e.g., food waste and by-products) with overall involvement of all stakeholders in the food chain (parents, governments, industries, etc.). This chapter focuses on fruits and vegetables (apples, berries, onions, peach pears, pumpkins, and citrus fruits) as they represent interesting raw materials for the food industry. Moreover, as they are rich and valuable sources of bioactive compounds for improving health and reducing the risks of noncommunicable chronic diseases.