[Consumption of Smoothies Contributes Sufficient Amounts of Phytochemicals to the Irish Diet to Improve Human Health]

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I would take this opportunity to thank my research supervisor, family and friends for their support and guidance without which this research would not have been possible.

DECLARATION

I, [type your full first names and surname here], declare that the contents of this dissertation/thesis represent my own unaided work, and that the dissertation/thesis has not previously been submitted for academic examination towards any qualification. Furthermore, it represents my own opinions and not necessarily those of the University.

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ABSTRACT

Over recent years, consumers have shown an increasing interest in health and wellbeing, with many wanting food and drink products that are healthy and nutritious, yet fit in with busy lifestyles. Fruit juice is one beverage that has seen a dramatic increase in consumer purchasing since the 1970s, and is now consumed by nearly half the Ireland population. While the beneficial effects of consuming diets rich in fruit and vegetables are well documented, the specific health effects of consuming fruit juice are less so. Further, the role of fruit juice in conditions such as obesity has also recently come under scrutiny, due to questions over how liquid calories affect subsequent energy intake. Limitations in the literature in this area include a lack of studies looking at different types of fruit juices and their effects on health, as well as studies that differentiate fruit juice from fruit and vegetable intake. Consuming a diet rich in fruit and vegetables (to which fruit juice can count once towards the 5 A DAY target) can help to reduce an individual's risk of suffering from a variety of chronic diseases, and should therefore be encouraged. The phytochemicals present in the smoothies are very helpful for maintaining the diet of the human body.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT2

DECLARATION3

ABSTRACT4

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION6

CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW9

Brief Introduction on Fruit and Vegetables and Its Importance in Daily Intake9

Phytochemicals and its Classifications11

Phytochemical classification12

Terpenoids such as the carotenoids12

Phenolic compounds such as the flavonoids12

Alkaloids13

Photochemical action13

Health Benefits of Photochemical14

CHAPTER 3: MATERIAL AND METHODS15

Samples15

Antioxidant activity assays15

Composition in phytochemicals16

Statistical Analysis17

CHAPTER 4: DISCUSSION AND RESULTS18

CHAPTER 5: CONCLUSION1

REFERENCES3

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION

Fruit juice is a popular choice of beverage, and the fruit juice market is one that has grown substantially over recent years (Mintel 2009). Indeed, recent research indicates that the market for fruit juice and juice drinks increased by 37% between 1999 and 2004, reaching £2.32 billion, with volume increasing by 26% over the same period to around 2.2 billion litres per year (Mintel 2009). Its rise in popularity may be due in part to an increase in interest in health and nutrition amongst consumers, but also to the fact that the ever-expanding fruit juice market now provides a range of different juice varieties catering for all tastes and needs (Mintel 2009). This review will begin by looking at the many different juice products available to consumers, before looking at the role of juice in a balanced diet and its nutritional properties. The amount of fruit juice currently being consumed in ...