Food Bioactives: Impact on Brain and Cardiometabolic Health—Findings from In Vitro to Human Studies

Modern society is currently (and probably more than ever) immersed in the changing concept of food, seeking the beneficial functions of foods rather than only as a mean to quench hunger and support basic nutritional needs. In this context, we are facing a change in the expectations that consumers have from food items, accompanied by an increased attention towards food bioactive derivatives with health boosting properties. These emerging perceptions of food as a key discriminant in human health are fueled by the already strong evidence linking unhealthy dietary patterns with the onset and progression of several chronic diseases, ranging from type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) to cancer and neurodegenerative diseases. On the contrary, functional foods and their bioactive components may represent a nutritional cornerstone to improve the quality of diet and ameliorate or prevent (in some cases) nutrition-related diseases. Bioactives are unlike pharmaceuticals (compounds used to alleviate symptoms and cure disease). Nevertheless, the latest findings indicate that the clear gap between the two products (bioactives and pharmaceuticals) is becoming narrower and in some cases, they are becoming interchangeable. In agreement with the aforementioned considerations, the interest of the general population with respect to functional foods containing bioactive molecules is in constant expansion, which provides an impetus for research in this field. Indeed, several studies, including in vitro investigations, clinical trials and observational studies related to food and dietary patterns have already identified, proposed and in some cases, challenged the mechanisms of action of food bioactive derivatives. Therefore, the main aim of this Special Issue was to provide an opportunity to bring together high-quality manuscripts that showcase the current knowledge in relation to food bioactives and their impact on brain and cardiometabolic health.