Functional Foods and Physical Exercise: A Winning Combination for Health
A special issue of Nutrients (ISSN 2072-6643). This special issue belongs to the section "Sports Nutrition".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 October 2025) | Viewed by 1316
Special Issue Editors
Interests: clinical toxicology in sports; doping; nutrients; exercise physiology; exercise pharmacology; drugs in sport
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Interests: physical activity; antimicrobial peptides
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
In recent years, scientific research has highlighted the fundamental role of physical activity in enhancing quality of life and preventing various diseases. The benefits of physical exercise extend to the cardiovascular and musculoskeletal systems, energy metabolism, cognitive functions, and psychological well-being, contributing to better sleep and reduced anxiety and depression. However, intense physical activity can also lead to muscle fatigue, the excessive production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), cellular damage, and inflammation.
A promising strategy to counteract oxidative stress and maximize the benefits of exercise is adopting a diet rich in antioxidant-containing foods and other nutraceutical compounds, known as functional foods, or supplementing with their derivatives. For a food to be considered functional, it must demonstrate beneficial effects on one or more physiological functions, improving health and/or reducing disease risk.
This Special Issue will collect original research articles and reviews exploring the role of functional foods in physical exercise and health promotion. Contributions examining various aspects of this topic are welcome, ranging from the properties of specific foods to their effects on the health of individuals engaged in physical activity at different levels.
Prof. Dr. Filomena Mazzeo
Prof. Dr. Olga Scudiero
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
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Keywords
- physical activity and health
- applied sport science
- exercise physiology
- exercise biochemistry
- sport nutrition
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