Each year since 2004, the Functional Foods Center has held international conferences under the series "Functional Foods for the Prevention and Treatment of Chronic Diseases." The 7th annual conference held on December 4-5, 2010, at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, TX, USA is entitled, "Functional Foods for the Prevention and Management of Metabolic Syndrome." The main goal of the 2010 conference is to bring together experts in medicine, biology and food industry to discuss the contribution of functional foods in the prevention and treatment of Metabolic Syndrome and its related complications.

Chronic illness affects the population worldwide. Data from the World Health Organization shows that chronic disease is also the major cause of premature death around the world. Furthermore, chronic disease is the leading cause of death and disability in the United States. As described by the Centers for Disease Control, it accounts for 70% of total deaths in the US, which is an astounding 1.7 million each year. Chronic disease - such as heart disease, cancer, and diabetes - is the leading cause of death and disability in the United States. Studies have shown that diabetes continues to be the leading cause of kidney failure, nontraumatic lower-extremity amputations, and blindness among adults, ages 20-74. More specifically, diabetes is a chronic disease that requires long-term medical attention to limit the development of its devastating complications as well as for management when these effects do occur. Regardless of treatment, the management of diabetes through traditional therapy over a period of time will almost surely bring about side effects and serious complications. For this reason, there is a big interest in functional foods that could potentially help in the prevention and management of diabetes as well as for diabetes related complications, such as obesity and cardiovascular disorders, without side effects. Functional foods might have a particularly high impact for prevention and control of diabetes for which, the link between nutrition and diseases is established. This book not only introduces new functional foods for the management of diabetes, but also shows the investigations and research that have led to their creation. Also, the book preserves the numerous ideas and contributions made in this thriving field, presentating the current progress and evolution that will undoubtedly change the lives of millions.