Book excerpt: While disease is inevitable in humankind, the current century has been burdened with many chronic diseases, most of which are lifestyle mediated and, which in part can be controlled by consuming foods with specific functions. Functional foods are a special category of natural food or nutrient-derived pharmaceutical products containing beneficial biochemicals and phytochemicals beyond their basic nutritional functions. The first of two volumes, Applications of Functional Foods and Nutraceuticals for Chronic Diseases collects information on the association between functional and chronic diseases. The burden of escalating chronic diseases is discussed in the first chapter, and the remaining fourteen chapters summarize the effect of functional foods on a range of chronic diseases. Key Features: Discusses the clinical application of functional foods for the management of a wide range of chronic diseases Covers chronic diseases including Obesity, Arthritis, Cardiovascular Diseases, and Endocrinal and Hormonal Diseases, among others. Explores beneficial effects of nutraceuticals on chronic diseases Contributors hail from different geographical locations around the world and have many years of research and scholarly experience in functional foods, nutraceuticals, and biology. The world’s leading wellness centers for chronic diseases are using functional foods and nutraceuticals in their practice and discovering their useful applications, and this book is a great reference for practitioners, scientists, and clinicians in the management of chronic diseases.