4Sir2 Smoothy: Building a Healthy Drink Ecosystem to Prevent Childhood Obesity

ongoing

The project aims at creating a functional beverage tailored for obese children, utilizing either grape or apple juice as its base. This beverage will be enriched with unique compounds derived from the by-products of red grape processing, namely resveratrol and polyphenols. These compounds have demonstrated the capacity to activate anti-obesity genes, specifically sirtuins, through their expression.The primary goal of the 4Sir2 project is to bring to bring revolutionary technological advancements in both grape cultivation and processing industries, as well as the production of health-oriented beverages: 4Sir2 will innovate and create a novel functional beverage 4Sir2 smoothie, aimed at preventing child obesity and will establish sustainable processes within the grape processing industries across the European Union and beyond. The new functional 4Sir2 smoothie will activate the expression of genes responsible for sirtuin proteins, thereby mitigating obesity. Specifically tailored for obese children, this project focuses on providing essential nutritional interventions. Hence, the aim is twin: firstly, to prevent the entrenchment of obesity and foster healthy dietary habits from an early age through the consumption of juices and nutritious foods; secondly, by targeting children, the project aspires to influence the eating habits of entire families. The 4Sir2 project fulfils all the requirements outlined in the Work programme. It stands out as a healthier alternative compared to currently available functional drinks, boasting a formulation centred on natural ingredients that are not only delicious but also affordable and undergo minimal processing. Moreover, the production processes developed within the 4Sir2 project are designed with a keen focus on minimising environmental and climate impact. Focusing attention on grape pomace management and usage as the source of sirtuin activators, the project extends its positive influence to society.