What are functional foods? What are some examples of functional foods?

 

What are functional foods?

All foods are functional in that they provide the nutrients necessary for life. However, some foods stand out particularly because they contain certain bioactive substances. It should be remembered, however, that there are no miracle foods; functional foods can also demonstrate various positive effects when included in a healthy and personalized diet.

What are functional foods?

Beyond simply "satisfying hunger" and providing "essential nutrition," functional foods have been scientifically proven to have several health benefits.
Functional foods are not in pill or capsule form; they are purely food form.
They may look like, or even be, a traditional food.
To observe their positive effects, they should be consumed as part of a healthy, personalized diet.

What are the sources of functional foods?

There are four main sources of functional foods. These are:

1. 1. Traditional foods
2. 2. Foods that have been nutritionally fortified
3. 3. Foods that have been nutritionally enriched
4. 4. Foods that are sources of resistant starch or oligosaccharides

1. What are Traditional Foods?

Traditional foods contain natural bioactive nutritional compounds that go beyond simply "satisfying hunger." Examples of traditional foods include vegetables, fruits, whole grains, milk and dairy products, fish, and red meat. The positive effects of these food groups are known, but not every food is suitable for everyone, as diet is personalized. The amounts of these foods in the diet may be reduced or completely eliminated in various health conditions.

2. What is Nutritional Fortification?

Nutritional fortification is the process of adding a nutrient that is commonly deficient or lacking in the population (such as iron or vitamin D) to foods that are not naturally present but are frequently consumed. The aim is to minimize the frequency of that nutrient deficiency. This helps to address deficiencies or inadequacies that could negatively impact public health and prevent the development of certain diseases. Examples include adding vitamin D to milk, iodizing salt, and fortifying wheat flour with folic acid.

3. What is Food Enrichment?

Nutritional enrichment is the process of adding nutrients to food that are lost during production, storage, and processing. For example, when whole wheat flour is turned into white flour (through refining), the lost vitamins and minerals are replenished, thus achieving enrichment.

4. What are some foods that are sources of oligosaccharides and resistant starch?

Examples include legumes, whole wheat bread, celery, unripe bananas, barley, oats, cooked and cooled potatoes, and cooked and cooled whole wheat pasta.