Dietary Supplements & Functional Foods

Functional foods are those that go above and beyond simply supplying your body with calories and conventional nutrients. Though there is no established universal standard as to what precisely constitutes a functional food, the generally recognized definition is that functional foods enhance health or fight disease in ways that surpass basic nutritional function. The concept of "food as medicine" is in keeping with the basic premise behind functional foods. In some cases, the bioactive compounds found in functional foods are available as dietary supplements.

Probiotics

Probiotics are beneficial bacteria. You already possess your very own colony of these helpful microbes -- they live inside your intestines where they help prevent harmful pathogens from moving in and taking over. In some cases, however, your beneficial bacteria, or normal flora as these beneficial bacteria are sometimes referred to, can be destroyed or decreased in number. This can happen when you undergo a course of antibiotic therapy, for instance. Foods containing probiotics have been suggested as a way of replenishing your normal flora and restoring gastrointestinal health. Probiotics have been shown to be effective in managing conditions such as diarrhea, peptic ulcers and lactose intolerance. Probiotic dietary supplements are sold in the form of capsules, tablets and powders.

Omega-3 Fatty Acids

The typical American diet is high in omega-6 fatty acid -- a substance that is known to increase levels of inflammation in the body. Inflammation can be a good thing, when your immune system is using it to respond to injury or illness, but it can cause problems when it is chronic. Omega-3 fatty acids have the opposite effect -- they decrease levels of inflammation in the body. Unfortunately, Americans consume about 30 times more omega-6 than omega-3, a dietary disparity that is thought to contribute to the high rate of inflammatory diseases in the United States. Omega-3 fatty acid supplements, created from fish oil, are thought to be one way to balance the disparity

Beta-Glucan

A hearty bowl of oatmeal has heart healthy benefits, according to the Linus Pauling Institute. Oatmeal contains a type of viscous, soluble fiber called beta-glucan that is believed to reduce both total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol levels. This property is unique to beta-glucan fiber. Other types of fiber have other benefits, but will not reduce cholesterol levels. In addition to oatmeal, beta-glucan is found in barley, mushrooms and yeast, and is available as a supplement made from fiber extracted from these foods.

Catechins

Tea is one of the world's most popular beverages, and according to the University of Maryland Medical Center, this is a positive thing, as tea contains healthy antioxidants called polyphenols. Green tea is especially high in a type of polyphenol called catechins. The catechins in green tea have been observed to have promising results in treating both skin tumors and viral hepatitis. Supplements made from green tea leaves are sold in capsule form, or as liquid extracts.