Functional foods are foods that are designed to have health benefits "beyond the traditional nutrients it contains," according to "Nutrition Science News." There are many types of functional foods, each with their own proposed health benefits. Although functional foods are often used to prevent illness, it should be noted that they should not be used to correct deficiency or to treat disease.
Super-Fortified Foods
Foods that are fortified with more than 100 percent of the Daily Recommended Intake or with other supplements or botanicals are considered super-fortified, according to "Nutrition Science News." Examples include orange juice supplemented with echinacea -- an herb that is thought to strengthen the immune system -- or with omega-3 fatty acids -- a heart-healthy unsaturated fat that is also thought to have anti-inflammatory properties. Although these ingredients may have benefits on their own, it is likely that there is not enough in these fortified products to produce such results.
Plant Stanols And Sterols
Another group of functional foods includes plant stanols and sterols. These are found naturally in fruits, vegetables and their oils, nuts, soybeans and grains. They are also added to certain food items, such as some brands of margarine, orange juice and dairy products. These compounds, which are found in plants, are similar in structure to cholesterol that is found in animal products. According to the "Canadian Medical Association Journal," consuming plant stanols and sterols can help lower cholesterol, because they compete with it for absorption in the intestine.
Prebiotics And Probiotics
Probiotics are beneficial bacteria that live in the gut, and prebiotics are the substances that they feed off of. Certain foods, such as some brands of yogurt, are supplemented with probiotics or prebiotics. According to the "Canadian Medical Association Journal," consuming both of these in your diet can help to alter the composition of your intestinal flora. This can be beneficial to your immune system and can help ensure digestive regularity, though further research needs to be done.
Considerations
The term "nutrients" as seen in the definition of functional foods only refers to vitamins and minerals. This is because a nutrient is something that is necessary to the body for proper functioning or to correct and prevent certain diseases. Because of this loose definition, certain everyday foods may be considered functional foods. For example, red grapes do contain many vitamins and minerals, or nutrients; however, they also contain compounds called oligomeric proanthocyanidins, which are not nutrients by definition but are thought to provide additional health benefits.
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