By Arpita Doshi
Functional Foods are defined as foods that give health benefits beyond nutritional value i.e., secondary components of foods that have the disease-preventing ability. Scientifically functional foods are defined as foods that bring morphological and physiological changes upon regular consumption. The advantages of “functional foods,” which are said to be capable of anything from lowering cholesterol to preventing cancer, are extolled in magazine articles and news broadcasts. Many foods and beverages with comparable health advantages that are touted on their packaging may be found at the grocery store.
Most meals serve a purpose. Protein for muscle repair, carbs for energy, and vitamins and minerals for cell function may all be found in food. However, the Japanese government developed a category of “functional foods” in the 1980s that offered extra health advantages over and beyond those provided by basic nutrition.
Functional foods provide additional health advantages over and beyond their nutritional value. Some of them include additional components or supplements designed to improve health.. The global functional foods market size is estimated as USD 281.14 billion in 2021 to USD 529.66 Billion in 2028 with a CAGR of 9.5% (Fortune business insights)
Functional Foods Components that are presently widely used in the Supplement and food industry are
Functional Foods were first termed in Japan in 1980 to combat the health costs of the ageing population. Ministry of Health and Welfare initiated a system FOSHU (Food for Specified Health Uses) that approves certain foods with documented health benefits, presently 1,063 foods have received FOSHU approval however European countries have much stricter rules for foods claiming health benefits.
-Contributes to Growth and Development
When you include a variety of nutrient-rich functional foods in your diet, it helps you meet your nutritional demands. Additionally, it is advantageous to incorporate meals that have been enhanced with certain nutrients crucial for growth and development.
For instance, vitamins like folic acid, which are crucial for foetal health, are frequently added to cereals, grains, and flours during the fortification process. Neural tube abnormalities, which can impair the brain, spinal cord, or spine, are more likely to occur in people with low amounts of folic acid. According to estimates, increasing folic acid intake might reduce the occurrence of neural tube abnormalities by 50–70%.
-Acts as a Shield In Front of Diseases
Functional foods offer vital nutrients that can aid in illness prevention. Many of these are particularly high in antioxidants. By neutralising dangerous substances, they prevent cell damage and a number of chronic diseases, including diabetes, cancer, and heart disease.
Other functional foods have a lot of fibre, which helps in maintaining blood sugar levels and guards against diseases including diabetes, obesity, heart disease, and stroke. Additionally, diverticulitis, stomach ulcers, haemorrhoids, and acid reflux may all be prevented with fibre.
-Prevents Deficiency of Nutrients
You can ensure you get the nutrients you need and prevent nutritional deficiencies by eating a range of functional foods in your diet, both traditional and fortified.
Moreover, the prevalence of nutritional deficiencies has considerably decreased globally since the introduction of fortified foods. Other ailments brought on by vitamin deficits, such as rickets, goitre, and birth abnormalities, have been avoided through fortification.
Functional foods, such as nutrient-dense whole foods like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and legumes, should make up a significant portion of a healthy diet. These meals enhance general health in addition to giving your body the vitamins and minerals it requires.
Functional foods that have been altered can be included in a healthy diet. In fact, they can improve health by increasing your consumption of vital nutrients like vitamins, minerals, fibre, heart-healthy fats, or probiotics. This can assist cover any nutritional gaps in your diet and avoid nutrient shortages.
In addition to guarding you against vitamin inadequacies, they help shield against sickness and support healthy growth and development.
(The author is Founder of Nutrition Dynamic Foods LLP. The article is for informational purposes only. Please consult medical experts and health professionals before starting any therapy, medication and/or remedy. Views expressed are personal and do not reflect the official position or policy of the FinancialExpress.com.)
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Diabeets
27/10/2022