What Is Functional Food

According to definition foods including fortified, enriched, enhanced components or dietary components that may reduce the risk of chronic disease are called functional foods

Whereas foods beyond the traditional nutrients due to enhancement are called functional foods.

Functional foods can be defined as dietary items that, besides providing nutrients and energy, beneficially modulate one or more targeted functions in the body, by enhancing a certain physiological response and/or by reducing the risk of disease

Nicoletti, 2012

Understanding of the relationships between food, physiological function, and disease have progressed in recent years, particularly over the past decade.

Classification Of Functional Food

There are several types of Functional Foods and are described as below

  • Conventional foods
    • Garlic, Nuts, & Tomatoes
  • Modified foods 
    • Fortified, Enriched, Enhanced Iodized salt, Folate-Enriched breads, Energy bars, Snacks, & Yogurts formulated with bio-active components 
  • Medical foods
    • Phenylketonuria (PKU) formulas, free of phenylalanine
  • Special dietary foods
    • Infant foods, weight-loss foods, gluten-free foods, & lactose-free foods

Functional Foods

I am quoting few foods for your kind feed.

  • Beans
    • are good sources of B vitamins,  promotes digestive health and relieves constipation. A good tip would be to replace meat with bean twice a week.
  • Berries
    • All berries with strong red and blue colors have phytochemical that might reduce cancer rates and other chronic diseases.

Berries
Berries
  • Cabbage
    • is one of the oldest vegetables around. It continues to be a dietary staple for many and is an inexpensive source of vitamins A and C, and fiber
  • Mango
    • Consumption of mango is essential for maintenance of healthy skin, healthy vision, prevention of CVDs and cancer
  • Broccoli
    • is a good source of: vitamins A and C, potassium, folacin, iron, and fiber
  • Citrus
    • flavonoids and their metabolites are potent antioxidants. We believe it they can suppress many of the events of cancer
Citrus Fruits are also functional foods
Citrus Fruits are also functional foods
  • Cocoa
    • we found cocoa powder and cocoa extracts to exhibit a higher antioxidant capacity
  • Fish
    • is a good source of protein and is low in saturated fat
    • The following fish are especially good sources of omega-3 fatty acids
      • Mackerel 
      • Lake trout
      • Herring 
      • Sardines 
      • Albacore tuna
      • Salmon
Fish is a good functional food
Fish is a good functional food
  • Soy Isoflavone
    • I believe Soy Isoflavone play a role in prostate cancer prevention

Conclusion

Functional foods are on peak demands because of increasing consumer awareness for healthy living, the ageing population, increasing health care cost, advancing scientific evidence that diet can effect prevalence and progression of disease.

We should take functional foods under proper supervision of a nutritionist or other medical assistant if possible.

Fatima Abdyab
Fatima Abdyab
Fatima Abdyab is a Health, Diet, and Nutrition Specialist. She provides Nutritional Guidance as Food Blogger and a Social Activist.

Related Articles

Unveiling the ONIC Sim Experience: A Closer Look at Pakistan’s First Digital Network

I bought an ONIC SIM, touted as Pakistan's first high-speed digital network, powered by Ufone. Driven by online campaigns, I opted for three packages: Limit Less, Epic Data, and Big Data (1990, 1290, 890 PKR). Call and SMS services suffice, but internet speed falls below expectations. Play Store reviews reveal a 2.4 rating, with numerous complaints about sluggish speeds, averaging less than 1 Mbps.

Comments

Same Category

Unveiling the ONIC Sim Experience: A Closer Look at Pakistan’s First Digital Network

I bought an ONIC SIM, touted as Pakistan's first high-speed digital network, powered by Ufone. Driven by online campaigns, I opted for three packages: Limit Less, Epic Data, and Big Data (1990, 1290, 890 PKR). Call and SMS services suffice, but internet speed falls below expectations. Play Store reviews reveal a 2.4 rating, with numerous complaints about sluggish speeds, averaging less than 1 Mbps.

How To Contact Yourself in A Parallel Universe

The idea of "What if." It fascinates us all. And How many universes are there? Will we have to look for an alternate universe that exists outside our universe or observable universe?

Floods in Pakistan Essay 

The "Floods in Pakistan Essay" delves into the recurring natural disaster that has plagued the country for decades. These devastating floods have left a trail of destruction, impacting millions of lives and causing significant damage to infrastructure and the environment. The consequences of these floods are far-reaching, affecting agriculture, public health, and economic stability.
spot_img

Stay in touch!

Follow our Instagram