Functional foods
Functional foods typically contain added nutrients, bioactive compounds, or other substances that are believed to have positive effects on health. Though it's advisable to consult with a healthcare professional or registered dietitian before consumption.
Functional foods are a category of food products that deliver additional health benefits beyond basic nutritional value — they promote good health or reduce the risk of certain diseases. They are formulated or fortified with specific bioactive compounds such as vitamins, minerals, fiber, probiotics, omega-3 fatty acids or phytochemicals, as an approach to address nutritional deficiencies and promote wellness through diet.
The category is usually broken into six types. Fortified foods carry additional nutrients that are not naturally present, or are present in insufficient amounts. Functional foods are formulated with additional nutrients or bioactive compounds. Enriched foods have nutrients added back after they have been removed or lost during processing. Enhanced foods incorporate additional ingredients or modifications beyond nutritional limit. Altered foods have a naturally present harmful component replaced or reduced with a beneficial component. Non-altered foods are those naturally containing increased content of nutrients.
Familiar products across these types include probiotic yogurt, omega-3 enriched eggs, fortified milk, whole grain bread, functional beverages, plant sterol-enriched margarine, fatty fish, unsalted nuts, iodised salt, tomatoes, berries and soy-based products. While functional foods can offer health benefits, they are not a substitute for a balanced diet and healthy lifestyle.