If you are a health conscious shopper, you have
probably been tempted, and possibly even confused,
by the many new health claims seen on packages in
the grocery store. Many of these claims touted to
improve your health have been applied to foods
known in the food industry as 'smart foods'
or 'functional foods'. Claims range from lowering
cholesterol, improving digestion, boosting immune
system, and protecting your heart. But, just how
smart
are these functional foods? (We know that food
manufacturers are smart because the sales of
functional foods topped $25 billion last year.)
The term 'functional food' has not yet been defined or
strictly regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug
Administration. But the Institute of Food Technologies
defines functional foods as "food and food
components that may provide a health benefit beyond
basic nutrition". That means that blueberries, with all
their wonderful antioxidant value which neutralizes
harmful free radicals in the body, can be considered
a 'functional food'.
In addition to natural foods (like fruits, vegetables and
unprocessed products) being labeled as functional,
the FDA also allows manufacturers to make claims on
foods that have been enhanced with functional
ingredients. For example, Smart Balance is a spread
that touts unique heart health benefits due to the use
of flax oil which adds Omega 3 fatty acids. You may
also see orange juices that claim to lower the risk of
osteoporosis via the additional calcium content or
eggs that lower cholesterol because the chickens
were fed with Omega rich feed. So far, so good! It
seems as if the food industry is using health research
to provide the public with new value in their foods.
While many of the functional food claims are valid and
have been scientifically supported, there are two
issues to be aware of for savvy consumers. First,
functional foods do not give you a free pass for lunch.
Just because a food contains a few 'smart'
ingredients, doesn't mean that it is the smartest
choice calorie, fat or sugar-wise. For example, the
Smart Chocolate Memory Bar contains antioxidants
and gingko bilboa, but also serves up 10 grams of fat
in
a 40 gram portion. A better choice might be the
CocoaVia Heart Healthy Chocolate Snack Bars made
with cocoa processed to boost flavonol content ,
contains 80 calories and 2 grams of fat in one
serving. In other cases, you may find natural juices
enriched with Acai and Mangosteen for energy and
antioxidant value but the second ingredient is sugar or
corn syrup. So, be sure to read the whole label before
you expose yourself to extra empty calories.
The second problem is that there is no real regulation
or standardization in the making of functional foods. In
other words, not all of the health claims you read are
well substantiated by scientific literature. In addition, if
you choose too many foods bursting with certain
nutrients, you are also at risk of surpassing the upper
limit of the recommended dose.
So, in adding it all up, it seems as though we are back
to the basics.....moderation! Read the labels, enjoy
some of the new smart foods on the market but
continue to plan your eating habits around natural,
whole foods. No one food has all the answers--but
there are now more choices out there to help us attain
health benefits we are looking for.
To learn more about Functional Foods or any other
food or fitness related trend, contact us to schedule a
presentation for your office, organization, or friends
and neighbors!
