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Can functional foods replace a healthy diet?
Posted on Feb 12th 2007 7:00AM by Bethany SandersCruise the aisles of your grocery store and it seems that almost every product is screaming its health benefits to you from colorful boxes and displays. Added omega-3s, rich in vitamins, good source of calcium...everyone has something to say about their product. But are functional foods -- or foods that have been artificially enriched with added vitamins and minerals -- really healthier?
It depends on who you talk to. Experts say that there's a lack of definitive research saying that functional foods are as good as foods that are naturally high in vitamins and nutrients. Not only that, functional foods may replace those high-nutrient and lower calorie foods, eliminating them from your diet or packing more calories on to your day. The Grocery Manufacturers Food Products Association disagrees, saying that these products provide many health benefits to consumers.
I think the most important thing to remember when you're reading a food label of a product that promises to improve your health is this: is it a healthy food choice to begin with? Cookies made from whole wheat flour or with added omega-3s are still cookies. If those cookies are full of sugar or eliminate food naturally rich in omega-3s, such as salmon, then they aren't a good choice. If a food is already rich in vitamins, such as orange juice, and it has added calcium, then you've put yourself in a win/win situation. I think that functional foods have their place, in moderation, but can't replace a healthy diet and a multi-vitamin. What do you think?
It depends on who you talk to. Experts say that there's a lack of definitive research saying that functional foods are as good as foods that are naturally high in vitamins and nutrients. Not only that, functional foods may replace those high-nutrient and lower calorie foods, eliminating them from your diet or packing more calories on to your day. The Grocery Manufacturers Food Products Association disagrees, saying that these products provide many health benefits to consumers.
I think the most important thing to remember when you're reading a food label of a product that promises to improve your health is this: is it a healthy food choice to begin with? Cookies made from whole wheat flour or with added omega-3s are still cookies. If those cookies are full of sugar or eliminate food naturally rich in omega-3s, such as salmon, then they aren't a good choice. If a food is already rich in vitamins, such as orange juice, and it has added calcium, then you've put yourself in a win/win situation. I think that functional foods have their place, in moderation, but can't replace a healthy diet and a multi-vitamin. What do you think?
