Functional foods
Alternate names: Functional ingredients
Background
The term "functional foods" refers to a wide range of foods and food products that are thought to provide extra health benefits.
Functional foods are believed to provide extra health benefits because of the nutrients that they contain. Scientists do not always agree about which foods should be called functional foods. Some functional foods have good evidence that they can improve health. But others do not.
Functional foods are used to improve overall health and reduce the risk for certain chronic conditions, such as diabetes and heart disease. But it is not always clear which foods should be labeled as functional foods.
Functional foods are believed to provide extra health benefits because of the nutrients that they contain. Scientists do not always agree about which foods should be called functional foods. Some functional foods have good evidence that they can improve health. But others do not.
Functional foods are used to improve overall health and reduce the risk for certain chronic conditions, such as diabetes and heart disease. But it is not always clear which foods should be labeled as functional foods.
Safety Safety definitions
Functional foods refer to a wide range of foods and food products. Each of these foods has different safety concerns. See specific topics for safety information.
Effectiveness
Effective Effectiveness definitions
Functional foods can include a wide range of foods and food products. See specific topics for more information on the effectiveness of each of these products for different conditions.
Dosing & administration
The term "functional foods" refers to a wide range of foods and food products that might provide extra health benefits. However, there is no clear definition for functional foods. Functional foods should always be eaten as part of a varied, well-rounded diet. In order for functional foods to improve health, various functional foods should be added to the diet in moderation.
Interactions with pharmaceuticals
It is not known if this treatment interacts with any medicines. Before using this treatment, talk with your health professional if you take any medications.
Interactions with herbs & supplements
There are no known interactions with herbs and supplements.
Interactions with foods
There are no known interactions with foods.
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This monograph was last reviewed on 16/01/2024 11:00:00 and last updated on 18/07/2020 00:25:35. Monographs are reviewed and/or updated multiple times per month and at least once per year.
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Natural Medicines rates safety based on scientific evidence according to the following scale: Likely Safe, Possibly Safe, Possibly Unsafe, Likely Unsafe, Unsafe, and Insufficient Evidence to Rate. For more information about Natural Medicines’ Safety Rating System, click here.
The Natural Medicines Effectiveness Ratings are assigned for specific indications. A product might be rated "Possibly Effective" for one condition, but be rated "Likely Ineffective" for another condition, depending on the evidence. For more info click here.
