In addition to the nutrients that our bodies need for growth and development, functional foods contain a variety of bioactive substances, each with a unique function in the body. The problem is that most of those claims are not based on scientific research, like the criteria for functional foods are.
Superfood advertisements claim that eating the food will improve some aspect of health.
For example, salmon and tuna are considered superfoods because the omega-3 fats they contain have been linked to heart health. But superfood is generally meant to imply a food that has superior nutritional value and that is high in nutrients that are beneficial for health. Labeling them as "super" appeals to the public and increases sales. "Superfood" is a buzzword marketers use to promote foods like kale, spinach and blueberries. The class explores the various bioactive substances in food and how some may even function like a medicine.įunctional foods are not the same as superfoods. But recently I developed a course specifically on functional foods. Because apples contain many health-promoting bioactive substances, the fruit is considered a "functional" food.įor years, I have taught university classes on nutrients such as vitamins, minerals, carbs, proteins and fats. These chemicals are not classified as nutrients like vitamins. However, apples contain various bioactive substances - natural chemicals that occur in small amounts in foods and that have biological effects in the body. They are not a great source of vitamin C and therefore don't fight off colds as oranges do.
We've all heard that an apple a day keeps the doctor away, but how true is that?Īpples are not high in vitamin A, nor are they beneficial for vision like carrots. This article was originally published on The Conversation.
0 kommentar(er)
