Functional Food

Functional food (even Nutraceutical - from diet and nutrition = pharmaceutical pharmaceutical = ), German functional foods are foods that are enriched with additional ingredients and are advertised with a positive effect on health. Special effects on health, however, are not sufficiently scientifically backed up.

Added are mainly vitamins, minerals, bacteria cultures and unsaturated fatty acids. There is no legal definition for these products, there are not yet in Europe.

Story and precursor

The origin of the functional food is in Japan. There shall be allowed to fortified foods since 1991 under the name Tokutei hokenyou Shokuhin, short tokuho (english food for specific health use ( FOSHU ) in German: food for specific health benefits) are marketed. In Japan there are for these products a precise definition, and they may be advertised with statements on health promotion and disease prevention. For a product to receive the official Tokuho label, it may not be offered in capsule or powder form (food supplements ). There must be a food that is part of the normal diet and is fortified with a drug whose health benefits has been scientifically proven.

The offer of this fortified foods has greatly increased in Europe in recent years. End of the 19th century precursor of functional food have come on the market in Germany and Austria, however. Examples include Johann Hoff products ( malt extract beer health, Malzschokolade or cough drops ), Ovaltine, the products of the German Tropon works or somatose foods.

Examples

The most popular functional food products are yogurts with bacterial cultures that are sold with the addition of " probiotic". Fruit juices are enriched for Example with vitamins A, C and E, bread with omega -3 fatty acids and iodine, margarine with plant sterols. The health benefits of most additives is not yet occupied only by laboratory tests or in theory, scientific studies on this are far from in most cases. Controversial is the question of whether there are, for example, in the vitamins an undersupply of large parts of the population, so that a supplement is useful. Another example is products of the Evolus mark on the basis of fermented milk, for a slight anti-hypertensive effect was shown in clinical trials.

In Japan and the United States also functional food products are offered that will either increase the power of thought ( " brain food " ) or more beautiful ( " Beauty Food ").

The most common ingredients for functional foods

  • Probiotics: dairy products are frequently added probiotic lactic acid bacteria, which are intended to improve the natural intestinal flora.
  • Prebiotics: Prebiotics are non-digestible carbohydrates, such as inulin. They should promote the proliferation of probiotic bacteria in the large intestine.
  • Omega- 3 fatty acid: omega-3 fatty acids include polyunsaturated fatty acids, which are contained mainly in fish oil. They can not be manufactured by the body but must be consumed in the diet. These fatty acids to protect against cardiovascular disease and lower cholesterol.
  • Phytonutrients: The so-called phytochemicals include, among others Carotenoids, polyphenols and sterols. You attributed to an antioxidant effect and the fight against free radicals, among other things, promoting the immune system and lowering cholesterol levels.
  • Vitamins: Vitamins C and E are considered powerful antioxidants and thus effectively to the prevention of cellular damage and cancer.
  • Folic acid: Folic acid has a positive effect on the cardiovascular system; a deficiency in pregnancy may lead to birth defects of the embryo.
  • Dietary Fiber: Fiber is not broken down by the body's enzymes and have a positive effect on digestion.
  • Minerals: The minerals include iodine, magnesium, iron and calcium. Iodine to prevent thyroid disease, calcium protect against osteoporosis.

Criticism

  • The health benefits of many supplements is not yet proven, there are no scientific studies.
  • The dosage of added minerals and vitamins can hardly be checked by the consumer; with fat-soluble vitamins are food products could cause a harmful overdose by eating more functional.
  • Even candy and sweets are mixed with vitamins and minerals, so to give the appearance that their consumption promotes health.
  • The German Society for Nutrition judged Functional Food critical. In a statement, it says, " functional food is basically not guarantee a responsive and balanced diet nutrition errors can not be eliminated by the consumption of functional foods. . "

The legal situation

For food in Germany is a ban on " disease-related " advertising. So should not be advertised as a food that children and preventing osteoporosis in old age. Many advertising statements about functional foods as " supports the immune system " move in a legal gray area, but are still considered acceptable.

The Bavarian State Ministry for Nutrition, Agriculture and Forestry provides various claims that functional food products should meet:

By means of these requirements, it is possible to identify products as functional and distinguished from normal products.

Apart from the term functional foods emerged so far to no legal norm. The corresponding products are covered by the general food law or under the general guidelines for dietary foods. When nutrients or foods that are eaten so far in the EU to a lesser extent, attacks the Novel Food Regulation of 12 May 1997.

In terms of advertising highlighting additional health benefit to apply from July 2007, the so-called Health Claims Regulation of the European Union. This will limit the possibility of advertising strongly with unused health effects.

Dietary element
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