What are "functional foods," and how have they been marketed by the food industry?

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Answer may vary.Functional foods are foods or food ingredients that offer specific health benefits beyond those supplied by the traditional nutrients they contain. Many functional foods come in their natural forms. A tomato, for example, is a functional food because it contains the phytonutrient lycopene, thought to reduce the risk for prostate cancer. Other examples of functional foods are kale, broccoli, blueberries, red grapes, and green tea.?The term "functional food," however, has been used primarily as a marketing tool by the food industry to attract consumers. Unlike fortified foods, which have been modified to help prevent nutrient deficiencies, functional foods are created by the food industry by the addition of ingredients aimed at treating or preventing symptoms or disease. In functional foods, the added ingredients are typically not found in the food item in its natural form but are added to allow manufacturers to make appealing health claims.