What are functional foods and why are they useful?

Functional foods are developed specifically to promote health or reduce the risk of diseases. They usually, look, smell and taste the same as their regular counterparts.

Functional foods potentially offer health benefits but they do not offer a magic bullet against health problems. They are a positive, health enhancing addition to an overall balanced diet and active lifestyle. Combined with a healthy lifestyle, functional foods can make a positive contribution to health and well being.

Food	Functional Benefit
Live fermented milks and yoghurts with probiotic cultures	Improve digestive functioning.
Margarine, yoghurt, cheese spreads	Plant stereols and stanols reduce cholesterol and lower the risk of heart disease.
Eggs rich in omega-3 essential fatty acids
Breakfast cereals	Added folic acid may help reduce the risk of babies being born with spina bifida.
Bread, Muesli style bars	Added isoflavones may help reduce the risk of breast and prostate cancers, heart disease and osteoporosis.