May 2007 Archives
More and more today we are seeing and hearing the term "Functional Foods" in the media. But what does it all mean and which foods fall under this heading?
"Functional Foods" are foods or dietary components that may provide a health benefit beyond basic nutrition. You can take greater control of your health through the food choices you make, knowing that some foods can provide specific health benefits. Examples can include fruits and vegetables, whole grains, fortified or enhanced foods and beverages, and some dietary supplements. Biologically active components in functional foods may impart health benefits or desirable physiological effects. Functional attributes of many traditional foods are being discovered, while new food products are being developed with beneficial components.
Demand
Consumer interest in the relationship between diet and health has increased the demand for information about functional foods. Rapid advances in science and technology, increasing healthcare costs, changes in food laws affecting label and product claims, an aging population, and rising interest in attaining wellness through diet are among the factors fueling U.S. interest in functional foods. Credible scientific research indicates there are many clinically demonstrated and potential health benefits from food components. These benefits continue to expand the health claims now permitted to be identified by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Scientific Criteria
Many academic, scientific, and regulatory organizations are considering ways to establish the scientific basis to support and further validate claims for functional components or the foods containing them. FDA regulates food products according to their intended use and the nature of claims made on the package. Five types of health-related statements or claims are allowed on food and dietary supplement labels:
1. Nutrient content claims indicate the presence of a specific nutrient at a certain level.
2. Structure and function claims describe the effect of dietary components on the normal structure or function of the body.
3. Dietary guidance claims describe the health benefits of broad categories of foods.
4. Qualified health claims convey a developing relationship between components in the diet and risk of disease, as reviewed by the FDA and supported by the weight of credible scientific evidence available.
5. Health claims confirm a relationship between components in the diet and risk of disease or health condition, as approved by FDA and supported by significant scientific agreement.
A large body of credible scientific research is needed to confirm the benefits of any particular food or component. For functional foods to deliver their potential public health benefits, consumers must have a clear understanding of and a strong confidence in the scientific criteria that are used to document health statements and claims. The scientific community continues to increase its understanding of the potential for functional foods and their role in health.
Nutrigenomics "Personalized Nutrition"
As scientific and technological advances develop in the field of health and nutrition, more and more focus has been directed toward the emerging field of nutrigenomics or "personalized nutrition." The science of nutrigenomics involves the application of the human genome to nutrition and personal health to provide individual dietary recommendations. By using an individual’s unique genetic makeup and nutritional requirements to tailor recommendations, consumers may one day have a greater ability to reduce their risk of disease.
Personalizing nutrition to an individual’s unique genetic makeup has the potential for positive health outcomes overall. Choosing an individualized approach, over a more traditional or general approach, to health and nutrition recommendations can provide consumers with the most appropriate and beneficial information for their specific nutritional needs. While personalized nutrition seems promising, research is still in the preliminary stages, and years may pass before accurate and effective recommendations can be made for individuals.
Functional foods are an important part of an overall healthful lifestyle that includes a balanced diet and physical activity. People should strive to consume a wide variety of foods, including the examples listed here. These examples are not "magic bullets." The best advice is to include a variety of foods, as recommended by the 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans and MyPyramid.gov, which would provide many potentially beneficial components.
Reprinted with permission from the International Food Information Council Foundation, Functional Foods Backgrounder (November 2006).
Calories Count, But Consumers Don't:
Food & Health Survey Highlights Six "Diet Disconnects"
More than half of Americans (56%) say they are trying to lose weight, and a majority of them say they are trying to improve the healthfulness of their diet and increase their level of physical activity. Yet, nine out of 10 Americans do not know how many calories they should consume in a day.
The conflicting findings on calories represent just one of six consumer "diet disconnects" found in the second annual Food & Health Survey conducted by the International Food Information Council (IFIC) Foundation. The survey of 1,000 American adults was conducted over three weeks in February and March of 2007.
This survey is an important snapshot highlighting the gap between Americans' desire to have a more healthful diet and the reality of converting this desire into day-to-day behavior. We call these gaps "diet disconnects,said Susan Borra, IFIC Foundation president and registered dietitian.
The "diet disconnects" revealed in the annual look at consumer attitudes on food, nutrition, and health include everything from carbohydrates and dietary fats, to how consumers link nutrition and physical health, to what they consider the most important meal of the day.
Uncovering these disconnects,said Borra,
is the first step to really helping consumers achieve an overall healthful lifestyle.
The six "diet disconnects" include:
1. Calories: Easier eaten than counted? Seventy percent of Americans who said they are trying to improve the healthfulness of their diet reported they are doing so in order to lose weight. But, only 11 percent of Americans know the number of calories they should consume each day. This is consistent with findings from one year ago.
2.`Diet & Exercise: Both at once? A clear majority of Americans (84%) reported being physically active, for health benefits, at least once a week. But, nearly half (44%) of Americans who report being physically active say they do not "balance diet and physical activity" to manage their weight.
3. Breakfast: Does it come too early in the day? Ninety percent of Americans agree that breakfast is an important meal to achieve a healthful diet. But, less than half of Americans (49%) report eating breakfast every day.
4. Fat Chance: Which are the good ones? Consumers' concern about the types and amounts of fats they include in their diet is up from a year ago (72% vs. 66%) and they are specifically trying to consume less trans fat. But, consumers are unclear about which fats are healthful. For example, Americans report trying to consume less polyunsaturated fats, one of the fats recommended for health benefits.
5. Carbs: Where do they fit in an overall nutrition plan? Consumers are getting the message that specific types of carbohydrates can improve the overall healthfulness of their diet. Specifically, more than 70% of consumers say they are trying to consume more carbohydrates like fiber and whole grains. But, more than 50% remain concerned with the amount of carbohydrates they consume, which is not surprising given the past attention to fad diets that promoted decreased consumption of carbohydrates.
6. "Functional Foods": Can you pass the additional benefits, please? Consumers agree that consuming specific foods and beverages can provide health benefits beyond basic nutrition. These benefits include improving heart health (80%); improving digestive health (76%); and improving physical energy or stamina (76%). But, more than 50% of Americans say they currently do not consume foods or beverages that deliver these benefits.
In addition to these key areas of nutrition, the survey included questions regarding consumer attitudes on caffeine and health, hydration, and athletic performance; as well as low-calorie sweeteners and their role in weight management.
Since the science concerning food, nutrition, and health is continually evolving there is an ongoing need to provide clarity,said Borra.
Our survey shows that there is an opportunity for all of us in the nutrition field to make diet information more understandable for consumers.
The IFIC Foundation plans to continue to monitor these trends and report the results of the Food and Health research every one to two years.
For a PDF copy of the entire survey visit: http://www.ific.org/research/foodandhealthsurvey.cfm.
Read more: International Food Information Council Foundation
