Functional Foods - Food Insight

1 Page 1 DEMANDC onsumer interest in the relationship between diet andhealth has increased the demand for information aboutfunctional Foods . Factors fueling interest in these foodsinclude the rapid advances in science and technology,increasing healthcare costs, changes in food laws affectinglabel and product claims, an aging population and risinginterest in attaining wellness through diet, among CLAIMSA ccording to IFIC consumer research, Americans name themedia, health professionals, and family and friends as theirtop sources of information about Foods that can promotehealth. Credible scientific research indicates there are manyclinically proven and potential health benefits from foodcomponents.

2 Claims on food packages are just one vehiclefor informing consumers about these diet and healthrelationships. In the US, the 1990 Nutrition Labeling andEducation Act authorized the food and Drug Administrationto create regulations for the use of health claims on foodsand dietary supplements. Benefits that are substantiated byscientific research are often communicated to consumersthrough the product packaging, websites or health-related statements or claims are madeaccording to the applicable regulations and guidelines of theFDA and Federal Trade academic, scientific and regulatory bodies havedeveloped, or are developing, guidelines to establish thescientific evidence base needed to support and furthervalidate claims for Functional components or the foodscontaining them. FDA regulates food products according totheir intended use and the nature of claims made on thepackage.

3 Five types of health-related statements or claimsare allowed on food and dietary supplement content claimsindicate the presence of aspecific nutrient at a certain and function claimsdescribe the effect ofdietary components on the normal structure orfunction of the body. guidance claimsdescribe the health benefits ofbroad categories of Foods or diets and do not refer toa disease or a health related health claimsconvey a developing relationshipbetween components in the diet and reduced risk ofdisease, as reviewed by the FDA and supported by theweight of credible scientific evidence you know that certain Foods or food components may provide health and wellness benefits?These Foods , also known as Functional Foods , are thought to provide benefits beyond basicnutrition and may play a role in reducing or minimizing the risk of certain diseases and otherhealth conditions.

4 Examples of these Foods include fruits and vegetables, whole grains, fortifiedfoods and beverages and some dietary supplements. Functional characteristics of manytraditional Foods are being discovered and studied, while new food products are being developedto include beneficial components. By knowing which Foods can provide specific health benefits,you can make food and beverage choices that allow you to take greater control of your page 2 Personalizing nutrition to an individual sunique genetic makeup has the potentialfor positive health outcomes overall. claimsconfirm a relationship betweencomponents in the diet and reduced risk of disease orhealth condition, as approved by FDA and supportedby significant scientific scientific community continues to increase itsunderstanding of the potential for Functional Foods and theirrole in maintaining and optimizing health.

5 For benefits to bevalidated and claims to be made, a strong and reliable bodyof credible scientific research is needed to confirm thebenefits of any particular food or component. For functionalfoods to deliver their potential public health benefits,consumers must be able to rely on the scientific criteria thatare used to document such health statements and PERSONALIZEDNUTRITION As scientific and technological advances develop in the fieldof health and nutrition, more focus has been directed towardthe emerging field of nutrigenomics, or personalizednutrition. The science of nutrigenomics involves theapplication of the human genome to nutrition and personalhealth to provide individual dietary recommendations. Byusing an individual s unique genetic makeup and nutritionalrequirements to tailor recommendations, consumers may oneday have a greater ability to reduce their risk of disease andoptimize their nutrition to an individual s unique geneticmakeup has the potential for positive health outcomesoverall.

6 Choosing an individualized approach, over a moretraditional or general approach, to health and nutritionrecommendations can provide consumers with the mostappropriate and beneficial information for their specificnutritional needs. While personalized nutrition seemspromising, research is still in the preliminary stages, andyears may pass before accurate and effectiverecommendations can be made for individuals. Functional Foods / Foods for health are an important part of anoverall healthful lifestyle that includes a balanced diet andphysical activity. People should strive to consume a widevariety of Foods , including the examples listed here. Theseexamples are not magic bullets. The best advice is to includea variety of Foods , as recommended by the 2010 DietaryGuidelines for Americans and , whichwould provide many potentially beneficial components.

7 1100 Connecticut Avenue, NWSuite 430 Washington, DC 20036 Phone: (202) 296-6540E-mail: MORE INFORMATIONON Functional Foods 2011 page 3 EXAMPLES OF Functional COMPONENTS*Class/Components Source*Potential BenefitTips to Include HealthfulComponents in the DietFor beta-carotene rich french fries, thinly slice sweetpotatoes, lightly coat with olive oil or fat-free cookingspray, add spices (pepper, rosemary, thyme) to tasteand bake in 425-degree oven until golden brown(10-15 mins). Time-saver: Buy pre-cut sweet potatoesin the frozen Foods , pumpkin, sweetpotatoes, cantaloupe,spinach, tomatoesneutralizes free radicalswhich may damage cells;bolsters cellular antioxidantdefenses; can be made intovitamin A in the bodyCAROTENOIDS Enjoy a crisp spinach salad with hard-boiled egg a lutein-rich breakfast, make a spinach omelet.

8 Beat2 eggs; stir in C milk and C spinach (fresh orfrozen and drained). Lightly coat skillet with fat-freecooking spray. Cook on low heat until set. Kale, whichprovides the same health benefits, can be an easysubstitute for spinach. Lutein, Zeaxanthinkale, collards, spinach,corn, eggs, citrus fruits,asparagus, carrots,broccolisupports maintenance ofeye health Like other carotenoids, lycopene is best absorbed froma meal containing some oil. If you love tomatoes, tryadding tomato sauce to saut ed zucchini for a fun andcolorful side dish!Sprinkle a little sugar or low-calorie sweetener on slicedgrapefruit before eating to bring out the naturalsweetness within. Lycopene tomatoes and processedtomato products,watermelon, red/pinkgrapefruit supports maintenance ofprostate healthAdd a little dry wheat bran when making smoothies ormuffins to bulk up the fiber fiber wheat bran, corn bran,fruit skinssupports maintenance ofdigestive health; mayreduce the risk of sometypes of cancerDIETARY( Functional and total) FIBERTry adding canned beans (black, pinto or garbanzo) toyour regular meal - layer them in quesadillas, add to anomelet or enjoy in a mixed green fiber** psyllium seed husk, peas,beans, apples, citrusfruitsmay reduce risk of CHDand some types of cancerJazz up your oatmeal with these tasty extras: 1 Tbsppeanut butter and jelly; a sprinkle of cinnamon andpumpkin puree; slivered almonds and C frozen berries.

9 Keep instant oatmeal packets in your desk drawer tohave on hand when you miss breakfast or need a heartyafternoon snack to tide you over until glucan** oat bran, oatmeal, oatflour, barley, ryemay reduce risk ofcoronary heart disease(CHD)Keep a few mini-bags of microwave popcorn in yourdesk drawer to pop for a quick, low-calorie snack. Spiceup your popcorn with garlic powder and cinnamon orrosemary and parmesan cheese. Yum!Are your kids picky eaters? Make their next sandwichvisually appealing: use one slice of white bread and oneslice of whole grain bread, cut sandwich into four pieces,turn two sections to create a checker board grains** cereal grains, wholewheat bread, oatmeal,brown rice may reduce risk of CHDand some types of cancers;supports maintenance ofhealthy blood glucoselevels*Examples are not an all-inclusive list**FDA-approved health claim for componentcontinued, next page 4 EXAMPLES OF Functional COMPONENTS*Class/Components Source*Potential BenefitTips to Include HealthfulComponents in the DietMake portion-controlled snack bags of mixed nuts suchas almonds, pecans and cashews and add dried fruitfor extra flavor and fiber.

10 Keep the bags on hand tograb on your way out the door for a quick and easymid-morning or afternoon fattyacids (MUFAs)**tree nuts, olive oil,canola oilmay reduce risk of CHD When cooking, substitute flax seed oil for canola orolive oil one to two times per in mind, flax seed oil is fragile; refrigerate in a darkcontainer and use at low-temperature for fattyacids (PUFAs) Omega-3 fatty acids ALA walnuts, flaxseeds,flaxseed oilsupports maintenance ofheart and eye health;supports maintenance ofmental function Salmon or tuna canned in water or a shelf-stable pouchcan make easy and affordable meals; add a fewtablespoons of olive oil, season with pepper and thymeand enjoy on top of whole grain crackers or wrappedwith tomatoes in a lettuce Omega-3 fatty acids DHA/EPA** salmon, tuna, marineand other fish oilsmay reduce risk of CHD;supports maintenance ofeye health and mentalfunction FATTY ACIDS Add berries to your yogurt or morning oatmeal forextra flavor.