If you’re new to the world of functional foods and dietary supplements, you might be thinking, “All foods have a function, don’t they? They provide nutrition and keep you from being hungry, what more are they supposed to do?” Well, there’s a little more to it than that.
The Japanese are the first people who introduced the conception of “functional foods” in mid-80s. They use this term to refer to those foods which people eat for the health benefits they can provide. For instance, if you eat blueberries because its glucoquinine ingredients can improve your eye sight, they are considered “functional foods”. Otherwise, if you only have blueberries because you are hungry or because you enjoy its taste, then it is just an ordinary food.
In this regard, another popular term is “natruceutical”, which refers to ingredients extracted from ordinary food and sold as health supplements. In many cases, there is no clear line between this term and “dietary supplements”. For instance, both can be applied to blueberry or bilberry pills which are sold as vision support supplements.
Examples of Popular Functional Foods
Vegetables and fruits are the most common types of functional foods, as many people eat them to acquire all kinds of vitamins and minerals. Whole grain is another popular functional food and a good source for soluble fiber. Fish are also considered functional for its omega-3 fatty acids which has multiple health benefits, and wine is also an example due to the benefits it can provide to our circulatory systems. The most overlooked functional foods are probably berries, because it tastes so good that it health benefits are often neglected.
Selecting the appropriate dietary supplements
Choosing dietary supplements is different from choosing your food, and you almost never base your decision on how it tastes. With far too many health supplements in the market and the bold advertising claims, it can be overwhelming to make the right decision. Meanwhile, our physicians often warn us against the potentials of overdosing, mixing non-compatible supplements, or taking them along with other medications.
Basically, you do not have to get dietary supplements if you can stick to a perfectly balanced diet, which, unfortunately, very few of us are able to achieve. Health supplement becomes important when you are not eating the healthy way, or you have a special condition (eg. pregnancy or breast feeding, etc) that requires more nutrition, or you do not have a healthy digestion system. For vegetarians, you should definitely not skip looking for dietary supplements.
The effects of some dietary supplements can be as powerful as prescribed medications, but they may also produce side-effects. As such, before you decide on going with a particular supplement, check out its ingredients, possible side effects, and warnings, if any. It is also worthwhile to spend some time talking to your doctor or checking our users’ reviews online.
Combining functional foods with dietary supplements will grant you a huge advantage in meeting your body’s nutritional needs. However, don’t simply buy just anything from the supermarket without a bit planning and researching.
If you follow a diet plan that fills your day with eating the healthy foods (not all salads and fruit of course!) then you will never feel hungry enough to snack in the first place. Check out our review of a fast weight loss diet plan that exactly delivers that. You may also like to check out this related article about model’s dieting tips.