Functional food, also known as health food, refers to a kind of food with specific nutrition and health care functions, which plays a regulatory role in the physical function of specific people.
Functional food has specific, clear and scientifically verified nutrition and health care functions, and is suitable for different specific people. According to different functions, functional foods can be divided into three categories: foods that enhance physical fitness (dairy products, bee products, cod liver oil), foods that restore health (β-glucan, lycopene, soy isoflavones), and foods that delay aging (vitamin E, curcumin, collagen).
Functional food meets the requirements
1, non-toxic, harmless, in line with nutritional requirements.
2, its function must be clear and specific, and confirmed by science. At the same time, its function can not replace the normal dietary intake of human body and the requirements for various essential nutrients.
3. Functional food is developed and produced for specific people who need to adjust some aspects of body function.
4, it is not for the purpose of treatment, and can not replace the therapeutic effect of drugs on patients.
Functional foods have a wider range, such as nutritional supplement, antioxidant and regulatory functions. They are divided into functional carbohydrates, functional lipids, phytochemicals and probiotics according to effective components and nutritional value.