FAQ: Functional Foods  What makes a food “functional?” IFT’s
Expert Report defines “functional foods” as foods and food
components that provide a health benefit beyond basic nutrition
for an intended population. They are foods that provide
essential nutrients often beyond quantities necessary for normal
maintenance, growth, and development, and/ or other biologically
active components that impart health benefits or desirable
physiological effects.  What is a nutrient or qualifies as one?
The Expert Report defines nutrients as traditional vitamins,
minerals, and essential fatty acids for which recommended
intakes have been established. The definition also includes
other components that include phytonutrients or bioactive
substances present in foods for which a physical or
physiological effect has been scientifically documented, or for
which a substantial body of evidence exists for a plausible
mechanism, but for which a recommended intake and function have
not been definitively established.  What are some exam