Overview

The term "functional foods" refers to a wide range of foods and food products that are thought to provide extra health benefits.

Functional foods are believed to provide extra health benefits because of the nutrients that they contain. Scientists do not always agree about which foods should be called functional foods. Some functional foods have good evidence that they can improve health. But others do not.

Functional foods are used to improve overall health and reduce the risk for certain chronic conditions, such as diabetes and heart disease. But it is not always clear which foods should be labeled as functional foods.

Uses & Effectiveness

We currently have no information for Functional Foods overview.

Side Effects



Special Precautions and Warnings



Functional foods refer to a wide range of foods and food products. Each of these foods has different safety concerns. See specific topics for safety information.

Interactions

We currently have no information for Functional Foods overview.

Dosing

The term "functional foods" refers to a wide range of foods and food products that might provide extra health benefits. However, there is no clear definition for functional foods. Functional foods should always be eaten as part of a varied, well-rounded diet. In order for functional foods to improve health, various functional foods should be added to the diet in moderation.
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CONDITIONS OF USE AND IMPORTANT INFORMATION: This information is meant to supplement, not replace advice from your doctor or healthcare provider and is not meant to cover all possible uses, precautions, interactions or adverse effects. This information may not fit your specific health circumstances. Never delay or disregard seeking professional medical advice from your doctor or other qualified health care provider because of something you have read on WebMD. You should always speak with your doctor or health care professional before you start, stop, or change any prescribed part of your health care plan or treatment and to determine what course of therapy is right for you.

This copyrighted material is licensed from Therapeutic Research Center, LLC. Information from this source is evidence-based and objective, and without commercial influence. For professional medical information on natural medicines, see Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database Professional Version.
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