Functional Foods And Dietary Supplements
What is the difference between functional foods and dietary supplements? Functional foods are pretty much what they sound like: foods that have a specific function.
“Function” meaning that they provide the body with something good, improving it in that certain area more than other ordinary food can. You gain a lot from knowing what foods out there are functional and healthy.
Some examples include: dietary fiber (relieves constipation), omega-3 fatty acids (known to lower cholesterol), and probiotic bacteria such as bifidus (improves immune system and helps in digestion). You may have heard these phrases in commercials on TV stating how this milk is rich in calcium, or this soup has omega-3, oatmeal has fiber, soymilk contains healthy good bacteria, etc. If you didn’t know what they were talking about, well now you know!
Knowledge of what functional foods will help your heart if you have a heart condition, or what milk gives you a lot of calcium for those with osteoporosis, will help you deal with these health ailments through the food you eat and allow you and your family to live longer lives. But dieticians advise people not to go overboard with them. Like almost everything in this world, too much of something is usually bad for you. Keep your intake of them at a moderate level.
Dietary supplements, on the other hand, are simply that, diet supplementing. These are in the form of pills, capsules, liquids, soft-gels, etc. you can take daily to get your required daily nutritional needs. They are especially helpful for those who need assistance in acquiring everything from food. For older people, vitamins and minerals are a must and these dietary supplements taken orally once a day for specific types of ailments can facilitate improved health. Babies, pregnant women, young children, vegetarians, even those people who smoke or drink too much can take them to prevent sickness and strengthen their immune systems, basically to make up for what they can’t get from the food they eat.
You can find supplements almost anywhere, over-the-counter, the grocery store, and not just the pharmacy. Strenuous research is going on constantly for finding ways to improve health, and research has contributed a lot to the world of supplements. They are now potentially known to be able to aid in controlling numerous medical health conditions such as cancer, heart disease, and osteoporosis. Even sleeping difficulties, depression, stress, and weight problems can be somewhat treated since supplements aren’t made to cure these conditions.
Overall, it is good to know what goes into your body and what is the difference between functional foods and dietary supplements. If it’s especially good for you, then you should have more of it don’t you think? Keep yourself informed on the advancements in the food and nutrition market these days. Discoveries of potential health treatments are happening everyday, be aware.
(Go here for information about teenage diet plans.)