According to wikipedia.com, a functional food is any healthy food claimed to have a health-promoting or disease-preventing property beyond the basic function of supplying nutrients.

What makes a food “functional” is it’s potential ability to positively affect one’s health.

Oats

Soy

Eggs with Omega-3 fatty acids

Broccolli and other cruciferous vegetables

Reduces cholesterol

Reduces cholesterol, certain cancers,heart disease

Reduces heart disease

High in antioxidants

Those such as “supports the immune system” or promotes regularity”. These claims describe effects on normal functioning of the body. They do not claim that the food can prevent, treat, diagnose or cure a disease.

~ Do not require pre-approval by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration).

~They cannot be false and misleading.

~ Typically called “Health Claims”

~ Do require approval by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) before they can be used on a product.

~ Must reflect scientific consensus.

Fruits/vegetables– reduced risk of cancer

Saturated fat- increased risk of heart disease

Sodium- increased hypertension Folic acid- reduced risk of neural tube defects

Soy- reduced heart disease