How to Buy Functional Food

Yogurt thats good for your gut, butter that helps your heart, soft drinks that boost your brain power. The food industry has been busily churning out functional foods and beverages, filling store shelves and offering consumers more options than ever for fortifying their diets beyond basic nutrition. But, as U.S. News & World Report recently noted, claims about the health benefits of these foods can be confusing at best and misleading at worst. To help, the publication offers consumers seven tips for navigating the sea of functional foods. The article addresses the semantics of health claims, the need to look beyond the good-for-you ingredients, and reminds consumers to take a close look at their usual food choices and daily supplement intake to determine if they really need to buy functional foods at all.