Functional foods, expensive and work little

Functional foods, expensive and work little

I already talked a few months ago about how scientifically unproven it is that omega 3 acids are as beneficial as food manufacturers when they add them to their products. Let's talk a little more about this type of food, the so-called "functional foods". Although they are not official, browsing through there I found a couple of interesting definitions:

ACCU: "A food can be considered functional if it is scientifically demonstrated that it benefits one or several of the organic functions, improving the general state of health and reducing the risk of suffering from diseases"

- Pediatrics: "They are foods that have been added a nutrient, a substance or a component that is not a nutrient, to produce some beneficial effect on health, thereby generating a new function, different or complementary, functions and known for that food. "

If I tell you an example, I'm sure we understand each other: Actimel, Activia, Naturlinea, Proactiv, Vivesoy ...

The web Consumer has dedicated a dossier, extensive and enjoyable, but uncritical, in my opinion. Although they tend to be quite rigorous and serious in their reports, I understand that Consumer (read Eroski), is also an interested party, since it makes money by selling these products.

At the other extreme, the OCU (Organization of Consumers and Users) has published a report in which it reveals that some of these foods work mainly to fatten the manufacturer's pocket. Because what it is in health, little influence they seem to have, even though they cost a lot more than affluent foods? (normal, to understand us).

The summary of the interesting report of the OCU is the following:

- Those who help your defenses (Actimel Danone): They help rather little (or nothing). And when you stop taking it, goodbye very good, the possible effect is over.

- Those who have soy (Activia Soja Danone, Vivesoy with Juicy Pascual): According to American studies soy is healthy (if accompanied by a diet low in saturated fats, sodium and cholesterol), but these foods have so little (less than 2) gr) that its effect would be negligible. Should be put to the quico of the food in question to reach the significant amount of soy (25 grams per day), in which case we should also take into account the effect of the rest of the components (fat, sugar ...), probably not so positive. An exception to this problem of the amount could be the soy milk Vivesoy de Pascual, since with 2.5 glasses those 25 gr.

- Those that lower the cholesterol or the tension (Benecol Kaiku, Flora Proactiv): They can have some positive effect, but taking them with precaution and whenever a proper diet is followed, sports are done, etc.

- Nutritionally enriched (Colacao complet, Knorr Vie, Pastas Gallo V): They exaggerate like miscreants. The amounts of added nutrients (cereals, fruit, vegetables) are very small, and much lower than those recommended.

- Those that help reduce fat (Naturlínea): In addition to its supposed effect is minimal, especially in overweight people, obviate that the body weight is not reduced and that it is necessary to diet. Similar occurs with Danone Vitalinea with Saciactiv, which claims to reduce appetite by increasing the feeling of fullness. The amount of fiber is so low that a satiety effect is impossible due to its intake.

In short, they do not cure or solve health problems and if you do not lead a healthy life they are useless (the people who usually consume them are those who do not carry it, especially "to compensate"). Also, I think the message they convey through their marketing campaigns makes them look like the miracle they are not. Without forgetting that they are much more expensive.

Having seen, this would be my particular definition of functional foods: "Food more expensive than non-functional, to which has been added any amount (in general very little) of some substance that some study has concluded that could have some effect beneficial for health, as long as you also lead a healthy and balanced life "

Or also: "Strategy to sell products with higher added value perceived by the customer and that provide a greater profit margin than their traditional equivalents".o