Everything You Need to Know About Functional Foods

Technological and scientific advancements in the food industry have helped food producers create healthy food components known as ‘functional foods’. Functional foods are basically normal food components which are infused with extra nutritional elements to make them more beneficial. These functional foods provide extra benefits to the human body besides their own benefits. Due to our hectic lifestyles and the amount of adulterated foods we are consuming these days, functional foods form a very important part of our nutritional diet. A few examples of functional foods are – calcium fortified juices, vitamin C fortified energy drinks, probiotic yoghurt and milk products, omega 3 enriched foods etc.

There are 3 main types of functional food categories – plant based, animal based and dairy based functional foods. Dairy based functional foods are produced by using healthy bacteria in minimum quantities in the products to make them ‘probiotic’. Probiotic foods are good for improving the digestion. Plant based functional foods are produced by infusing foods with certain enzymes which are found in fruits, vegetables, plants etc. such as Vitamin C enriched candy and the likes. Animal based functional foods are mostly produced from fish and beef such as omega 3 fatty acids which is one of the most commonly used ingredient.

Functional Food Center (FFC) are the pioneers in the functional food industry. This organization consists of a global network of doctors, experts, scientist, functional food experts and many such qualified team members which regular meet in conferences world wide to discuss the new technologies in the food industry, improvements in current processes and to discuss functional food companies. FFC Certification for functional food companies is very crucial for the company to sustain in this highly competitive market. When a company who produces functional foods approaches FFC, the company is examined 360 degrees to ensure it is fit for an FFC certification. Once the company is certified by FFC, FFC then helps this company in marketing, advertising, distribution as well as with production to ensure it produces the best quality of functional foods for the market. Being certified with FFC also has additional advantages such as being invited to global seminars and opening their doors to an international market.

Functional foods have slowly taken over the food market from our drinks to something as basic as our bread which works great for our bodies. However, it is important to note than functional foods are not a complete replacement for any nutritious foods.

For more information: http://functionalfoodscenter.net/upcoming-ffc-conferences.html