One of the new tendencies in the market is looking for food packages that contain one of these phrases: “free of…”, “low in…” or “contains no…”. It’s said that they are good for the organism and often thought as a good way to take care of your health. But the question that must be asked is whether these types of products are really functional for the body.
Human beings, by social imitation, tend to repeat what others do, either because they like the results obtained by other people, because of fashion or to feel part of a group; however, what works for one organism will not necessarily work for another.
Stopping the consumption of certain substances, ingredients, products or food, due to fashion or trend and seeing that the expected results are not obtained, can generate discouragement, strengthen or increase bad eating habits in people and even cause some type of eating disorder.
The key to achieve the desired healthy and functional diet could be to make a sincere and deep diagnosis about the foods consumed and evaluate if they really provide the nutrients needed or fulfill their function for the body.
This is where to start making use of those foods with super powers, those that provide additional benefits, beyond just satiating our appetite, this is where functional foods stand out and gain strength.
Functional foods are those that are not only healthy but also provide other nutritive components that grant additional health benefits, collaborating with the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases, cancer, oxidative stress, hormonal control, chronic non-communicable diseases, among others; this is achieved through substances such as phytosterols, lycopene, specific bioactives, antioxidants, fatty acids and probiotics, these components exercise a specific labor in the physiological functions of the organism, granting great benefits.
Some examples of functional foods are: yogurt enriched with probiotics, soybean oil, tomatoes, fruits and vegetables with vibrant colors (carrots, spinach, red onions, garlic, blueberries) fish with a high fat percentage, legumes such as soy beans, blue fish, fruits rich in vitamin C like guanabana (soursop), among others.
The results of this kind of functional alimentation are not obtained overnight and require consistency. Seek a lifestyle change, a personalized model that will depend a 100% on your organism, not on foods or trendy diets, generate a more functional food model that will improve your overall health.
If a person decides to lose weight, improve their eating habits or heal their relationship with food, it’s necessary for them find the right professional that will accompany them in the process, that will teach them to enjoy food in a healthy way, free of remorse. That is why, to achieve true nutrition, beyond healthy eating, it becomes essential to listen to the needs of our body in a more conscious way and make use of food in an intentional way, this becomes the best strategy for good health in a comprehensive manner over time and not a short-term achievement.
