Ingredients

Green foods include water-based ingredients such as spirulina, chlorella and blue green algae as well as cereal grains like wheatgrass and barley grass.

Whole, unrefined grains are clinically proven to reduce risk for a wide spectrum of disease states.

High-fiber diets have been linked to lowered risk of serious disease, including cancer, heart disease, and diabetes complications. In functional foods and supplements, fiber can be in either soluble or insoluble form. Insoluble fiber is the coarse part of a plant that does not dissolve in water, such as oat bran or wheat bran. It supports digestive health by reducing constipation, speeding the movement of toxins and potential carcinogens through the body.

Whole foods are foods that are unprocessed and unrefined, or processed and refined as little as possible before being consumed. In functional foods, whole food formulations typically contain fruits, nuts and grains.

Natural colorants are often required for formulating foods and beverages for the natural products industry. The vast majority of such colorings are extracted from plant and vegetable sources.

Branded ingredients have dramatically increased in popularity in the supplements and functional foods industry in recent years. These proprietary blends are often targeted at specific conditions and have branded names, such as Relora (for relaxation and stress-related appetite control) Fabuless (for weight loss) and Seditol (to improve sleep quality). Anti-oxidants are one category with a growing number of branded ingredients, each containing a specific, controlled blend of various carotenoids, bioflavonoids, polyphenols and other phytonutrients.

Branded ingredients also offer clinical research to back their claims, and thus can command a higher price for manufacturers. One notable example is Pycnogenol, a patented extract of maritime pine bark. This antioxidant is backed by studies showing benefits for cardiovascular heath, osteoarthritis pain reduction and ADHD symptoms.

Though branded ingredients are most common in supplements, they can also be found in functional foods and cosmeceuticals. One example is Ester C, a branded, more stable form of vitamin C that is used both in supplements and in skin care products for its antioxidant activity.

Condition-specific supplements and functional foods use a variety of vitamins, minerals, herbs and other ingredients, such as probiotics, to support a particular system or function of the body. Condition-specific supplements may contain a dozen or more substances formulated to work together for optimal efficacy.

Common categories of condition-specific formulations include joint health, heart health, prostate health, digestive health and mood health. In some cases, manufacturers and formulators are able to provide clinical efficacy data on their specific proprietary blends for a given condition.

In the functional foods arena, drinks and even bars are often formulated with a specific goal, such as mood enhancement, weight management or increased energy. Many common food ingredients are also linked to specific conditions as well—for example, soy for bone health and whole grains for cardiovascular health and anti-cancer properties.

Stumped by white sugar alternatives? Check out our substitution and cooking tips chart! If you’ve been tempted by

Agave nectar Substitute for 1 cup sugar: 2/3 cup Recipe notes: Reduce recipe liquid by 2 tablespoons; reduce oven temp