Functional Foods and Their PURPOse

The number of claims companies make about their products and functional foods have been growing rampant across the globe. Every amateur fitness guru is telling us what we should and shouldn’t eat and to be honest, it’s just confusing by now. The term “functional foods”  is unclear to most of us regular people since the US market is just starting to develop functional foods and measure their impact. The term was first used by the Japanese government more than 20 years ago and can include “standard” foods like oats, or modified foods like yogurt. Functional foods have a potential health benefit that is much stronger than those of standard food options.

Within the US, there have been some challenges in developing a standard definition. Hence, the major confusion surrounding the topic. Due to the confusion, it has been difficult to enforce strict regulations regarding functional foods and related marketing campaigns. But, worry not - things are starting to come along! The Functional Food Center has worked with experts in the food science industry and the FDA to formally define functional foods as: “Natural or processed foods that contain biologically active compounds; which, in defined, effective, and non-toxic amounts, provide a clinically proven and documented health benefit utilizing specific biomarkers for the prevention, management, or treatment of chronic disease or its symptoms.”

Therefore the Functional Food Center exercises an important role in educating the public, as well as the general foods industry about functional foods. In addition to sharing general information, they are actively developing standards regarding functional foods so that consumers and food-related professionals can be more educated about the specific health benefits these foods contain. Look, I know it sounds boring and time-consuming, but knowledge about foods is an extremely important aspect in improving your eating lifestyle.

The Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) identified the different steps necessary regarding the expansion of worldwide consumer acceptance. The 7 steps cover everything from product development and marketing to actually backing up health-related claims with scientific evidence. One of the most important steps includes informing the public of a specific food item as well as its health benefits. Well-informed consumers make intelligent decisions about their eating habits. But, when consumers are faced with functional foods, many are less likely to consume them - which points either to a lack of information or the widespread diffusion of misinformation. As a business owner (and functional foods believer) I have dedicated my time to informing consumers and relevant professionals about my products as well as their health benefits.

I have struggled with IBD for years and know how important it is to eat the right foods. That’s why my team and I developed PURPO, America’s first-ever all-in-one plant-based cereal to satisfy hunger on-the-go. My purple cereal is packed to the brim with functional foods that don’t just taste good but are great for health too! Oats, a well known functional food, help regulate bowel health and cholesterol levels while cranberries are full of antioxidants that keep your body strong. Purple sweet potatoes, one of the main ingredients, have been linked to a number of positive health benefits because of their phytochemicals, which are active plant chemicals. According to the Colorectal Cancer Alliance, phytochemicals and a plant-based diet are efficient ways of protecting the body from developing cancer in addition to regulating bowel health. Purple sweet potatoes also contain anthocyanin, a bioactive compound that fights cancer and inflammation, among many other benefits. To sum it all up, it’s not only delicious, it’s also super healthy! A food lover’s dream, basically.

This process has led me to improve Beviva’s products and make them even more functional for daily consumption. For example, I always struggled with traveling since I was never able to bring my plant-based milk through the TSA. That’s why one bowl of PURPO already has everything you need. Each PURPO bowl contains a spoon and a plant-based milk powder - so all you need is some water and stirring-power!  Grab your PURPO, stick it in your bag and head out - you will be prepared for anything life throws at you that day.

Calling all health fanatics, nutritionists and dietitians!

Functional Food Center is pleased to announce its 26^th International Conference and Expo on "Functional Foods, Bioactive Compounds and Nutraceuticals in Health and Disease".  The conference will be held at San Diego on May 9-10, 2019. The 26^th International Conference of Functional Food Center will bring together experts in medicine, biology, and the food industry to discuss the functional foods with bioactive compounds as dietary interventions for chronic diseases, as well as for health promotion. 

About PURPO

PURPO is the easy, innovative and efficient way of integrating functional foods into daily diets. Not to mention it’s delicious, so your taste buds won’t mind. Want to try it for yourself? Order two packs of PURPO on me and just pay shipping - if you don’t like it you’ll get a full refund! That’s how convinced I am that you (or your clients) will absolutely love it.