Luc De Vuyst.pdf - ICoMST Contact Point

Introduction – Functional foods
A functional food is a food for which it has been satisfactorily
demonstrated that it beneficially affects one or more target functions in
the body, beyond adequate nutritional effects, in a way that is relevant to
either an improved state of health and well-being and/or reduction of risk
of disease (Diplock et al., 1999).
Relationship food-health:
Hippocrates – Nutrition (balanced diet) – Health (health-promoting diet) –
Nutrigenomics
Medicine or drug: something you take when you are ill
Functional food: the healthy food you eat throughout your life
and which in many cases will protect you from otherwise
life-threatening diseases