Why are functional foods considered beneficial?

Functional foods are considered beneficial primarily because they can promote overall health in addition to providing basic nutrition. These foods contain bioactive compounds that may have positive effects on health beyond just the basic nutritional needs of an individual. For example, they can help reduce the risk of chronic diseases, enhance immune function, and improve overall well-being. This capability of contributing to health improvement is what sets functional foods apart from regular foods and is a key reason for their rising popularity in health and wellness discussions.

While low-calorie content, shelf life enhancement, and being processed are characteristics that can describe some foods, they do not encapsulate the essence of what makes functional foods valuable. Foods that are low in calories may not necessarily provide additional health benefits, and enhancing shelf life or being processed does not make a food functional. The multi-faceted role that functional foods play in health maintenance and disease prevention underscores their importance in a balanced diet.