What did Michael Pollan say? Oh yeah. Eat real food...

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‘Functional foods’ are all the talk these days in food industry circles. Stuff like juice with added plant sterols for cholesterol-lowering, or eggs laced with DHA -- foods intended to provide health benefits beyond regular old nutrition.

The Institute of Food Technologists even predicts that one day foods may be tailor-made for people with different genetic profiles, turning the activity of certain genes down a notch or up a notch and thereby making it less likely a particular person will get cancer, or heart disease, or whatever.

The American Dietetic Assn. also recently released a position paper on the ‘functional food’ concept, stating in its customarily animated way that ‘fortified, enriched or enhanced foods can benefit a person’s health when consumed as part of a varied diet.’

As far as high-tech wizardry goes, the concept seems to have a way to go, though. The New York State Dietetic Assn. just polled its members and came up with a vote for the top five functional foods:

Salmon

Oats

Blueberries

Low-fat milk

Low-fat yogurt (with probiotic bacteria)

-- Rosie Mestel