Many people buy and use functional foods according to the uses listed on the packaging or advertisements without checking the ingredients.
The Ministry of Health recommends that functional foods are not drugs and have no therapeutic effect - Photo: DEPARTMENT OF FOOD SAFETY
According to Dr. Nguyen Huy Hoang, there are currently 9 popular types of functional foods: vitamin and mineral supplements; immune boosters; weight loss/body shapers; beauty supplements; bone and joint support; cardiovascular support; sleep and nerve support; digestive health enhancement and liver support.
Nowadays, many people buy products based on the uses listed on the packaging or advertisements without checking the ingredients. This makes the use of the product not as effective as expected because some products do not contain enough ingredients to create effectiveness.
In addition, consumers can use duplicates and overdose. For example, taking multivitamins and vitamin C tablets separately can cause excess. Or using them incorrectly can cause side effects, such as taking calcium without supplementing vitamin D, which can be ineffective.
Therefore, Dr. Hoang notes that consumers need to determine basic information:
1. Product name (make sure not to confuse functional foods with drugs (functional foods do not have a therapeutic effect) and dosage form (tablets, capsules, powders, solutions... to suit the needs of use).
2. When reading the product ingredients, pay attention to the main active ingredient of the product, check if the content meets the daily recommendation. Pay attention to secondary ingredients including preservatives, flavorings, food coloring. Avoid ingredients that cause allergies (soy, gluten, lactose...) or toxic substances (lead, arsenic).
3. Dosage and instructions for use should be carefully read the manufacturer's recommendations, do not arbitrarily increase the dose to avoid poisoning. Especially children, pregnant women, and people with chronic diseases should consult a doctor.
4. Check the manufacturer's information. In particular, the manufacturer/importer/distributor, prioritize products from reputable companies with clear addresses. Check the certificate: look for certificates such as GMP, ISO, HACCP, or Ministry of Health license. You can check the barcode, QR code to check product information.
5. Finally, check the product's expiration date, avoid buying products that are close to expiration or have damaged packaging.
Source: https://tuoitre.vn/cach-doc-nhan-dan-thuc-pham-chuc-nang-2025031623351144.htm
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