'Understand correctly to use correctly' functional foods in proactive health care

(Chinhphu.vn) - Along with the increasingly popular trend of proactive health care, functional foods (FF) are becoming a familiar choice for many Vietnamese families. According to health experts, to be effective, consumers need to understand correctly about FFF and choose products with clear origin and certification from reputable establishments.

At Long Chau pharmacy, buyers can scan the QR code on the packaging to check the origin, manufacturer, expiry date and legal declaration code.

The trend of proactive health care is on the rise

In the past, people often only "treated diseases when they were sick", but now the awareness of health care has shifted to proactive disease prevention . The demand for vitamins, minerals and immune-boosting products has increased, reflecting the new trend: comprehensive health care from the beginning, from the root.

Regarding "understanding correctly to use correctly" functional foods, Associate Professor, Doctor, Pharmacist Nguyen Tuan Dung, former Head of the Department of Clinical Pharmacy - University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Ho Chi Minh City, Professional Consultant of Long Chau Pharmacy System, and Doctor Dao Trong Thanh, Deputy Head of Department of Examination B - Friendship Hospital shared a lot of useful information to help people proactively prevent diseases and improve their quality of life.

Comprehensive health support solutions

According to Associate Professor, Doctor, Pharmacist Nguyen Tuan Dung, dietary supplements are products that are added to the daily diet, helping to maintain, enhance and improve body functions. They contain vitamins, minerals, amino acids, enzymes, probiotics and prebiotics, etc. that are beneficial to health.

"If you know how to use the right type, at the right time, and in the right dosage, dietary supplements can help prevent diseases, maintain health, and improve quality of life," Mr. Dung emphasized.

Dr. Dao Trong Thanh believes that dietary supplements can be considered a "bridge" between food and medicine: they do not directly cure diseases but support the body's physiological and metabolic processes. "In actual treatment, we see many cases that have improved significantly when dietary supplements are properly combined," he said.

Both experts agree that: Dietary supplements can contribute significantly to modern preventive medicine strategies, helping to prevent diseases, improve health and reduce medical costs – as long as people use them on a scientific basis.

Experts note that functional foods only have a supporting role and can never replace treatment drugs. Their use is only meaningful when the right type, right dose, clear origin and guidance from a doctor or pharmacist are selected.

Warning of abuse and wrong choices

However, the situation of using dietary supplements "indiscriminately", following word of mouth or baseless advertisements, is becoming worrying. Dr. Dao Trong Thanh recommends that people need to be alert to medical information on social networks, especially advertisements transmitted by non-professionals. Using drugs or dietary supplements on your own can cause adverse effects, even endangering your life.

The doctor also advised consumers to only use products with clear origins, licensed for circulation by the Drug Administration or the Food Safety Department ( Ministry of Health ); should consult a doctor or pharmacist before using any medicine or functional food. He said that real products do not need to "deify" their effects, safe products are not sold easily and trustworthy products must have certification and clear origin.

Associate Professor, Doctor of Pharmacy Nguyen Tuan Dung pointed out the fact that sellers know very well what they are selling, the problem is that consumers must know how to choose a reputable place to protect themselves. First of all, choose establishments with clear origins and official licenses. A simple rule is: If they are just street vendors, displaying their goods on the roadside, when a problem occurs, they can immediately disappear. As for serious investors, with addresses, brands and operating licenses from the authorities, they will not trade their entire careers just for a bottle of medicine or a box of functional foods.

Transparency of origin – the key to protecting consumers

Currently, a number of large pharmacy systems in Vietnam are promoting cooperation with reputable pharmaceutical companies; applying technology to identify product origins, helping people be more proactive in choosing safe products.

For example, at Long Chau pharmacy, buyers can scan the QR code on the packaging to check the origin, manufacturing unit, expiry date and legal declaration code; look up the product origin, the certificate of registration of the functional food product declaration on the purchase invoice, on the pharmacy website and application.

In particular, responding to the Government 's major policy in the fight against counterfeit and poor quality goods, this pharmacy chain also has a strategic cooperation with the National Institute for Food Safety and Hygiene Control - Ministry of Health on strict testing of all pharmaceutical and functional food products in the system. Through cooperation, Long Chau also conducts "double inspection": Checking documents according to legal regulations and regularly and continuously testing the actual quality of products at pharmacies and from suppliers before the products reach consumers. This is a step demonstrating Long Chau's commitment to transparency in the supply chain, raising quality standards and putting people's health at the center.

PV

Source: https://baochinhphu.vn/hieu-dung-de-dung-dung-thuc-pham-chuc-nang-trong-cham-soc-suc-khoe-chu-dong-102251024203932297.htm