Biologically Active Food Supplements and Functional Products: Features, Differences, Advantages
Author: Gregory Kliger, MD, Fellow of the American Academy of Personalized Functional Medicine and the American Metabolic Institute
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Good quality sleep, sufficient exercise, healthy nutrition are the basis for a long and healthy life. Modern person certainly strives to be strong, full of energy, and to remain young as long as possible. However nowadays life rhythm significantly limits our time to keep up with work, leisure, and to stick to ideal plan of nutrition, sports, and sleep. So then how do we get all the needed for our body nutrients to maintain and replenish natural vital reserves? That is where biologically active food supplements (BAFS) and functional products come to our aid. What is the difference between them, and what are we looking for? Let’s discuss it in more details.
Biologically active food supplements to replenish the lack of certain micronutrients
BAFS are commonly used in preventive medicine with intentions to meet certain body needs. Those can be individual elements, like vitamins, minerals, single amino acids or proteins, insufficiently represented in food, or they are not sufficiently absorbed. By the way, there is an interesting possibility that lack of micronutrients may increase caloric consumption of nutritionally poor food into depleted body. Therefore, supplementation of enough nutrients may reduce appetite and decrease empty calorie consumption.
Precise BAFS should be recommended by a doctor-specialist, based on certain laboratory testing. Most dietary supplements are specially dosed. BAFS do exist in a wide variety of forms: tablets, capsules, dragees, soluble powders, concentrates, drops, liquids, sachets, and even creams. Moreover, the same elements could be in various forms. The price range is also quite wide. However, high-quality and pure BAFS are less affordable due to their purity and, therefore, higher cost. First of all, there is quite a shortage of valuable ingredients; secondly, the components themselves (herbs and chemically created elements) become more and more expensive to produce. There are analogues that are less potent, and significantly cheaper, but do not have valid scientific basis, confirmation of their usefulness, and are not patented.
Precise BAFS should be recommended by a doctor-specialist, based on certain laboratory testing. Most dietary supplements are specially dosed. BAFS do exist in a wide variety of forms: tablets, capsules, dragees, soluble powders, concentrates, drops, liquids, sachets, and even creams. Moreover, the same elements could be in various forms. The price range is also quite wide. However, high-quality and pure BAFS are less affordable due to their purity and, therefore, higher cost. First of all, there is quite a shortage of valuable ingredients; secondly, the components themselves (herbs and chemically created elements) become more and more expensive to produce. There are analogues that are less potent, and significantly cheaper, but do not have valid scientific basis, confirmation of their usefulness, and are not patented.
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Functional drinks and products: self-selection for daily consumption
Luckily, there is an option, that does not require consultation with doctors, as it is not a drug. We present to you a line of functional products. They are not intended to treat any disease but are enriched with ingredients that can improve well-being and body function, help immune system, and do much more. Like BAFS, functional products are also coming in a variety of forms: drinks, powders, effervescent tablets, gels, and even lozenges.
Given, that concentration of nutritional elements in such products is low, they are not labeled as BAFS, but rather as functional or dietary supplement, providing with certain body benefits. By trying these products, person can appreciate the effect and draw own conclusion. At the same time by using functional drinks you will most certainly replenish body water, contributing to your good health.
As an example of such products is Extra Life, the line of functional drinks. This is a balanced mixture of extracts and vitamins, which, due to low dosages are designed for daily consumption, but also have sufficient effectiveness, and the liquid form makes it easy for absorption. Depending on the profile of each functional drink it replenishes the reserve of micronutrients, vitamins, strengthens the functionality of gastro-intestinal system, improves stress adaptation, sleep and immune response. They also contain no sugar, which makes these drinks lower in calories and suitable for people with diabetes or on a diet. In addition, they have significant advantage as a food product, not a drug, their prices will please you a lot.
Given, that concentration of nutritional elements in such products is low, they are not labeled as BAFS, but rather as functional or dietary supplement, providing with certain body benefits. By trying these products, person can appreciate the effect and draw own conclusion. At the same time by using functional drinks you will most certainly replenish body water, contributing to your good health.
As an example of such products is Extra Life, the line of functional drinks. This is a balanced mixture of extracts and vitamins, which, due to low dosages are designed for daily consumption, but also have sufficient effectiveness, and the liquid form makes it easy for absorption. Depending on the profile of each functional drink it replenishes the reserve of micronutrients, vitamins, strengthens the functionality of gastro-intestinal system, improves stress adaptation, sleep and immune response. They also contain no sugar, which makes these drinks lower in calories and suitable for people with diabetes or on a diet. In addition, they have significant advantage as a food product, not a drug, their prices will please you a lot.
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And finally, what is the choice?
We just briefly reviewed alternative sources of nutrients for the body, each of which has its own characteristics and benefits, and now we summarize. BAFS are concentrated sources of useful substances aimed at filling the gap of certain elements in the body. And for better use it is necessary to undergo laboratory testing and consult a doctor.
A functional product in the form of a drink, powder, gel or effervescent tablet is also a dietary supplement that provides additional benefits due to certain similarities of ingredients. Such a product may be easily selected, without consulting a specialist, and due to low concentration may be used daily.
Each of the considered options has its own characteristics and advantages and they do not exclude one another. The ultimate combination is chosen by a primary consumer, who wants to feel great every day and stay in good health for as long as possible.
A functional product in the form of a drink, powder, gel or effervescent tablet is also a dietary supplement that provides additional benefits due to certain similarities of ingredients. Such a product may be easily selected, without consulting a specialist, and due to low concentration may be used daily.
Each of the considered options has its own characteristics and advantages and they do not exclude one another. The ultimate combination is chosen by a primary consumer, who wants to feel great every day and stay in good health for as long as possible.
