I just heard about FOSHU and something called functional food. What is that? Are there finally foods that can provide cures and help us really lose weight?

The concept of a functional food originated in Japan in the 1980’s and it was called Food For Specific Health Use or FOSHU. Functional food can promote a person’s health along with providing different nutrients unlike nutritionally negative foods. In the US, such foods may be qualified by how much research backs a certain claim. Functional food is one of the emerging fields in food science due to an increase in the number of health-conscious consumers. However, one has to remember that functional foods are not a magic bullet but only a health enhancing addition to an active lifestyle. These foods may help with certain conditions but are not medicines or cures. To lose weight, you have to eat less and move more. That will never change. For more information about FOSHU check out this website: http://www.mhlw.go.jp/english/topics/foodsafety/fhc/02.html