pl. n. nondigestible constituents of food, such as inulin and fructo-oligosaccharides, which stimulate the growth of ‘good’ bacteria in the colon (see probiotics).
natural or processed foods that contain a known biologically active component that gives clinically proven health benefits in addition to the traditional nutrient value. For example, stanols and sterols added to margarine-type spreads lower cholesterol. See also prebiotics; probiotics.... functional foods
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