8. a set of characteristics or qualities that identify a type or category of person or thing: a profile of a typical allergy sufferer. 9. the look or general contour of something. 10. degree of noticeability; visibility: a mayor with a high profile. 11. to draw, write, or produce a profile of.
The answer is a bit complicated. Just as there are no federal regulations or rules governing the word natural, no legal definition exists for functional foods in the United States. According to the Mayo Clinic, functional foods are generally considered to offer benefits that go beyond basic nutrition.
Proponents of functional foods say they promote optimal health and help reduce the risk of disease. The Food and Drug Administration regulates the claims that manufacturers can make about functional foods' nutrient content and effects on disease, health or body function.