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.
Tofu, tempeh, edamame, soymilk and miso are a few of the soy foods people around the world enjoy every day. Soy is one of the few plant foods with all the amino acids your body needs to make protein. You may see claims on food packages linking soy protein to lower risk of coronary heart disease. Because soy contains estrogen-like compounds, there was fear that soy may raise risk of hormone-related cancers.