Are 'functional' foods a healthier option?

ATLANTA (FOX 5 Atlanta) - You could call them "feel-good" foods.

Companies are modifying cereals, yogurt and even snacks with healthy ingredients.

Experts call them functional foods, adding ingredients probiotics for a healthier gut, omega 3 fatty acids for heart health, and added vitamins and minerals we all need.

And, Dr. Taz Bhatia, the founder of Atlanta-based CentreSpring MD, says she gets why people are drawn to these foods.

"I think everyone wants to be healthy," Dr. Bhatia says. "They want to be a part of the wellness scene. They want to be eating healthy."

So, every little bit helps, right?

Maybe, Bhatia says.

But there is no legal definition "functional" food is, and some experts argue all foods are functional.

Bhatia also says there is little scientific research that shows adding an ingredient like a probiotic to a food can actually impact our health outcomes.

"It's marketing, and making us all feel better," Dr. Bhatia says. "It's, 'Well I think I got my probiotics in because I got my probiotic drink, or whatever I took.'"

That said, choosing a nutrient-enhanced food might be a small step in the right direction, Bhatia says, especially if you're skipping high-sugar sodas or junk food.

"Feeling better though, and making the changes, is tough," she says. "These things are the intermediate step to making the changes, or dipping your toe in the water without diving deep, diving really deeply, into this whole conversation into health and wellness."

The best source of functional foods may be your produce department.

Whole foods such as grains, fruits, vegetables and nuts are considered the original "functional" foods because they're naturally packed with nutrients.