What is the difference between nutritious food and health food?

The main differences between nutritious food and health food are as follows:

Different definitions: Nutritious foods are foods that provide essential nutrients for the human body, meet normal physiological functions and special physiological needs, including daily diet and special dietary foods. Health food refers to food with specific health functions or for the purpose of supplementing vitamins and minerals, suitable for specific populations, regulating body functions, not for therapeutic purposes, and not harmful to the human body.

Different functions: Nutritious foods mainly provide various nutrients, such as protein, carbohydrates, fats, etc., to maintain normal body function. Health food has clear health functions, such as assisting in lowering blood pressure, relieving visual fatigue, improving sleep, and enhancing immunity.

Suitable for different populations: Nutritious foods are suitable for all people to consume, used to supplement nutrition and maintain health. Health food is only suitable for specific groups of people, such as those with weakened immune systems, hypertensive patients, and those who need to improve their sleep.

Different labeling: Nutritious food packaging will be labeled with a "Nutrient Content Table", indicating the nutritional content and its reference values. Health food must be labeled with the "blue hat" logo and approval number on the packaging, and information such as health functions, suitable population, and unsuitable population must also be indicated.

Different regulatory requirements: Nutritional food management is relatively loose, generally only requiring compliance with food safety standards. Health food requires strict approval procedures, and its production, sales, and promotion must comply with relevant laws and regulations.

Different raw materials and processing methods: Nutritious foods are mainly made from natural ingredients, which are processed through simple methods such as steaming, baking, etc. to preserve the nutrition of the ingredients. The raw materials of health food may contain natural extracts, concentrated ingredients, etc., and the processing technology is relatively complex, usually requiring steps such as extraction and purification to achieve specific health functions.