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Marusula, flickr
Whole foods are foods in their natural state: unrefined, unprocessed and unadulterated. They do not contain additives, preservatives or additional ingredients such as artificial sweeteners, high fructose corn syrup and added sugar; artificial colors; salt; and added fats and trans fats.
Whole foods are not necessarily organic, nor are organic foods necessarily whole foods (although they can be). Unprocessed grains, fruits and vegetables, unprocessed meat and non-homogenized milk are all examples of whole foods.
Because whole foods are not chemically preserved or treated, they have a relatively short shelf life and are difficult to transport over long distances. Many foods sold at local farmers' markets are whole foods.
Whole food supplements are nutritional supplements, frequently containing powdered fruits, vegetables and grains, that are designed to provide vitamins, minerals, amino acids or other nutrients. Under the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994 (DSHEA), the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates dietary supplements as foods, not as drugs. Whole food supplements may not claim to cure, mitigate, or treat a disease. In Europe, the Food Supplements Directive requires that supplements be demonstrated to be safe, both in quantity and quality, and they may be labeled with health claims in some areas.
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