Superfoods!

Some Foods Go Beyond Basic Nutrition, Help Fight Disease

(CBS) 
In the grocery store, shoppers might see these claims on Cheerios, which has soluble oat fiber that can reduce the risk of heart disease, or on Boca Burgers, which has soy protein that can also fight heart disease. Yoplait's Heart Healthy yogurt has cholesterol-reducing plant sterols, and similar sterols and stanols are found in Take Control and BENECOL spreads.

Last year, the FDA approved new health claims for the monounsaturated fat in olive oil and omega-3 fatty acids found in fish, saying both have been shown to reduce the risk of heart disease. The claims are qualified; labels must say research is not conclusive.

Under review is whether products containing lycopene, found in tomatoes and watermelon, can claim the potential to reduce the risk of cancer, particularly prostate cancer.

The scientists recommended several changes in the FDA's approval process. FDA spokeswoman Kimberly Rawlings said the agency is reviewing the report.

The group also suggests rewarding tax breaks and exclusivity, similar to a patent, to food companies that develop new foods. Both would require action by Congress.