Feeling sexy? Take a bite

Cosmetics company L'Oreal is teaming up with food giant Nestle to create a range of foods that are said to improve your hair and skin. "Functional" foods are the new buzzword. It's a £670 million market in Britain, and new products appear on the shelves every week. But do they work?

Well, functional foods have come a long way since our breakfast-cereals were fortified with vitamins and iron. Today food technologists claim to be able to create foods to lower your cholesterol, make your hair glossy, even make you feel sexy.

The companies behind the latest venture are tight-lipped about the form these new snacks will take, but the products are being formulated at a special laboratory in France.

Nestle makes Shredded Wheat, Kit-Kat and Nescafè - so, are we likely to see wrinkle-busting cereals, nail-strengthening chocolate and coffee that cures acne?

We'll have to wait a year to find out. Laboratories Inneov (the joint name) insists that all its creations will be backed by scientific evidence. However Dr Wendy Doyle of the British Dietetic Associationis sceptical: "For glowing skin and glossy hair, a balanced diet is preferable to hoping a few snacks with added nutrients will redress the balance." We asked experts to look at the " value added" foods already on the market.

This is what they said...

Benecol yogurt £1.99 for 4

What is it?

A yogurt containing plant stanol ester, a natural substance combined with canola oil which blocks cholesterol absorption. It is claimed to reduce cholesterol levels if eaten regularly.

Does it work? Yes, the evidence is good, but only if you eat two to three servings of Benecol foods every day. This isn't as hard as you might imagine, because you can also get milk, margarine, cheese spread and snack bars in the range. Eaten as directed, you can lower LDL ("bad" cholesterol) by 14 per cent, according to research.

Effectiveness rating: 8/10

Get it on ('sex bar') 69p

What is it? Part of The Food Doctor range from Tesco, it's a snack bar made with dried fruits and seeds and laced with the herb ginkgo biloba. The pack claims that it "supports the flow of blood to the extremities - the rest is up to you ..."

Does it work

Unfortunately it's all up to you. "It's very unlikely that there would be enough ginkgo biloba to have a physiological effect," says Dr Wendy Doyle. "And there's no evidence that any of its components has an effect on libido. A deficient diet may affect sex drive because it affects energy levels and hormones, but you would correct that by eating better generally."

Effectiveness rating: 2/10

Danone Activ 54p

What is it? Water with added calcium. One litre has the same amount as a 250ml glass of milk.

Does it work? You need to drink a lot to have a significant protective effect on bone, and dairy products are a better calcium source. Unlike some calcium-rich foods, such as cheese and canned sardines, the water does not contain other bone-strengtheners such as vitamin D and magnesium. "It may be useful if you don't eat dairy products, but if you have a varied diet, and particularly if you live in a hard-water area (hard water contains some calcium naturally), it's unnecessary," says Dr Doyle.

Effectiveness rating: 3/10

Columbus Eggs £1.19

What are they? Eggs that have a naturally enhanced level of healthy omega-3 fats by virtue of the linseed-rich diet fed to the hens. Omega-3s are good for a healthy heart and flexible joints, to give pregnant and breastfeeding mothers the nutrients they need for their offsprings' brain-and-eye development, and to help children learn and concentrate.

Do they work?

Each Columbus egg supplies half the quantity of the "long chain" variety of omega 3s that are particularly beneficial to health. One portion of fresh salmon is more than 30 times richer in these fats, but, if you hate the taste of oily fish or are vegetarian, the eggs are a lot better than nothing. For true benefits, eat several a week.

Effectiveness rating: 4/10

Seaband Ginger Gum £2.99

What is it? A chewing gum containing 25mg ginger oil (equivalent to 8g of fresh ginger root) and is said to combat travel sickness.

Does it work?

Several studies have confirmed that ginger is effective at calming the digestive system and reducing nausea. The manufacturer claims that a gum is particularly fast-acting and effective as the volatile ginger compounds are absorbed straight from the mouth. However, Dr Ann Walker, a medical herbalist and senior lecturer in nutrition at Reading University, warns that pregnant women should avoid consuming ginger oil.

Effectiveness rating: 7/10

Lycosoy Breadsticks 99p

What are they?

Individual packs of breadsticks that contain concentrated soy isoflavones (a type of plant oestrogen), plus vitamins and antioxidants. They claim to bring you "the natural health benefits of the Mediterranean diet".

Do they work?

Most people would prefer these to tofu as a way to get their daily dose (25mg) of plant oestrogens - thought to guard against breast and prostate cancer, to strengthen bones and reduce menopausal symptoms. Also enriched with 6mg of tomato lycopene, which is linked to lower rates of cardiovascular disease, prostate and other cancers. And laced with folic acid and vitamin E, two important healthy heart nutrients.

Effectiveness rating: 7/10

RAC 124 £1.29

What is it? A caffeine drink marketed by the RAC. It is equivalent to two strong cups of coffee and aims to prevent drivers nodding off at the wheel. You are supposed to swig the can contents, then snooze for 15 minutes while the stimulatory properties take effect.

Does it work?

Yes. Tiredness is thought to cause at least 20 per cent of accidents on main roads, but studies at the Sleep Research Laboratory in Loughborough showed that a dose of caffeine could restore attentiveness. This drink contains colours and artificial preservatives and isn't safe for women who are pregnant or breast-feeding, diabetics, or those who are sensitive to caffeine.

Effectiveness rating: 9/10

Orchard Maid Organic Yogurt Drink £1.15

What is it? The first commercially available drink to be equipped with the probiotic "Lifetop" straw impregnated with a daily dose of friendly Lactobacillus reuteri bacteria. Sucking just 20-50ml of liquid through the straw is supposed to deliver more than 99 per cent of the bacteria to the digestive system.

Does it work?

Research at Swedish Universities shows that the straw mechanism is an effective way of administering probiotic bacteria. And the evidence for supplementing with friendly gut bacteria is strong and growing - latest research shows probiotics can help treat and prevent symptoms of thrush, IBS, stomach bugs and even stress. You need to consume probiotic drinks or supplements every day for lasting effect.

Effectiveness rating: 8/10

Burgen Bread £1.05

What is it? A multigrain bread that includes soya flour and linseeds rich in plant oestrogens. The packaging doesn't explain what these do, but a telephone advice line refers to a reduction in menopausal symptoms, including hot flushes.

Does it work?

The evidence from Asian countries suggests that plant oestrogens may indeed help minimise menopausal symptoms. In China, where plant oestrogen consumption is high, one in five menopausal women suffers from hot flushes; in Europe the figure is as many as three in four. But to totally banish the sweats you'll have to eat quite a bit - most consumers will find they need at least four slices of Burgen bread every day to have a significant effect.

Effectiveness rating: 5/10