What is a designer food?

Designer foods are foods created with the use of
techniques like cross-breeding, genetic engineering, induced genetic mutation, etc.
which are meant to enhance or reduce the presence of particular nutrients or modify
them.

Designer foods can be created which have excessive
amounts of nutrients which are considered very beneficial for health. Scientists for
example have identified several nutrients like vitamin C, E, beta carotene and other
phytochemicals that are very effective in reducing the occurrence of ailments which
affect the heart; cancers and cataract and several foods have been created that have
large amounts of these.

By increasing the number of
anti-oxidants it is possible to help foods increase life span and keep people healthy
for longer.

Like it is possible to increase the quantity of
some nutrients and make them more effective it is also possible to reduce nutrients like
carbohydrates from foods that are consumed a lot or make them indigestible without
affecting the taste of food.