GC: n
S: http://www.healthfoodandmore.co.uk/home (last access: 30 July 2015); http://ukhealthfoodcentre.co.uk/ (last access: 30 July 2015).
N: 1. health (adj): Old English hælþ “wholeness, a being whole, sound or well,” from Proto-Germanic hailitho, from PIE kailo- “whole, uninjured, of good omen”. Of physical health in Middle English, but also “prosperity, happiness, welfare; preservation, safety.” An abstract noun to whole, not to heal. Meaning “a salutation” (in a toast, etc.) wishing one welfare or prosperity is from 1590s. Health food is from 1848.
food (n): Middle English foode, fode, from Old English foda “food, nourishment; fuel,” also figurative, from Proto-Germanic fodon, from Germanic fod- “food,” from PIE pat-, extended form of root pa- “to tend, keep, pasture, to protect, to guard, to feed” (cognates: Greek pateisthai “to feed;” Latin pabulum “food, fodder,” panis “bread,” pasci “to feed,” pascare “to graze, pasture, feed,” pastor “shepherd,” literally “feeder;” Avestan pitu- “food;” Old Church Slavonic pasti “feed cattle, pasture;” Russian pishcha “food”).
Food-chain is from 1917. Food-poisoning attested by 1864; food-processor in the kitchen appliance sense from 1973; food-stamp (n.) is from 1962.
2. Health food is food considered beneficial to health in ways that go beyond a normal healthy diet required for human nutrition. Because there is no precise, authoritative definition from regulatory agencies such as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, different dietary practices can be considered healthy depending on context.
Foods considered “healthy” may be natural foods, organic foods, whole foods, and sometimes vegetarian or dietary supplements. Such products are sold in health food stores or in the health/organic sections of supermarkets.
S: OED – http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=health; http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?allowed_in_frame=0&search=food&searchmode=none (last access: 30 July 2015). 2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Health_food (last access: 30 July 2015).
SYN: 1. health foods. 2. organic food (depending on context).
S: 1. GDT (last access: 30 July 2015). 2. NAVARRO p. 446; FCB.
CR: alimentary, feeding, healthy food, nutrient, organic food, processed food.
