Lately, food seems to do a lot more than just provide nourishment. Many products claim to help you concentrate, stay awake longer, or lose weight--but can you believe the hype? Here, a look at some of the new foods being marketed and their claims.

Weight-Loss Snacks

The products: Special K Bliss bar, Hershey's Sticks, Nabisco and Hostess 100-calorie packs
The claim: In addition to the popular 100-calorie packs, other products are promoting a limited amount of calories in their sweets. Special K Bliss bars contain 90 calories, and Hershey Sticks are 60 calories. Hershey's calls its chocolate sticks the convenient, guilt-free way to indulge, while Hostess refers to its 100-calorie cupcakes as sensible snacking.
Reality check: If you can eat just one serving, these snacks are a good way to control serving sizes, prevent mindless snacking, and satisfy a craving for chocolate or sweets. However, these still aren't health foods. Many of the products have several grams of fat, a lot of sodium (up to 140 mg), and minimal nutritional value.

Healthy Candy Bars

The products: Mars' CocoaVia, Dove Beauty and Dove Vitalize chocolate bars
The claim: Dove says its Beauty bar has skin-nourishing ingredients and Vitalize contains B vitamins to increase energy. CocoaVia is supposed to reduce bad cholesterol levels and improve blood circulation.
Reality check: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) sent a warning letter regarding CocoaVia to the company in May 2006, calling its chocolate bars misbranded. To get the full heart benefits promoted by CocoaVia, consumers would have to eat two candy bars a day, which would provide 200 calories and 7 grams of saturated fats. The additional calories and saturated fat would neutralize the health benefits as claimed. Dove Beauty and Vitalize have not received such scathing letters, but keep in mind that any nutritional benefits are likely to be offset by the fact that you're still eating a candy bar.

Caffeine-Enhanced Candy

The products: Ice Breakers Energy mints, Jelly Belly Extreme Sport Beans, Snickers Charged
The claim: These candies are supposed to give you a quick pick-me-up whenever you need it. To do so, they're packed with caffeine, although the amount varies by product. One packet of Extreme Sport Beans contains 50 mg of caffeine, each Ice Breakers mint has 10 mg, and Snickers Charged is energized with 60 mg. Compare that with Red Bull, which has 80 mg of caffeine, or a cup of coffee, which has at least 80 mg.
Reality check: Experts warn that too much caffeine can cause restlessness, irritability, and anxiety. According to the National Institutes of Health, women who are pregnant or nursing should limit their intake of caffeine.

Vitamin- and Mineral-Enhanced Water

The products: SoBe Life Water, Glaceau SmartWater and VitaminWater, Gatorade Propel Fitness Water, Aquafina Essentials
The claim: Depending on the brand and flavor, different vitamins and minerals, such as calcium and vitamins B, C, and E, have been added to these specialty waters. Propel, for example, claims its better tasting water will encourage you to drink more and stay better hydrated.
Reality check: With the added flavors and vitamins come added sugar and calories. It's better than drinking a can of soda, but if you're thirsty, you might be better off reaching for plain, old tap water.