Are superfoods really that super?
It’s not surprising that superfoods have become incredibly popularised in recent years. A food with special properties that can apparently promote weight loss or cure cancer... what’s not to like? Blueberries, almonds, salmon, spinach, walnuts and broccoli are all popular superfoods, and you can probably already identify the trend among these food items. The catch is that there is no scientific definition or regulation of what a superfood actually is. Foods often become elevated to the ‘super’ category when they are high in certain nutrients, linked to the prevention of a disease or contains other proposed health benefits.
The thing is, you can say the same for almost any wholesome food, and it is unlikely that one single fruit, vegetable, grain or animal product is going to make a world of difference to your nutrition or health status. However, despite this marketing and advertising have jumped onto the superfood bandwagon as a means of selling their products. In turn, people are willing to pay more money for foods that are perceived as healthy or contain a health benefit.
It’s no surprise that fruit, vegetables and whole grains are at the top of most superfood lists. These are the foods which we should be consuming day-to-day anyway! It is important to recognise that a superfood is really just FOOD. Sure, it may have a high concentration of ‘x’ nutrient, but you still need to obtain your quota of vitamins, minerals, dietary fibre and energy from the remainder of your diet. Concentrating solely on superfoods may decrease your intake of equally nutritious options which aren’t promoted on social media or by marketing campaigns. Focus on the big picture and your dietary pattern as a whole, and don’t get bogged down by the minutiae.
Let’s change the status quo and view all nutritious foods as SUPER