What is a SUPERFOOD?

May 27th, 2015 → 5:19 pm @ mandydetox

How do you describe a SUPERFOOD?

Did you know there is no official definition of a SUPERFOOD?

In 2007 the EU actually legislated to protect the consumer by banning the labeling of any food as a SUPERFOOD unless it is accompanied by a specific authorised health claim that explains why the product is good for their health.

It you Google “superfood” you get the Wikipedia definition:

“Superfood is a marketing term used to describe foods with supposed health benefits.”

The Macmillan Dictionary defines superfood “as a food that is considered to be very good for your health and that may even help some medical conditions.”

The Oxford Dictionary definition states a superfood is “a nutrient-rich food considered to be especially beneficial for health and well-being.”

And it seems that there are very few superfoods that are scientifically proven to defend us from chronic disease. There have been medical studies that “prove” that garlic can lower blood pressure (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20594781) and olive oil can prevent cardiovascular disease (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18069902) but generally mainstream medical experts dispel the idea that there are SUPERFOODS.

Catherine Collins, chief dietician at St George’s Hospital in London doesn’t hold back her opinion on the subject:

“The term ‘superfoods’ is at best meaningless and at worst harmful,” “There are so many wrong ideas about superfoods that I don’t know where best to begin to dismantle the whole concept.”

Yet I believe that a healthy lifestyle and eating the right foods goes a long way in preventing cancer, heart disease, cholesterol and stroke.

These diseases cost the US 120 billion dollars each year. Have a look at their diets. Obesity rates globally have doubled since 1980, and in 2014, more than 1.9 billion people over 18 years old were overweight.

The concept of superfood is everywhere and the business savvy are onto it. There are superfood cafes www.powerplantsuperfoodcafe.com , cocktail bars www.tanyascafe.com , superfood coaches superfoodrepublic.com and of course superfood cookbooks.

But what are your superfoods?

Here are the superfoods from our list that we found in our cupboard and fridge today:

Spirulina
Wheatgrass
Blueberries
Kale
Beet Green
Dandelion Leaves
Leaf Lettuce
Spinach
Sauerkraut
Raw Cocoa
Sweet Potatoes
Mushrooms
Chia Seeds
Flax Seeds
Quinoa

Do you need help deciding what superfoods you should be putting into your body each day to get the most benefit from what you eat?

I realised what you really need is your own superfood reference list!

It took me a few hours but here it is, including the benefits that you can get from most of the foods on the list and whether they are scientifically proven or not!

The reality is that fresh fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds – whole foods (foods that are not processed) are all superfoods and they should all be eaten in a balanced way. Eating copious amounts of expensive blueberries or drinking litres of green tea (which has caffeine by the way), as the scientists say, won’t do anything special for your health, however maintaining a Mediterranean diet will….

The Mediterranean diet emphasizes: Eating primarily plant-based foods, such as fruits and vegetables, whole grains, legumes and nuts. Replacing butter with healthy fats, such as olive oil. Using herbs and spices instead of salt to flavor foods.

So don’t get sucked into the superfood marketing fad. Supplement your diet with these nutrient, vitamin and antioxidant-rich foods – the definition of a superfood – and keep the calories in check!

Our SUPERFOOD (or not) list for you:

Algae

Drinks