What Makes Superfoods So Super?

Summary: Researchers doubt whether so-called "superfoods" are as healthy as they are promoted to be and, if they are, how they should be consumed as part of a balanced diet.

"An apple a day keeps the doctor away," is a proverb that is well known to all.

This statement implies that, long before the term "superfood" gained popularity, apples may have been the first food to be classified in this way.

But these days, a new superfood is popular on social media every week and promises to have amazing health advantages. Quinoa, chia seeds, and kale have all recently become popular.

The most crucial factor, however, is if consuming kale four times a week actually supports your bone health. Or did someone just execute the most successful marketing strategy ever?

Associate Professor Jayashree Arcot, a food and nutrition expert from the UNSW School of Chemical Engineering, claims that "lifestyle gurus" occasionally use the phrase "superfoods" carelessly. Although there isn't a single definition for "superfoods," there is recognition of the health advantages provided by the bioactive ingredients and chemicals they contain.

Scientifically speaking, there is no such thing as a superfood; rather, those terms are used to describe nutrient-rich foods or substances with attributes that may have an impact on health, but with a label, according to Associate Professor Arcot.

Unfortunately, the word can encourage people to believe that some foods have amazing nutritional and health benefits and that eating them will cure all of their health problems.

We do know that some foods are better for us than others, even though there is no one food group that contains the key to excellent health advantages. Naturally, when we pay more attention to taking care of our health, we start to pay more attention to what we consume.

Food by itself cannot solve health problems, but it can contribute to a comprehensive therapy strategy. Eating a superfood like blueberries won't help you lose weight if your purpose is to do so.

But for it to have any sort of health impact, you need to discover the appropriate balance of these foods and eat them in moderation.

Not a Superfood For Everyone

Before the term "superfoods" became popular, let's go back around five to ten years, when the term "functional foods" was used in the food and health industry.

Foods that are useful physiologically and are expected to lower the risk of disease development as a result of the addition or subtraction of specific nutrients are referred to as functional foods.

Later, the phrase "superfoods" was used to refer to foods having specific health advantages. But according to A/Prof. Arcot, all foods can be categorized as functional as they all have an impact on the body in some way.

We know that consuming foods strong in vitamin A is beneficial for maintaining the health of our eyes, and that drinking milk, which contains high concentrations of calcium, is fantastic for preserving the strength of our bones and teeth.

On the one hand, fatty foods are typically avoided since they can raise cholesterol. But given that there are also beneficial fats, such as avocado and chia seeds, which are acclaimed as superfoods, this would become crucial for someone who is already at high risk.

When superfoods are promoted, kale is perhaps one of the foods that is most frequently cited. While numerous studies have demonstrated that kale has antioxidant and anticarcinogenic potential, there is still insufficient research to draw the conclusion that eating kale has greater health advantages than eating other cruciferous vegetables like cauliflower.

Nobody will warn you that eating kale regularly is unhealthy if you start doing so. According to A/Prof. Arcot, "Unless you're someone who is predisposed to kidney stones, for example, you're definitely eating too many oxalates—a substance found in leafy vegetables when it's advisable to have less of it in your diet.

Therefore, there isn't a method that works for everyone.

Can Superfoods Still Come To The Rescue?

According to A/Prof. Arcot, in order to decide whether a food is the best choice for the health issue we're treating, it's important to pay special attention to its nutritional profile.

No one can dispute the benefits of a balanced diet for one's general health, according to her.

"The Mediterranean diet, for instance, is a heart-healthy eating strategy that calls for whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and plates of seafood and is thought to improve brain function and advance heart health."

According to A/Prof Arcot, certain foods include substances that may be able to prevent or postpone the beginning of certain chronic diseases, such as coronary heart disease, which are characterized by underlying inflammatory responses in the body.

"While these qualities may treat inflammation, raspberries, blueberries, blackberries, and cranberries cannot be considered superfoods as randomized control trials are needed to test their efficacy in lowering inflammation," the authors write.

A follow-up to the superfood tale

Turmeric, a typical cooking spice that contains a potent substance called curcumin is known for its intense anti-inflammatory qualities and is one of the newest "superfoods."

But how much of this substance do we truly need to take in order for it to have an impact on our bodies?

According to A/Prof. Arcot, this is a complicated topic that requires more investigation.

Sometimes the molecules we require are only present in trace amounts in the food we eat, according to her.

Before we can determine the precise amounts required to bring about these kinds of changes in the body, there is still much research to be done. However, we are aware that the impacts might build up over time," she explains.

"It's all about preventing illness, and eating the correct foods as part of a balanced diet will improve your general wellbeing."