Superfoods Debunked
You might have heard of superfoods, like kale, hemp hearts, goji berries, coconut oil and spirulina from online beauty bloggers, your favorite celebrities or just your everyday health & fashion ads. You’ve probably also heard all about their rave reviews as these products are often worshipped for their miracle health benefits: helping with the treatment of chronic illness, contributing to weight loss and improving our overall health.
Many people are also led to believe that these foods can be better than prescription drugs. But where do these claims actually come from? And is there really any truth to them?
Unfortunately for all of us, superfoods are just… well, foods.
1. The research behind superfoods
In the last years, nutrition research has made a gracious effort to shift their focus more on our diets as a whole rather than single nutrients or foods. The term “superfoods" are given to foods that are packed with nutrients and antioxidants, which are linked to certain health benefits such as helping our bodies remove unwanted molecules from our systems.
So the better question to ask is… are these foods even worth it?
As always, the key is moderation. In fact, eating too much of some of these alleged superfoods can actually be harmful to our health. Activated charcoal (the latest food trend), for instance, may actually bind to certain drugs, thus making our body temporarily less receptive to these drugs when using them.
Remember ! It’s always important to look at the bigger picture. You’re most likely better off reaping the most health benefits from eating actual foods.
2. The superfoods industry
Behind the scenes of most of these superfoods are big food corporations making millions off of health enthusiasts, and the food industry is a very profitable one. These days, information both true and misleading is spreading faster than ever via social media, which has also become a medium to easily spread misleading health information in order to promote very specific products. With this in mind, the people that reap the benefits from superfoods are most likely the food industries themselves.
Sure, some foods are nutrient-rich and can be part of a healthy meal. But is it really worth buying a jug of chlorella powder for 50$? My answer is no.
Food is medicine… to some degree!
In sum, you can absolutely prevent and manage some chronic illnesses such as obesity, heart disease and certain cancers with the help of a nutritious diet and lifestyle changes, but you can’t always reverse them, especially not with a single nutrient or food. So the next time you’re faced with an urge to buy the newest trendy food, just remember:
Look below the surface — Find peer-reviewed articles and ask for the advice & help from a registered dietitian.
Stick to the basics — find a diet that works best for you using the peer-reviewed recommendations from the latest Canadian Food Guide.
Weigh out the pros and cons — Is this product going to benefit your health and your wallet?
Need help finding a diet that’s right for you? Be sure to talk to a registered dietitian today.
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