Superfoods

A superfood is a food which is considered to be especially beneficial for health and wellbeing. The media tell us that eating these foods will give our bodies the health kick they need to prevent illness and delay ageing.

Foods described as 'superfoods' are often contain high levels of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and other nutrients that are thought to be beneficial for health. 

However, it's important to note that there is no official definition of a "superfood" and the term is not recognised by any scientific or regulatory bodies.

Below are just some of the examples of 'superfoods' that health claims have been made for : 

Superfoods : Scientific evidence or just good marketing ? 

Labelling a food as a 'superfood' will drive sales in that product, as people are willing to pay more for food that is 'seen' to be a healthy choice. So it is in the interest of farmers and food companies to label their food as a 'superfood'. 

The graph below shows the impact of food being labelled as a superfood. In the late 1990s, several scientific studies linked the antioxidents in Blueberries to protecting cells from damage. This promotion of Blueberries as a 'superfood' has led to a 7 fold increase in Blueberry production and sales globally over the last 20 years : 

So the financial benefits of 'superfood' labelling is clear to see, but the scientific evidence of positive health impacts are much more mixed. 

Overall, most scientific studies have shown little to no health impacts of 'superfoods'.

Most research shows that vitamin E and other antioxidant supplements don't protect against heart disease or cancer.  One study actually showed that taking beta-carotene supplements actually increased the chances of developing lung cancer in smokers. 

However, some trials do show benefits; after 18 years of follow-up, one study found that taking beta-carotene supplements was associated with a modest reduction in the rate of cognitive decline. 

Superfoods : How do you eat them ?

As 'superfoods' are not regulated, there is no legal requirement to have a minimum level within the product, so very little may be present, reducing any possible health benefits. 

Also, any potential health benefits from the 'superfood' can be outweighed by the damaging effects of the rest of the product. 

For example, Starbucks produces two 'superfood' frappucino products that each contain more than the 30g recommended daily intake of sugar for an adult ( 30g per day ).