Superfood or Just a Trend?

Even if you wanted to, it’s almost impossible these days to avoid topics like fitness and health, healthy eating, and a mindful lifestyle. That’s actually a very positive development! But of course, as with all “trends,” there are companies that take advantage of such developments for their own gain. That’s why we as consumers need to take a very close look!

White and black chia seeds, hemp seeds, goji berries, açaí… these and other so-called superfoods are no longer found only in select organic stores or health food stores, but are now available in almost every drugstore and supermarket. So the demand is clearly there. But are these widely touted and supposedly extra-healthy foods—most of which come from distant countries—really that good?

What does “healthy” actually mean?

“Health” is such an abstract concept that it’s impossible to pinpoint exactly what constitutes a healthy lifestyle or a healthy diet. What is certain, however, is that health is arguably the most valuable asset we have. That’s why we should treat it with care. According to various definitions, health encompasses not only physical health but also mental and social well-being. To achieve this holistic state, nutrition and exercise, along with sufficient sleep and rest, are the cornerstones. But we don’t want to dwell too much here on what “healthy eating” means; instead, let’s simply take a look at these supposedly healthy superfoods. Are they really that good—and, more importantly, are they actually beneficial? Or are they just expensive trend products that could perhaps be easily replaced by conventional products that have been on our supermarket shelves for years or even decades?

What are superfoods?

The term seems to be a buzzword, since there is no universally accepted definition of it. In principle, superfoods are very healthy foods that are rich in essential nutrients and therefore beneficial to health. You often read that these foods provide an extra boost to your health and make you even healthier, but this is nothing more than advertising. In summary, superfoods are simply foods that offer greater health benefits than many others. With an emphasis on “some” others…

Can superfoods enhance your diet?

Does that mean that if you eat only superfoods, you won’t get sick anymore? Or will you be even healthier? Hardly. The “problem” is rather that other foods—which aren’t labeled as “superfoods” in this discussion—are also very healthy, such as carrots, apples, or whole-grain products. The fact is, however, that superfoods contain many antioxidants. These are molecules that protect our body’s cells from harmful free radicals, which can come from cigarette smoke, for example, but can also be produced naturally within the body. Too many free radicals in the body can trigger oxidative stress, which causes cell damage. Thus, superfoods can certainly be a valuable addition to a varied diet.

Which superfoods are worth eating?

Food should not only provide important vitamins, nutrients, and—above all—energy, but it should also taste good. That’s why it’s not a good idea to frantically try to incorporate every single superfood into your diet right now—just the ones you actually like ;) You don’t even have to resort to expensive trendy products like chia seeds, goji berries, and the like; instead, you can find equivalent regional foods that are largely overlooked due to the rapid rise in popularity of superfoods. Blueberries, for example, are particularly rich in antioxidants. Flaxseeds are a good alternative to expensive chia seeds; they are comparable to chia seeds in all nutritional values, are much more affordable, and, ideally, are grown locally. Although not a regional product, pomegranates have been on our supermarket shelves for a very long time; thanks to their high nutrient density, they are now considered superfoods, just like beets.

Conclusion

“Superfoods” seems to be primarily a buzzword, because the line between them and other healthy foods—which aren’t labeled as superfoods—is now quite blurred. Much more important than consuming as many of these superfoods as possible is eating a generally balanced and varied diet. It’s so simple, yet it seems so hard to put into practice: fruits and vegetables—as fresh and as colorful as possible. If you supplement your diet with a few superfoods every now and then, you’ll get all the essential nutrients and vitamins you need ;)

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