Superfoods are just a publicity stunt
Educational program. Superfoods
Anna Kirikova, Mednovosti
The phenomenonAccording to the Great Oxford Dictionary, superfoods are "nutritious foods that are considered to be especially beneficial for health and well–being."
The neologism "superfoods" was formed at the dawn of the XX century, became widespread in the 1990s, and became popular in the mid-2000s.
At the moment, in the press, popular science literature and everyday life, superfoods are products containing a high percentage of minerals, antioxidants, vitamins and fiber. A product can be classified as superfoods in two cases: if it contains more of the listed substances than in other types of food, or if it contains a substance that is considered especially important and contained in a small number of products.
Most superfoods are of plant origin, but there are exceptions (for example, red fish). There is no strictly defined list of what exactly can be called "super-food". As a rule, the list includes blueberries, goji berries, broccoli, garlic, spirulina and other algae, cocoa beans, chia seeds, cabbage, pomegranates, quinoa. Individual lists may include more than 50 names of vegetables, fruits and cereals.
ProAll products combined by the new term actually contain many essential substances and are nutritious.
Most berries, vegetables and fruits are useful: for example, adequate consumption of vegetables and fruits reduces the risk of type 2 diabetes and heart disease in men.
For example, blueberries are rich in vitamins C and K, fiber, and antioxidants. Scientists from Harvard and the University of East Anglia believe that the berry has a beneficial effect on the cardiovascular system and prevents the occurrence of myocardial infarction in women. Fatty fish varieties (salmon, sardines), also classified as superfoods, contain omega-3 unsaturated fatty acids, and therefore are recommended for consumption as helping to prevent cardiovascular diseases.
There is some evidence that the juice from sprouted cereals can ease the course of certain diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and improve digestion. This superfood contains a lot of fiber, vitamin A, vitamin B6, vitamin C, vitamin K, zinc, magnesium and amino acids.
Acai berries, which grow in Amazonian forests, are famous for their high content of antioxidants (although their benefits have not been proven), fiber, unsaturated fats. Full-fledged studies of the product have not been conducted, but the available scientific work shows that berries may have a positive effect on metabolism and are useful due to the presence of vitamins. In addition, they are most likely able to slightly slow down the action of enzymes responsible for certain types of pain.
Dark chocolate, also on the list of particularly healthy foods, has a large amount of flavonols and is able to reduce the risk of heart problems. Cocoa, which is the basis of bitter chocolate, can affect blood pressure.
ContraThe concept of superfoods itself has been heavily criticized.
There are several reasons for this.
Firstly, when talking about superfoods, the media often exaggerate their usefulness. For example, berries are assigned the ability to increase the level of intelligence, pomegranate juice – the ability to fight cancer, algae – the ability to defeat dermatitis. The properties are rather dubious and not confirmed by scientific research.
Secondly, most of the studies proving the particular usefulness of a particular product were conducted on animals. So, it is unclear whether certain properties of products useful for rats will be relevant for humans.
Thirdly, the fact that a particular product is rich in vitamins does not mean that it is fundamentally better than others (as hinted by the prefix "super"). "There is not enough evidence that any one product has a specific effect on health in the long term," says Professor Susan Jebb of Oxford University in an interview with The Telegraph newspaper. Moreover, giving preference to a particular food can be harmful. "It is much more important for health to eat a variety of foods, rather than concentrating on one thing, hoping for miraculous properties," explains Alison Hornby, a specialist from the British Association of Nutritionists.
Fourthly, recently the word "superfood" has become so fashionable that it has partially lost its main meaning. More and more often, marketers, PR specialists and journalists call this what they want to attract public attention to – from the well-known beetroot to quinoa groats, unknown to the general public, but actively consumed for about 7 thousand years. At the same time, using an attention-grabbing word, manufacturers sell superfoods at a higher price. For example, from 2006 to 2012, the average cost of quinoa seeds tripled.
That is why back in 2007, the European Union banned the use of the word "superfoods" on the packaging of goods and in marketing products. In order to use the term, you need to accompany it with a reference to serious scientific works. Otherwise, it is considered misleading.
ConclusionThere are no arguments against the use of superfoods.
Everything that is called a buzzword is not harmful. At a minimum, it is simply healthier than French fries, mayonnaise and burgers; as a maximum, it is recommended for daily use (we are talking about fruits and vegetables). At the same time, it must be remembered that superfoods are not a medical term, but a marketing term. And it is designed only to attract attention to a particular product and increase its value.
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