what are superfoods

In fact, there is no official global nutritional definition of what we often call "superfoods". Currently, they generally refer to natural foods on the market that have a nutritional density much higher than that of similar ordinary ingredients and contain a variety of active ingredients that are beneficial to the human body. It was first used by North American food merchants in the early 20th century as a marketing concept to promote tropical fruits. Later, it was gradually tied to relevant conclusions of nutritional research and became synonymous with ingredients with high nutritional value.

The chia seeds that I ate with my friends in the fitness circle in the past two years are a typical representative. At the same weight, its omega-3 unsaturated fatty acid content is higher than that of Atlantic salmon, and its soluble dietary fiber is more than three times that of oats. It is perfect for rushing in the morning. Dig a small spoonful into sugar-free yogurt and soak it in less than 10 minutes. It is full and can delay the absorption of carbohydrates. Several friends around me who control sugar use it as a regular breakfast. The blood sugar after meals is indeed much more stable than eating white porridge. In addition, the United States Department of Agriculture has previously measured antioxidant capacity. The ORAC value (oxygen free radical absorption capacity) of wild blueberries of the same weight is more than five times that of ordinary apples. The anthocyanins and flavonoids contained in them also have clear experimental data to support the alleviation of oxidative damage to blood vessels.

However, the controversy about superfoods has never stopped. Many practitioners in the nutrition field feel that this concept has been overhyped and has even become the hardest hit area by the IQ tax. Take kale, which has been very popular in the past few years. Many publicity claims that it can fight cancer, but in fact, the so-called anti-cancer ingredients have only been observed in cell experiments. If you really want to eat an effective dose that can affect the human body, you have to eat 2 pounds of raw kale a day. Not to mention whether you can eat it, so much crude fiber enters the stomach and you will get angry. I also came across a third-party review last year, where acai berry powder imported by internet celebrities and dried mulberries that we often eat were sent for testing for anthocyanins. The result was that the content difference between the two was less than 10%. However, the price of acai berry powder is more than 8 times that of dried mulberries. To put it bluntly, a lot of the premium is paid for marketing and cross-border freight.

I have followed the trend and stocked up on a lot of superfoods before, and I have definitely experienced the benefits of eating them. For example, I am still eating quinoa. Its amino acid ratio is a rare type of whole protein among cereals. When mixed with rice and steamed rice, the texture is a little crunchy and chewy, and it is more fragrant than pure white rice. Many elderly people in the family have high blood sugar. After switching to multigrain rice with quinoa, the blood sugar after meals has indeed become more stable. However, if you want to say that it can lower blood pressure and lose weight if you eat it, that is pure nonsense. It is essentially a whole grain with more balanced nutrition. If you really want to lose weight, you must rely on the overall calorie deficit.

In fact, in the final analysis, superfoods are not a panacea that can cure all diseases, and there is no need to say that they are all IQ taxes. If you have a sufficient budget and are used to the special flavor, adding them to your daily diet can really add points to your diet. If your wallet is tight and you can't get used to the harsh grassy taste, you can eat more local seasonal vegetables and fruits, and your nutritional intake will not be much different. There is no need to waste money just for a concept, right?