[observer.guardian.co.uk]

Blueberries began the superfood trend. The hype continued with pomegranates, acai berries and seaweed. Now a long list of expensive and exotic foods has been credited with health-enhancing and memory-boosting qualities.

'Not only is it completely misleading to break a food down into its component parts and study those one by one, but it is impossible to predict the reactions of individual metabolisms to specific foods

: 'People don't eat nutrients, they eat foods. And foods can behave very differently to the nutrients they contain and they can have a very different effect in someone's body than they have when examined in a test tube.'

Other leading diet experts agree. 'The term "superfoods" is at best meaningless and at worst harmful,' said Catherine Collins, chief dietician at St George's Hospital in London. 'There are so many wrong ideas about superfoods that I don't know where best to begin to dismantle the whole concept.'

Just because certain foods are bursting with a particular vitamin or nutrient does not mean they will be especially good for you, Collins said. 'It might seem that eating foods rich in nutrients is just common sense, but the truth is that our bodies have a requirement for sufficient nutrients,' she added.

'If our bodies have an excess of nutrients and cannot store them, they will essentially go to waste. Or, more worryingly, if certain nutrients can't be excreted in sufficient levels, they could cause serious cellular damage. Overloading our bodies is not a healthy or natural thing to do.'

Not only is there no scientific definition of a superfood, but the concept itself could be harmful. 'Nominating some foods as nutritional talismans gives the impression that ordinary, affordable and everyday foods are somehow deficient,' she said.


Michael Pollan, author of The Omnivore's Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals, agreed. 'If you're concerned about your health, then you should probably avoid food products that make health claims,' he said. 'Why? Because the whole ideology of superfoods is misleading, for consumers and scientists alike.'

Most nutritional science, said Pollan, involves studying one nutrient at a time. 'The problem with nutrient-by-nutrient science is that it takes the nutrient out of the context of food, the food out of the context of diet, and the diet out of the context of lifestyle,' he said.

Spencer points to the case of beta carotene which, eaten in its natural form, appears to work as an anti-oxidant, killing the free radicals in our bodies which can damage DNA and initiate cancers. When the compound was separated by scientists and ingested as a dietary supplement, however, it was found to increase the risk of certain cancers.

The answer, said Collins, is to eat as balanced, varied and unprocessed a diet as possible. 'People should not look for individual superfoods, but try to eat a "super diet",' she said.

Myths exploded:

Berries

Claim: The superfood of the century. Packed with essential nutrients, berries have been labelled as the best food to help brain development, higher IQ, energy and boost immunity against infection.

Reality: There is no published evidence supporting the role of berries in IQ. They do contain folic acid, though this appears across a wide range of plant-based foods.

Pomegranate juice

Claim: Pomegranates contain plant anti-oxidant called polyphenols, a major polyphenol antioxidant being ellagic acid, a supposed anti-carcinogen. Pomegranates are widely claimed to have eight times the anti-oxidant potential of tea.

Reality: Consuming a modest 180ml serving of pomegranate juice leads to an increase in blood anti-oxidant levels for one hour, but it is rapidly removed from the blood.

Seaweed

Claim: A so-called nutrient powerhouse that stimulates the immune system, boosts brain power and guards against dermatitis, obesity, heavy metal poisoning, depression, congestion and anaemia.

Reality: The nutrients in seaweeds are found in all green vegetables. In addition, seaweed produces natural toxins called microcystins that can cause liver damage in humans and are thought to be potentially carcinogenic.

Wheatgrass

Claims: A blood cleanser and detoxifier attributed to both the 'natural plant enzymes' and the chlorophyll content of the freshly-juiced grass, claimed to 'detoxify the body'. Wheatgrass does contain the anti-oxidant apigenin.

Reality: The commonly held assumption that a 30ml shot of wheatgrass juice is nutritionally equivalent to a kilogram of vegetables is a complete myth. A floret or two of broccoli, or a tablespoon of spinach, contain more folic acid and vitamin C than 30ml of wheatgrass juice. Chlorophyll is not absorbed into the body (or else we would all look an attractive shade of green), and its supposed high levels are no higher than other green vegetables.



Berries, algae and wheatgrass make an appearance in Holford’s list of superfoods. There is a myth-busting section in which we learn how very Pooterish, rather than super, these foods are. E.g., despite the extravagant claims made for wheatgrass by its envangelists, its nutritional benefits are pitilessly compared to cheaper and more accessible foods:
The commonly held assumption that a 30ml shot of wheatgrass juice is nutritionally equivalent to a kilogram of vegetables is a complete myth. A floret or two of broccoli, or a tablespoon of spinach, contain more folic acid and vitamin C than 30ml of wheatgrass juice.

The powers of superfoods lie in their earning potential for marketeers and supermarkets rather than superior nutrition for consumers.

Thanks fresh for this excellent expose on so called superfoods.

Trashing foods like berries and pomegranates just because they receive a lot of hype is completely irresponsible.

>>>Spencer points to the case of beta carotene which, eaten in its natural form, appears to work as an anti-oxidant, killing the free radicals in our bodies which can damage DNA and initiate cancers.<<<


>>>When the compound was separated by scientists and ingested as a dietary supplement, however, it was found to increase the risk of certain cancers<<<

Do you see anything wrong with these two claims?
The first part says "eaten in its natural form" does work and the second part,
ingested as a dietary supplement does not work.

See, this is what scientists do, they take something that is good for you when it is taken the way nature indended and they transform it into something else and then say it's not only not good for you, but it can actually be bad!

Then they do a whole study on it and write up a report and feed it to the public. why? so they can sell more drugs instead of natural foods!

I love my wheatgrass juice and for my body, it does work wonders! I know that for a fact from trial and error!

Wheatgrass, it does a body good!!!

Following is more of what Dr. Spencer says,

I don't accept it anymore than I accept what was written in the article in the opening post.


So it would appear we are better off eating a balanced, varied and unprocessed a diet as possible - something akin to the Mediterranean diet, which is the only diet that has been scientifically proven to be beneficial.

Some of the healthiest foods we can eat are inexpensive and easy to obtain: -

· Apples
· Baked beans
· Broccoli
· Olive oil
· Wholegrain seeded bread
· Salmon
· Tea
· Yoghurt
· Bananas
· Brazil nuts



In order to get the best out of your vegetables don't overcook them - micro waving or steaming in a small amount of water keeps the nutrients and vitamins locked in.

Wheatgrass, it does a body good!!!