What Is A Superfood (and why you should care)

Most of us have heard the term somewhere, whether it's on tv, in a magazine, or on our favourite websites. But what is a Superfood exactly and why has it become such a buzzword in the health and diet communities? A simple Google search under the keyword Superfoods brings up over 4 million results, expounding the virtues of everything from the simple blueberry to the exotic Acai and hundreds of foods in between. It's enough to boggle the mind and blow your weekly food budget sky high. So, let's dive into the world of Superfoods and see what it's all about.

 

The Oxford English Dictionary defines a Superfood as "a nutrient-rich food considered to be especially beneficial for health and well-being." Sounds simple enough, doesn't it? That would qualify just about any fruit and veggie as well as legumes, dairy, meats, and so many other things. Then why all the hubbub in the last couple of years? Many doctors, dieticians, and nutritional experts have been using the term Superfood to open our eyes to the possibility of new food choices and healthier options but it is important to remember that the term is also a marketing tool used by companies to promote their products. In fact, since 2007, the European Union has prohibited the marketing of products as "Superfoods" unless accompanied by a specific medical claim supported by credible scientific research (BBC News). There are no such bans in North America.

 

So where does that leave us, the humble consumer, trying to eat right and make the right nutritional choices for ourselves and our families? A good rule of thumb would be to approach any list of Superfoods with an open mind and some good old fashioned common sense. Many websites promote Superfoods for weight loss, and while Gogi berries, buckwheat pasta, wild salmon, and almond butter are all fantastically healthy foods, they alone are not going to help the pounds melt away. Tomatoes, blueberries, and cabbage are not going to prevent you from getting cancer. Healthy lifestyle and healthy eating always have to go hand in hand and we have to be cautious as consumers not to fall into the trap of looking for 'miracle cures' or the easy way out, even if it's by eating our own body weight in yummy blueberries.

 

But along with these cautions comes the fantastic benefits of the whole 'Superfood' phenomenon. What home chef or meal-preparing mom and dad doesn't love lists of foods that outline their nutritional qualities and benefits, especially when paired with helpful serving tips or recipes. We all need more variety in our diet and if all the hype over Gogi berries leads some people to try them and discover a new favourite healthy snack, then that is fantastic. I had to try Quinoa to see what all the fuss was about and discovered that it makes a fantastic summer salad option instead of pasta or potato. I went in search of some kale recipes because I wanted to incorporate it into my family's diet. Constantly reading about the wonders of fresh salmon does give me a nudge towards the fish counter when I'm in my local grocery store. But I'm not waiting for the pounds to magically start dropping off. For that, I will forego desert, eat my salmon with a quinoa side and kale salad, then head to the gym.