Are Superfoods for Real or Just a Clever Marketing Tool?

February 14th, 2010 | by admin |

The push for people to incorporate superfoods into their diets is still going strong. Because a person can greatly benefit from antioxidants, and superfoods contain an ample supply of them, the campaign for educating the general public about superfoods is a popular one. The question, however, has risen as to whether superfoods are for real of just a clever marketing tool? The proof is in the pudding.

The sale of superfoods such as spinach, berries, walnuts and tomatoes have taken off like wildfire over the last decade. More and more media outlets, grocery stores and authors use the superfoods marketing angle to draw attention to their products, and the extraordinary health benefits they offer to those who consume them. As the general public continues to take an active stand against poor health, the consumption of superfoods continues to grow. So is it real or is it all hype? Can superfoods really do what we’re told they can do?

To begin with, the term superfood has no scientific validity. It’s simply a term that has surfaced among those that wish to stress the valuable health benefits that these foods contain. That said, any food that contains essential vitamins, nutrients, proteins, and other vital minerals could be considered a good food choice for a healthy eating lifestyle. One could argue that there are more foods that contain the antioxidant compounds than foods that don’t, and they would be correct. The difference is that the “Superfoods” contain much higher levels of these free radical-fighting compounds, and therefore deliver more per serving than the other food.

The presence and power of these antioxidants has also been proven scientifically. This adds to the lure of superfoods as well. Some might argue that superfoods can’t do as much as some media gurus claim they can. When, however, the value of the compounds found in superfoods which give them their protective and preventative qualities is taken into consideration, it is hard to deny the likelihood of reaping healthy benefits from consuming them.

At the end of the day, superfoods are good for you no matter how you look at it. Natural will always provide greater benefits than processed. Natural is also better than supplements. Labeling something as a superfood is really a matter of interpretation. If you don’t care one iota about the amount of nutrients, vitamins and other essential minerals in your food then these “superfoods” are just food. If, however, you’re aim is to eat healthier, and do what you can to protect your body from free radicals or from developing certain cancers and other serious health conditions, then you’ll probably view these “superfoods” as the superfoods the media portrays them as.

And remember, just because a certain food doesn’t make the “superfoods” list, doesn’t mean you can’t reap great benefits from it. There are lots of foods that contain antioxidants, and they’re just as good for you.

T. Buck writes about how to search for an online BSN degree.

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