What is a superfood?
The list of superfoods is long and constantly adding new foods with this label. What a superfood is, cannot be answered clearly by definition – a technical definition of terms does not exist so far . In general, however, such foods are referred to as superfood Athletic Greens, which have a higher nutrient content and health therefore especially good – especially in the process are fruit and vegetables. They share the different characteristics: slimming products, health promoters, energy donors.
Superfood – great or not?
The term superfood has been haunting the media for some time now and has given food a great popularity. Known a few years ago probably only the least people Aronia, Goji and Co., today is a real hype about these foods arose – the public interest is great. Rich in vitamins, minerals, amino acids and phytochemicals, they end up in smoothies, salad or cereal. Meanwhile, the Superfoods are available in all possible varieties: as an extract, dried, fresh or as puree – and in the form of dietary supplements.
Scientifically it is not clear to what extent the superfoods have a positive influence on the health. Because often the findings are achieved under laboratory conditions, made experiments on animals or administered a very high dosage. Furthermore, the individual foods are examined in isolation in the laboratory; however, in everyday life, people consume a combination of foods that can interact in different ways. For example, beta-carotene found in carrots or spinach can be more easily absorbed along with fat.
The European Food Information Council (EUFIC) also says that “the results do not necessarily translate into real nutrition.
But what does that mean for our diet? Does that mean superfoods are not that great? According to the EUFIC, there are certainly components in foods that have a particular health-promoting benefit. However, one should not just focus on its diet – a varied and healthy diet should be at the forefront. By consuming local foods, such as carrots or apples, we already provide our body with essential nutrients such as beta-carotene or fiber.
Therefore, if you eat a balanced and healthy diet, you do not necessarily need superfoods. However , superfoods are always an enrichment to the diet: Form, color and taste complement the everyday food offer and bring diversity into the often dismal recipe collection.
From the Amazon to China – superfoods from overseas
They have beautiful names and go back a long way: Chia from Central and South America, the North American Aronia berry or the Brazilian Acai berry. And even known foods like cocoa come from overseas (America, Africa or Asia).
Some of these superfoods can now be cultivated in our latitudes , such as goji berries , which originally come from the Middle Kingdom – but most are imported, which is often reflected in the price. Nonetheless, most exotic superfoods have now arrived on home plates and supermarket shelves. For example, some bakers can buy chia bread rolls and the smoothie is enriched with goji berries. Or how about an acerola juice?
Local Superfoods: Spinach, Linseed & Co.
They are often on our menu and many are not aware that local fruits and vegetables can be superfood. These include, for example
Kale,
Beetroot,
Spinach
Flaxseed or
Blueberries.
Your advantage over the exotic foods? They grow right on the doorstep and do not need to be imported from Australia or China. Domestic superfood reaches our plates without many detours – and is nevertheless full of valuable nutrients.
Green dietary supplements: The power of algae
The green color may seem a bit daunting at first: Algae like Spirulina , Chlorella or Afa algae are primarily available as a dietary supplement in the form of tablets, compacts or as a powder. Due to the high nutrient content, they are also said to have health-promoting properties, including helping them lose weight, delay the aging process and support the immune system.
However, the dietary supplements are not drugs; In order to be designated as such, strict controls are required, which must be effective, of pharmaceutical quality and safe. Finally, there is still a license by the Federal Institute for Drugs. Dietary supplements are therefore just foods that complement the normal diet.