Superfoods...

This week I came across a few items that have been deemed as superfoods.  If many of you are like me, you are probably wondering what constitutes being a "superfood", and is the usage of this word just a marketing technique?

After a bit of research it became apparent that there is actually no legal or medical definition for the word "superfood".  However, it appears as if we have begun to use the word "superfood" to describe any food that has more positive attributes than negative attributes as it pertains to our metabolic health.  In other words, if a food is packed with antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals with less saturated fat, additives, artificial ingredients, and contaminants; it can be considered a "superfood".  In my opinion, it sounds as if foods that have been considered in the past as just plain "healthy" for us to eat are now being called "superfoods".  So does that mean that at some point, a majority of our foods that are not processed will be considered superfoods?  It is also interesting that the usage of the word superfood has grown with the usage of the words or phrases that imply the ability to "decrease free radicals", or are "cancer fighting" such as antioxidants.

I'm not against the usage of the word superfood, but I am uncomfortable with the usage of the word in a medical sense that implies significant health outcomes when placed on specific foods, without having a legal definition for the word, while leading a large population to believe that such a definition exists and that such definition makes a food more than healthy, i.e. "super".

Getting back to the items I found, they were all pretty interesting, and they are as follows:

• Watercress - has a special mustard oil (also called PEITC) that has anticancer properties, decreases blood triglyceride levels (fat found in the blood that can cause heart disease), and increases blood levels of lutein and beta-carotene (decreases the incidence of cataracts and macular degeneration).

 

• Kimchi - a traditional Korean dish made of red fermented cabbage mixed garlic, salt, vinegar, chile peppers, and spices.  It is full of dietary fiber with a low calorie count.  It is loaded with vitamins A, B, C, and lactobacilli (great for digestion, preventing yeast infections) that we usually get from yogurt.  There are also claims that it can help reduce cancer.

• Macadamia oil - comes from the macadamia nut, and is composed of omega-3 fatty acids (effective in treatment and prevention of cardiac disease, stroke, and Alzheimers), and it has a high tolerance so it can be used for frying instead of olive oil, which can only be heated to a certain temperature before its considered to lose its benefits.

• Black rice - full of antioxidant rich bran, and carries a very significant antioxidants anthocyanins, purple and reddish dye (have been linked to decrease cardiac disease and cancer, and improvements in memory).

I'm sure at some point, I will try these items with my family.  If you have tried them or know of anyone that utilizes them on a daily basis, please feel free to comment or let us know how they worked out.