Superfoods- Fad or Fact?

Almost all of us have heard or read the term ‘superfoods’ thousands of times in our daily life. ‘Superfoods’ is a term that describes the highly nutritious foods that can provide tremendous health benefits. ‘Superfoods’ is a buzzword that seems almost phenomenal. When it comes to foods, a lot of products like fruits, veggies, nuts, seeds, spices, protein bars hold the label of superfoods and due to this designation only, these foods look quite appealing to people and they often end up buying them. But what is the actual meaning of the ‘superfoods’ and are these foods really worth it? Are superfoods real or just a fuss? Here we bring you the answers to such questions!

What is the exact definition of Superfoods?
There is no appropriate definition for what comes under the category of superfoods. In simple terms, superfoods denote foods that are high in nutritional profile and prominent to provide plenty of health benefits to the body. Superfoods are known as the powerhouse of all the essential nutrients and generally claim to make you hale and hearty. In the sphere of health and wellness, superfoods are ubiquitous and there are thousands of products available in the market that are labelled as superfoods and due to this, these foods are quite expensive. As no legal definition and no regulations encircling the use of the term on the labels of food items, there is no assurance that the label of superfoods will benefit your health.

Superfoods claim to decrease the risk of various diseases including cancer by making you more healthy and hearty but a recent study said that consuming superfoods are not really worth it. Every body is different and so is the response. The result of consuming superfoods is majorly dependent upon the individual’s body type and its response to different kinds of food. A lot of us consider brown bread healthy as compared to white bread. But this study said that you cannot tell and decide which bread is healthier as it depends on the individual body type.

While addressing the Annual Meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in Boston, Dr Evan Elinav claimed “one food being better than the other is just a notion. Like any other food, our individual responses to different kinds of bread will differ.” There is no scientific definition or shreds of evidence of a superfood and the whole concept can be harmful as it hampers the image of the ordinary, local and affordable food and makes it deficient in nutrients in the eyes of the consumers.

A well-balanced diet matters!
Not focussing on superfoods and consuming a healthy and well-balanced diet is always the best way to get maximum health benefits. Be it greens, fruits, nuts or any other food item- a perfect equilibrium of these foods in the daily diet can save you from plenty of health hazards while making you fit and better. When it comes to health, it is never a single food that can make a difference, your entire diet matters in building up your health. A variety of various foods in a finely balanced way will provide you with all the quantities of the essential nutrients, decrease the risk of health ailments while giving you a healthier and longer lifespan.

Footnote
Though there is no specific definition of the word superfoods, we cannot deny the health benefits of the various food items like greens, fruits, nuts, berries and other age-old spices that are labelled as superfoods. Always focus on a balanced diet rather than consuming specific foods to keep yourself fit and fine.