One purported health benefit attached to many superfoods is that they offer protection against metabolic syndrome — a cluster of conditions, including high blood pressure, high blood sugar and abnormal cholesterol levels — that increases your risk of Type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. However, these claims are frequently not strongly supported by scientific evidence, especially not by controlled human intervention trials.
A 2018 review looked at the research on 17 foods frequently labeled as superfoods:
“Superfood” has become a frequently used marketing term, but Blatner says the term is overused, and points out that it may be found on the packages of highly processed foods that just happen to contain a superfood ingredient. “Since there is no legal definition, it’s definitely a buyer-beware situation,” Blatner said. She said it’s important to read the list of ingredients on the label to make food decisions, and offers this tip: “Most superfoods don’t come in a package or have a label.”
Some “superfoods,” such as acai and goji berries, have exotic origins. Are people really missing out if they go for more domestic foods?
Instead of looking to the rainforests of South America or the mountains of Tibet for the next superfood, why not look to your backyard — or your local farmers market and grocery store? The superfoods you’ll find there aren’t new or the beneficiaries of a major marketing campaign, but they’re no less healthful.
"Superfood” typically refers to foods with particular health benefits, but is this merely a marketing term, or is there actually science behind these superfoods?
