The Truth About Superfoods
Have you ever heard of superfoods? "Superfood" is a word used to sell certain foods that are believed to be especially good for your health.
Using the word "superfood" is a good way to sell a product. A survey by research company Nielsen found that people will pay more for foods if they think they're healthy. So superfoods are often quite expensive.
Some popular "superfoods" include blueberries, kale, avocados, chia seeds and green tea. But do these foods really have special health benefits?
Blueberries do contain a lot of useful vitamins, fiber and nutrients that fight disease. But you can get the same nutrients from other berries. Basically, eating berries of any kind is a good idea.
Kale contains lots of vitamins, minerals and fiber — but so do most dark, leafy vegetables. If kale is too expensive, why not try some spinach instead?
Avocados contain healthy fats, fiber and vitamins, but they're also high in calories. Eating up to half an avocado is probably good for you, but a whole avocado in one day is probably too much.
Chia seeds contain protein, fiber and lots of other nutrients your body needs. But you can get the same nutrients by eating beans and oats — which are much cheaper.
Green tea is certainly refreshing, but as a superfood it's said to help people lose weight and reduce their risk of cancer. However, there's no clear evidence that drinking green tea can actually do these things — and experiments showing positive results tend to use much larger amounts of green tea than anyone would normally drink.
The truth is that there is no single food or drink that can provide all the nutrients you need or protect you from disease or other health problems.
Instead, experts agree that the way to have a healthy diet is to eat a variety of foods with plenty of fruits and vegetables, healthy proteins and whole grains.
