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Fat busting, cholesterol beating and germ free are common claims staked by the UK’s leading supermarkets on their vast range of health foods, paying huge attention in many cases to scientific research, but are these products really worth the extra cash and are these ‘scientific claims’ genuine?
Investigated last year by The Horizon documentary ‘Professor Regan’s Supermarket Secrets’, the truth behind the latest supermarket ploys to attract healthy eaters was revealed.
Justin Blair, who helps run ‘Creative Nature’ a firm who offer Apricot Kernels, Goji berries and Pumpkin oil amongst other foods and supplements said, “Although this documentary was flawed on many levels, especially as it involved a obstetrician, (mid wife/gynaecologist) making nutritional claims on the state of supposed ‘healthy foods’!, it did however, make many relevant and interesting points. One of the main points highlighted in the program included the fact that ‘superfoods’ are proven to have a high nutritional density and high levels of antioxidants, which is great news for those who were once skeptical about their properties.”
A common misconception of ‘superfoods’ is that by eating just one of these foods, you will in fact adopt a much healthier lifestyle. Eating a combination of many nutritious foods, is a much more practical and targeted approach to adopting a healthier lifestyle. Often eating foods in a range of colours is extremely beneficial, as different coloured foods indicate different properties.
Foods given the label ‘superfoods’ tend to be high in antioxidants such as vitamin C. Flavonoids which are responsible for the colouring of fruits such as blackberries, And chemicals such as beta-carotene, are also known for their antioxidant properties. Despite this, the real meaning of ‘superfood’ is often lost among supermarket gimmicks.
Mr Blair from the online health food supplier who distribute their products to several hundred retail outlets including Waitrose, Selfridges, Wholefoods and Planet Organic, added “The word ‘superfood’, should apply only to products with a high nutritional density and those that have sufficient levels of high phytochemicals, minerals and vitamins. These foods should also be sourced ethically or sustainably, taking into the account the environment and all living things and the food should be either organic or wild-crafted. Many programs such as the Horizon documentary class broccoli or salmon as ‘superfoods’ and this simply isn’t true. The types of foods, which, do fall under this bracket, include Maca and Goji Berries.
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