Some of the foods such as quinoa and açaí considered “superfoods”. Source: Font: https://www.directoalpaladar.com/.

Superfoods, rich in nutrients, vitamins or minerals that have a very beneficial effect on human health, have entered the public debate hand in hand with their properties, but also with the marketing that surrounds them. José Miguel Soriano del Castillo, Professor of Nutrition and Food Science at the University of Valencia, analyses both aspects of this debate.

The consumption of superfoods has recently become a way of life for the population. This fact is caused because in a society where diets contain countless industrialised, refined and ultra-processed foods, superfoods are believed to be the answer to this lifestyle. All this due to the fact that the consumption of this type of foods deficient in vitamins, minerals and antioxidants causes serious health problems, among which are overweight and obesity, causing cardiovascular and respiratory diseases and diabetes, among others.

What distinguishes a superfood from any other healthy food? The first type has to be rich in fibre, vitamins, phytonutrients, minerals, and antioxidants. In addition, it must have a low caloric density. Now, it could be considered that the term in question is being used in excess or in a wrong way, so that foods are being classified as super when they really are not. José Miguel Soriano answers flatly: “superfoods don’t exist”.

This expert, honorary member of the Spanish Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, explains that the popular use of the superfood concept by scientists and popularisers is dangerous, since there is no scientific or legal terminology that supports this concept. In addition, the concept can generate false hope to the population and certain patients such as those who suffer from cancer. It would be possible that certain patients could reach the wrong conclusion that the consumption of this kind of food could constitute a strategy to defeat their disease, when the reality is that this is not possible.

In short, to the question of whether these foods are the answer to all evils, and if they could be given so much power, as has been stated, superfoods do not exist. It is a term exploited by the media and used purely as a marketing strategy.

That is, superfoods as such would be any food that is healthy and beneficial in many ways, but not curative. Therefore, the word “superfood” would really be a synonym for beneficial food, a broad concept that would encompass a wide variety of foods, such as vegetables, fruits, meat, fish or even olive oil.

According to this approach, the media and misinformation have implanted in the population a concept that completely lacks scientific basis. Therefore, thanks to the statements of Jose Miguel Soriano, the possibility that society is easily manipulated has been contemplated and undoing those ideas that they have adopted as a mantra is complicated. That is why it is important for every citizen to become aware that “superfoods” do not exist and the reality is that all the alarms should have been raised when it was sold that these foods were a miracle.

It can be concluded that recovering a more traditional way of eating, based on consuming minimally processed foods is healthy, its consumption should not be seen as a diet but a lifestyle. At this point is where a new concept of realfooding comes into play, where the population is more aware of the food eaten and its properties. But ultimately superfoods happen like superheroes, they only exist in fictional movies.

Bibliography:

Gottau, G. (2016). Superalimentos ¿marketing o realidad? [Ilustración]. Recovered from https://www.directoalpaladar.com/ingredientes-y-alimentos/superalimentos-marketing-o-realidad