Culture Bridge 20150531

Superfood Freetalk: Have you ever heard about superfood ? If yes, where did you heard from? Superfood is a marketing term used to describe foods with supposed health benefits.That are things you eat that do more than satisfy your hunger because they help your body work better and be better.Think of your body as a car,the better the gas you put in your car,the better it will run.Our bodies are just the same.The superfood term is not in common use by dietitians and nutrition scientists, many of whom dispute that particular foods have the health benefits often claimed by advocates of particular superfoods. As the saying goes,”you are what you eat.”This is very true because if you are eating foods that are full of fat,your body will most likely show it.On the other hand,if you are eating energy-filled foods,your body will show that as well. Examples Some of the top superfoods are burries,nuts,and whole grains.They are filled with fiber,proteins, and important nutrients that are easily used by the body.To become a superfood officially,a food has to meet three requirements.First,it must be available to everyone.Second,it must contain nutrients that help you live longer.Lastly,its health benefits must be proven by scientific studies.Salmons,broccoli,spinach,and green tea are all examples of superfoods. Possibly the most frequently mentioned superfood group, berries remain only under preliminary research and are not yet certain of providing health benefits.[3][9] Specifically, blueberries, as a popular superfood example, are not especially nutrient-dense (considered to be a superfood characteristic),[3]having moderate content of only three essential nutrients: vitamin C, vitamin K, and manganese.[2] A food such as spinach or kale, by contrast, contains many nutrients rich in content (see nutrient tables in respective Wikipedia articles) and so may confer nutritional benefits beyond those of other foods moderate in nutrient content, such as berries. Potential health effects Cancer Research UK note that superfoods are often promoted as having an ability to prevent or cure diseases, including cancer; they caution, "you shouldn’t rely on so-called 'superfoods' to reduce the risk of cancer. They cannot substitute for a generally healthy and balanced diet".[6] Possible health benefits and effects of foods described as superfoods are often disputed or unsupported by scientific studies.[3] For example, in one study, raw cocoa had positive effects on blood pressure and markers of heart health,[10] while other research indicated less certainty about the possible effects of cocoa on cardiovascular disease. Eating superfoods can change your life in many ways.Not surprisingly,people who start eating them lose weight quickly.One reason is that sticking to eating them is very easy.With most diets,people concentrate on what shouldn’t be eaten,With superfoods,they focus on all the great things they can eat.There are other benefits to adding them to your diet as well.Eating superfoods over time helps keep you looking young ,fights heart disease and some cancers. Criticism However,you shouldn’t eat just superfood.While many are low in calories,some,such as whole grains,are still high in them.Eating just superfoods won’t make you instantly healthier.Instead,getting a wide variety of foods,superfood included,and doing your best to make healthy choices is the better solution.If you want to start adding superfoods to your diet,do it at your own pace.Taking one small step towards being heathier makes it easier to take the next.Besides,with all the energy that is in superfoods,you will be ready for any challenge that awaits you. Many dieticians say the word 'superfood' is just a marketing device.[12] One expert said it can actually be harmful when applied to foods which have drawbacks. For example, some seaweeds hailed as superfoods contain natural toxins which are thought by some to increase risk of cancer and liver damage.[13] The Dutch food safety organisation Voedingscentrum, presents some health claims that marketers use in selling many so-called superfoods such as goji berry, hempseed, chia seeds and wheatgrass and notes that such claims are not scientifically proven. The organisation warns that people who go to extremes in their conviction and consume large quantities of specific superfoods end up with an "impaired, one-sided diet".[14] Historically, food fads come and go. For example, in the early 1900s bananas were praised as "sealed by nature in practically germ-proof packages" by the Journal of the American Medical Association and touted as a treatment for celiac disease. Dietary supplements industry Another noticeable consequence of the term 'superfood' is that it is often used as a marketing strategy for companies. For example, many weight loss supplements contain green tea extracts as key ingredients such as epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). Currently, there is insufficient scientific evidence that consumption of green tea or EGCG specifically has any health benefit.[16] Concerning possible anti-cancer effects, a review of research and promotion about green tea produced a 2013 warning letter from the US Food and Drug Administration about false advertising and health claims concerning the effects of green tea consumption.