Superfoods: worth the cost?

What do chia seeds, kale, goji berries, coconut oil and quinoa have in common? They’ve all been branded “superfoods” because they’re rich in vitamins, minerals and antioxidants thought to be especially beneficial to your health. Over the last decade, superfoods have been widely acclaimed for their supposedly miraculous benefits. According to nutrition experts, however, these trendy health foods aren’t worth the cost.

First, it’s important to understand that there’s no scientific definition of a superfood. It’s purely a marketing term that was coined in the natural foods industry to sell certain foods and products.

Most dietitians and nutrition scientists dispute the concept of superfoods. While they’re certainly good for you, in most cases their benefits have been overstated. Goji berries may be rich in antioxidants, but so are blueberries and most other berries. Similarly, kale isn’t better for you than spinach or other leafy greens, and coconut oil isn’t healthier than regular olive oil.

What’s more, marketers often rely on the exoticism of superfoods — acai berries from the Amazon, goji berries from the Himalayas, etc. — to suggest that they have more health benefits than common staples. This is untrue and causes people to spend lots of money on foods that are expensive. Plus, the spike in popularity in some of these foods can negatively affect the environments where they’re grown. For instance, Bolivian farming communities that have grown quinoa for centuries are often unable to afford to buy the grain for themselves.

The truth is, adding a superfood to your diet won’t positively affect your health unless you’re already eating a balanced diet. Focus instead on eating a wide variety of nutrient-rich fruits, vegetables, legumes and grains.