Superfood... really?
So, another exotic food
hits the headlines for possessing superlative powers and you give in! Maybe
it's time to pause and rethink the whole superfood phenomenon...
Spinach isn't as hot as kale and
millet pales in comparison to quinoa. Since when did we start looking only for
celebrity foodstuffs to fill our kitchen racks? Well, ever since the whole
`superfood' sensation got the better of us. Superfoods aren't totally un-super
but they aren't always the answer.Many people don't realise that the term
superfood has no legal or regulated definition, and as a result is often used
as a marketing ploy. As American author and columnist Susan Maushart puts it,
“The whole superfood thing -the notion that certain edibles contain powers and
abilities far beyond those of mortal fruits and vegetables -has only been with
us for about 15 years. Blueberries were super hot for a while, until they were
elbowed out of the way by acai berries.The truth is, the superfood designation
has never carried much weight with food scientists. They have repeatedly
pointed to the lack of empirical goodness around most of the claims for
superfoods.“
WHAT IS IT AFTER ALL?
Dr Anjali Hooda Sangwan, consultant
obesity, metabolic medicine and clinical nutrition says, “No foods are actually
categorised as superfoods by USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) or
FDA (Food and Drug Administration). These are terms used to market a certain
food item and what's not easily available or sourced from different
geographical locations. Scientifically speaking, foods rich in vitamin C,
vitamin E and beta carotene -that has immunity boosting properties -should be
considered better than others in the same category.“ Manufacturers and stores
label products as superfoods to indicate that they're full of nutrients, but
they're not necessarily foods rich in antioxidants.
“Superfood is a colloquial term just
like detox. It is ideally an antioxidant or phytonutrient that has better
qualities than most regular foods,“ adds Ishi Khosla, clinical nutritionist.
EXOTIC QUOTIENT
A food needn't always be alien
sounding to earn the `super' title.
These foods are considered exotic
because a lot of them are unavailable to the common man or in one part of the
world. For instance, goji berries are considered exotic in India but not in
China where they grow in abundance. Similarly chia seeds are from another
continent, and therefore, considered rare in our part of the world. “We have a
barrage of superfoods all around us -in legumes, spices, vegetables and oils.We
just don't know how to market them like the West does and don't have enough
research to put something in the spotlight. Why go all gaga over quinoa when we
have amaranth, why overdo olive oil when our mustard oil is so good and why
overspend on goji berries when there is amla,“ questions Khosla. Any
unprocessed food rich in vitamins like C, E, beta carotene, low inflammation
factor and decent fibre can qualify as super.
In other words, “foods high on the
glycemic index, foods containing saturated transfats can never qualify as
superfoods. They should instead be rich in antioxidants, vitamins and minerals
and mostly be plant based. Even whole grains packed with nutrients are
considered a superfood,“ says Aakanksha Kapoor, marketing manager of an organic
food brand.
GET A BALANCE
Did you know that eating too much
quinoa could actually give you a lot of unwanted flab? Too much of anything is
bad and the same holds true for these edible superstars. A person with cancer may
binge on tomatoes -it has lycopene, an antioxidant which can protect against
DNA and cell damage but then heshe may also become deficient in other
nutrients. Don't increase your super quotient at the expense of a balanced
diet. The idea is to blend it in.Introduce superfoods gradually into your meal
plans without making any major alterations. Alternate your oils, greens, nuts
and grains. Mix them in your salads, juices and smoothies. Khosla advises, “The
goal is to eat a variety of foods -include all the food groups -in the right
amounts as a part of a healthy diet.“
|
supriya sharma
|
TL26JUL15
No comments:
Post a Comment