They are the superheroes of the world of nutrition, the panacea that prevents and cures all diseases that have been and have been, according to many. We are talking about superfoods, a bombastic and attractive label that hangs on some fruits, vegetables, algae, cereals or beverages , and that aims to indicate that we are facing an extraordinary source of health thanks to its unique contribution, for example, of vitamins or minerals.
We wonder if its consequences on the body are as many and as powerful as might be expected and what the specialists think about it. In short, does the name with which they have been baptized fit the reality or have we been the subject of a calculated and effective marketing campaign?
The answers are found framed in a diffuse gray area in which the experts, without refuting the undeniable benefits they contain, also point out what is the true role that they should occupy in the diet. Which, incidentally, “would have to be shared with the rest of the traditional products, since those known as superfoods are poor or even lack essential nutrients”, says Sara Martínez, professor of Nutrition at the European University of Madrid .
If with this statement the specialist already sows doubt about the superiority attributed to them, with the following she puts it in check: “Although they enjoy a composition rich in the so-called functional ingredients, which favor the good functioning of the organism, the truth is that neither heal nor save lives ”.
Laia Gómez, dietitian-nutritionist at the Alimmenta Clinic in Barcelona, confirms a very widespread phenomenon in the consultation: “Many people think that it is enough to add these products to their meals to compensate for the imbalances caused by a bad diet. And it is not like that”.
The voices of the experts will help us to calibrate this peculiar pantry in its proper measure. Here are the nutritional properties of ten products and a verdict: superfood or not?
