- AC Shilton<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n\n\n\nPhoto: Nick Kelley<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Food marketers know that if they call their product a superfood, it\u2019s sure to sell. Take quinoa, for example. In the early aughts, when the ancient grain first became trendy, quinoa prices tripled in the span of five years. (Many Bolivians, who had relied on it as a food staple for centuries, were soon priced out of the market<\/a>.) The moral here: it\u2019s important to question anything knighted with the superlative.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
From a health perspective, many dietitians would prefer we do away with the label completely. \u201cThere\u2019s just not enough substantiated evidence that there are superfoods, that these foods solve the problems they say they\u2019re going to solve,\u201d says Suzanne Smith, a registered dietitian at the University of California, San Diego. Smith worries that since many of these so-called superfoods are expensive, they add financial stress to people already struggling to buy healthy food. Furthermore, no single food can undo an otherwise poor diet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But here\u2019s the thing: some really do stack up. A few have \u201cnear-medicinal-like qualities,\u201d says Shawn Talbott, a biochemist, fellow at the American College of Sports Medicine, and author of The Secret Of Vigor<\/em><\/a>. To him, a food is super if eating a normal quantity can deliver a research-backed benefit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The trick is knowing how to separate the good stuff from the chaff. With that in mind, we asked a few dietitians and researchers to help us rank some of this decade\u2019s buzziest ingredients. Consider this your license to stop choking down kimchi and gluten-free bread and start hitting the blueberries and red wine hard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
21. Gluten-Free Flours<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
If you thought eliminating gluten was your ticket to reducing inflammation, bloating, and losing weight, think again. Unless you have celiac disease or suffer from a true gluten intolerance (example: you are doubled over and running for the bathroom post-pizza), there are no proven physical benefits from going gluten-free. A 2012 paper<\/a> in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics<\/em> found that there was not a single study connecting gluten-free diets to weight loss in nonceliac populations. It also pointed to studies that showed limiting gluten negatively affected gut flora populations, while diets high in gluten resulted in a lowering of triglycerides and blood pressure. If you can firmly trace your stomach woes to eating gluten (preferably through doing a two-week elimination diet), then gluten-free flours may be a superfood for you. But for the vast majority of Americans, they\u2019re nothing but expensive, unhealthy substitutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
20. Orange Juice<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHave a glass of orange juice!\u201d It\u2019s the cry eternal of well-meaning friends and parents when you\u2019re under the weather. They aren\u2019t totally wrong: vitamin C may help immune systems. A 2014 study<\/a> in the journal Nutrients<\/em> found that men who were low in vitamin C caught fewer colds once they increased their vitamin C consumption, but the difference was deemed statistically marginal. Furthermore, another 2014 study<\/a> published in Clinical Nutrition<\/em> found that drinking orange juice didn\u2019t lead to a strengthening of the immune system for healthy, well-nourished adults. So getting enough vitamin C is important, but slamming a gallon of orange juice won\u2019t help\u2014it contains too much sugar. Instead, try red peppers, broccoli, or kale, which all have more vitamin C per serving than orange juice. Plus, they have more fiber and other nutrients.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
19. Coconut Oil<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Coconut oil is the new snake oil. You\u2019ll find it included in the ingredient list of nearly every \u201chealth\u201d food, from packaged granola to energy bars to Bulletproof Coffee. The big hype behind coconut oil is that it contains medium-chain triglycerides (MCT), which could help our bodies burn more fat. However, at least for now, it\u2019s best to view research on MCT with skepticism: a 2015 review<\/a> of studies on MCT supplementation found that while most research did show some sort of weight loss, the studies were often flawed or commercial bias was present. The researchers concluded: \u201cFurther research is required by independent research groups using large, well-designed studies to confirm the efficacy of MCT and to determine the dosage needed for the management of a healthy body weight and composition.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
18. Chia Seeds<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Many runners began incorporating these small seeds into their diet after Christopher McDougall\u2019s 2009 bestseller, Born to Run<\/em>, described them<\/a> as nutritionally equivalent to a mix of \u201csalmon, spinach, and human growth hormone.\u201d But a few recent studies\u2014like one in the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research<\/em><\/a> and one in the journal Nutrients<\/em><\/a>\u2014have found that the seeds offer runners no performance benefit. Talbott says these popular seeds are good from a \u201cgeneral nutrition\u201d standpoint. That is, they provide macronutrients\u2014including omega-3s\u2014but there isn\u2019t much super about chia seeds beyond that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
17. Kimchi<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
This pickled Korean dish has been recently hailed as a superfood due to its high probiotic content. However, Talbott says our understanding of how probiotics work is just too rudimentary to call kimchi\u2014or any food whose main selling point is probiotics\u2014a superfood. \u201cProbiotics are like the Wild West; no one really knows what\u2019s best,\u201d he says. A 2007 review<\/a> on probiotics published in the journal Current Sports Medicine Reports<\/em> found that, at least for athletes, \u201cscientific evidence for an ergogenic effect of probiotics is lacking.\u201d Still, the super-funky condiment is made up of all healthy things, like cabbage, garlic, ginger, and daikon. If you love it, go ahead and eat it, but it\u2019s too soon to start stocking up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
16. Sweet Potatoes<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Sweet potatoes have become the darling of endurance athletes looking for a natural fuel source, but the types of good carbohydrates that you can get from a sweet potato can be found in any number of other whole foods, like bananas, oatmeal, or dates. If you like sweet potatoes\u2014and they are admittedly delicious\u2014there\u2019s no problem with eating them. Just know there\u2019s nothing super about them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
15. Almonds<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
While almonds are great, Talbott takes issue with their designation as a superfood. Most nuts are created equal, he says. They\u2019re healthy and full of good fats, and research shows that regular nut eaters tend to have healthier weights. Almonds are no more more super than their other nut relatives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
14. Beets<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
While most of us have heard that beet juice can help with oxygen uptake, Talbott thinks the ergogenic benefits of this plant have been largely overblown. Research on the topic is all over the place: in a recent study<\/a> published in the Journal of Applied Physiology<\/em>, beet juice didn\u2019t improve the performance of cyclists. But in a 2014 paper<\/a>, beet juice did<\/em> improve cycling performance in athletes at altitude. And in 2015, another study<\/a> found no benefits from beet juice for runners at altitude. So the jury\u2019s still out on the exact performance benefits of this vegetable, but the bottom line is that many of the antioxidants in beets are available in other fruits and veggies like lettuce, spinach, and strawberries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
13. Acai<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt\u2019s basically the Brazilian blueberry,\u201d says Talbott. Like blueberries, acai berries are full of great antioxidants (and absolutely delicious). But they are expensive and hard to find. Because of this, research on acai\u2019s benefits is still sparse. You\u2019re better off just buying frozen blueberries for your smoothie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
12. Eggs<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThis is where I draw the line between healthy foods and superfoods,\u201d says Talbott. Eggs are great\u2014they\u2019re full of protein and vitamins and minerals, plus they\u2019re cheap\u2014but they\u2019re not actively working to lower your blood pressure, fight cancer, or make you smarter. Eat them often, but if you don\u2019t like their taste or the sulfur smell, don\u2019t sweat it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
11. Tart Cherry Juice<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
There is good research showing that tart cherry juice can relieve post-exercise muscle soreness<\/a> and may even help prevent post-race colds in endurance athletes<\/a>. But it\u2019s relatively low on our list of superfoods because it\u2019s such a specialized use. Sure, some athletes may see benefits, but most people would be better off using turmeric for relieving daily aches and pains and post-exercise soreness. Plus, tart cherry juice is expensive, and if you get the real, no-sugar-added variety, it\u2019s more sour than sweet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
10. Broccoli<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
If you\u2019re surprised to see broccoli and not kale on our list, don\u2019t be. Broccoli is cheap, full of fiber and vitamins, and contains sulforaphane, a compound that actually helps cells fight cancer. Sure, it smells like a fart while steaming, but \u201cbroccoli activates pathways inside the cell so the cell starts creating its own antioxidants,\u201d explains Talbott. Recent research has shown<\/a> that some organs respond better than others to broccoli\u2019s anticancer properties, but the fact that any of them respond at all is pretty remarkable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
9. Coffee<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt makes me shake my head when I hear people say they\u2019re trying to quit coffee,\u201d says Talbott. Sure, too much of it isn\u2019t good for you, but at the right dose, coffee does have real benefits. \u201cCaffeine is the most-researched performance product on the planet<\/a>, and it has the same [beneficial] flavonoid content as tea.\u201d Plus, there\u2019s research showing regular coffee drinkers may have a lower risk for dementia<\/a>, diabetes<\/a>, and maybe even Parkinson\u2019s<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
8. Apples<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
That \u201capple a day\u201d adage is not total bunk. The flavonol quercetin makes these boring old fruits worth adding back into your lunchbox: quercetin has been shown to lower blood pressure, open blood vessels, and improve endurance athletic performance<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u200b7. Green Tea<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
This ancient beverage has been recently co-opted by the diet industry, which makes it seem gimmicky. While green tea diet pills are certainly worth being wary of, plain green tea is not. There is research showing that it can boost your basic metabolic rate by 3 to 4 percent, \u201cand it\u2019s profoundly anticancer,\u201d says Talbott, thanks to compounds called catechins. In fact, research in the journal Cancer Prevention<\/em><\/a> found that daily green tea consumption could delay the onset of cancer by more than seven years for women and three years for men. A large-scale population study<\/a> published earlier this year in Cancer Science<\/em> followed nearly 90,000 Japanese citizens for more than a decade and found that those who drank large amounts of green tea had lower risks for biliary tract cancer, gallbladder cancer, and bile duct cancer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
6. Black Beans<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
If you compare the diets of every culture with a beyond-average life expectancy\u2014including the original Blue Zones<\/a> of Okinawa, Japan; Sardinia, Italy; Nicoya, Costa Rica; Icaria, Greece; and Loma Linda, California\u2014the one shared food tradition is a hearty doses of legumes. \u201cThey\u2019re high in fiber, iron, and B vitamins,\u201d says Talbott, and research has shown<\/a> that diets rich in legumes (plus lean meats and vegetables) can lower your risk of developing cardiovascular disease and your total risk of morbidity from all causes. While all legumes are worth including in your diet, black beans are packed with polyphenols, giving them an extra nutrient boost.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
5. Dark Chocolate<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
To get the reported benefits from chocolate, Talbott says you really need to eat the super-dark stuff\u201470 percent cocoa or higher. Studies have<\/a> shown<\/a> that just a few ounces can deliver a heart-healthy dose of flavonols that lower LDL cholesterol, stabilize blood sugar levels, and improve blood flow. Plus, as we all anecdotally know, there\u2019s research showing that eating chocolate can boost your mood.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
4. Red Wine<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Go ahead and rejoice: there is evidence-based research showing that wine may have anti-inflammatory and blood pressure\u2013lowering benefits, thanks to the polyphenol micronutrient called resveratrol, which research has linked to a host of cardiovascular benefits (although many of these studies were performed on rodents, not humans). A 2009 review<\/a> in the Journal of Nutrition<\/em> found a significant body of research pointing to a lowered risk of all-cause and cardiovascular mortality for populations that consume resveratrol-rich foods such as red wine. If you aren\u2019t an alcohol connoisseur, a serving of red grapes may be just as good. Although be wary of resveratrol supplements: one study was actually suspended because participants reported kidney complications. Not that you\u2019d ever want to skip that glass of red wine for a pill, of course.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
3. Salmon<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The omega-3 fatty acids in salmon contain docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), which help boost brain and heart health, respectively. \u201cOmega-3s help with blood vessel compliance and have a nice blood-thinning effect,\u201d which can reduce the risk of heart attacks and strokes, says Talbott. A 2012 paper<\/a> published in Epidemiologic Review<\/em> found that women who increased their fish intake, including salmon, late in life had significantly fewer incidences of coronary heart disease. Additionally, salmon\u2019s DHA\u2014which you can get only through diet, since your body does not naturally produce it\u2014acts as a membrane to neurons in the brain, protecting them from damage or inflammation. A 2015 meta-review<\/a> in Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Review<\/em> found that an increase in fish consumption could reduce the risk of Alzheimer\u2019s by more than 30 percent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
2. Turmeric<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
This powder, which comes from the rhizomes of the Curcuma longa<\/em> plant, has been used in ancient medicine and Southeast Asian cuisine for centuries. Turmeric\u2019s clearest benefit is that \u201cit is profoundly anti-inflammatory,\u201d says Talbott, thanks to curcumin, a natural polyphenol that also gives the powder its bright yellow hue. The body of research on turmeric is fairly deep<\/a>, with several large-scale studies, and turmeric may have more benefits than researchers yet realize\u2014early results from one small study<\/a> in the UK showed a potential for turmeric to change gene expression in a way that might help fight cancer. Talbott says it\u2019s best to eat turmeric at a suggested dose of one-fourth teaspoon three times a day along with some fiber and fat for maximum absorption. (He sprinkles turmeric on sandwiches, adds it to salad dressing, and even puts it in his coffee.) A word of caution: turmeric is very pungent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
1. Blueberries<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt almost sounds ridiculous to list the research-backed benefits you can get from blueberries,\u201d Talbott says, pointing to their ability to lower your risk for heart disease, reduce joint and muscle pains, and curtail oxidative stress (the naturally occurring stress produced by cell respiration). Blueberry\u2019s power comes from the compound oligomeric proanthocyanidins, and Talbott says that you don\u2019t need a ton of it to get results: a half-cup per day of fresh or frozen blueberries results in a \u201csignificant longevity benefit.\u201d Plus, there\u2019s plenty of research showing that blueberries can reduce post-exercise stress<\/a> and inflammation<\/a> among athletes. As for the general population, in 2013, researchers revealed that<\/a>\u2014at least for women\u2014getting three servings of berries per week cut heart attack risks by one-third.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
It seems like everything in the grocery store is labeled “super.” We dove into which foods are actually proven, by science, to be good for you and which ones are all hype. Outside AC Shilton Photo: Nick Kelley. Food marketers know that if they call their product a superfood, it\u2019s sure to sell. Take quinoa,<\/p>\n