Superfoods

abrahamsitososa
abrahamsitososa Posts: 716 Member
in Food and Nutrition
Is anyone here familiar with any of these... Chlorella, Spirulina, wheatgrass, Noni, Goji berries, mangosteen, acai berries etc... Just wondering which ones have you tried and what positive results you had with them. I'm sure I missed a few so feel free to let me know.

Replies

  • halleymw
    halleymw Posts: 246 Member
    I am not that into the superfoods, but am trying to increase my intake of fruits and berries. I just got a smoothie maker to make some high nutrition smoothies, and ordered some chia seeds from amazon.com today to add to them as they are supposed to be high in antioxidants. Dr Oz had a guest on recently that talked about nutrients, and he put up a chart on his web site. It doesn't really go into the so called super foods, but has some nutrient densitys of the common foods that we eat. I don't think you need to go that exotic with the foods, where good old blueberries or other fruits will do the job and not be so expensive.

    For example, a quote from the web regarding spirulina:

    The U.S. National Library of Medicine stated that spirulina was no better than milk or meat as a protein source, and was approximately 30 times more expensive per gram.

    http://www.doctoroz.com/videos/dr-joel-fuhrmans-nutrition-density-chart



    Mike
  • AntWrig
    AntWrig Posts: 2,273 Member
    Is anyone here familiar with any of these... Chlorella, Spirulina, wheatgrass, Noni, Goji berries, mangosteen, acai berries etc... Just wondering which ones have you tried and what positive results you had with them. I'm sure I missed a few so feel free to let me know.
    Nonsense.
  • abrahamsitososa
    abrahamsitososa Posts: 716 Member
    Lol the drug library will rarely ever say something positive about Superfoods.
  • abrahamsitososa
    abrahamsitososa Posts: 716 Member
    But yes chia seeds are really good. Blueberries are also loaded with antioxidants I think they are a superfood as well I'm not sure. They've been known to lower blood sugar.
  • TheConsciousFoody
    TheConsciousFoody Posts: 607 Member
    Lol the drug library will rarely ever say something positive about Superfoods.

    Right. Especially the U.S drug library. We are a country of sick care not health care.
  • taekwonkenpo
    taekwonkenpo Posts: 1,004
    Some foods have more stuff then others. Chicken has more protein then an egg. But the idea of a super food is just a generalization of foods that have high content of one thing or another. Food is food. Portion control is the key.


    The solution to all problems when it comes to eating:

    Eat and be merry. Eat and work out and be more merry.
  • abrahamsitososa
    abrahamsitososa Posts: 716 Member
    Lol the drug library will rarely ever say something positive about Superfoods.

    Right. Especially the U.S drug library. We are a country of sick care not health care.

    Makes me want to move to Peru or one of those European countries where GMO's have been prohibited or at least have to be labeled. I think I would probably feel safer.
  • cjsacto
    cjsacto Posts: 1,421 Member
    I am a sucker for "superfood" lists! The ones I have heard differ from yours, and in fact the only one on your list I have had is spirulina, in a smoothie or pill form. It's not just for protein, it has GLA, lutein, and tons of other good things. I think the pills taste just awful, but I buy Bolthouse Farms Green Goodness smoothie and you can't taste it.

    I don't know if there is a real formal definition of superfood, if you google the term you get all kinds of lists of nutrient rich foods. I've made big efforts to add the standards (salmon, broccoli, sweet potato, walnuts, blueberries, raw honey, spinach, black beans, unsweetened cocoa, quinoa, etc. etc. etc.), I don't know if I can deal with a whole new list. :noway:

    I'm still trying to remember to buy chia flour and kale and some others I keep seeing recommended that I never get. (I only buy food I like, "super" or not.)

    Here's an article about 16 "superfoods," most of which I haven't heard of and/or don't know where to get...
    http://www.bewellbuzz.com/superfoods/16-superfoods-you-should-know-about-part-1/
  • abrahamsitososa
    abrahamsitososa Posts: 716 Member
    I am a sucker for "superfood" lists! The ones I have heard differ from yours, and in fact the only one on your list I have had is spirulina, in a smoothie or pill form. It's not just for protein, it has GLA, lutein, and tons of other good things. I think the pills taste just awful, but I buy Bolthouse Farms Green Goodness smoothie and you can't taste it.

    I don't know if there is a real formal definition of superfood, if you google the term you get all kinds of lists of nutrient rich foods. I've made big efforts to add the standards (salmon, broccoli, sweet potato, walnuts, blueberries, raw honey, spinach, black beans, unsweetened cocoa, quinoa, etc. etc. etc.), I don't know if I can deal with a whole new list. :noway:

    I'm still trying to remember to buy chia flour and kale and some others I keep seeing recommended that I never get. (I only buy food I like, "super" or not.)

    Here's an article about 16 "superfoods," most of which I haven't heard of and/or don't know where to get...
    http://www.bewellbuzz.com/superfoods/16-superfoods-you-should-know-about-part-1/

    Thanks for that list. From my understanding superfoods are loaded with antioxidants, vitamins, proteins, electrolytes and you can pretty much just live off that food(i might be wrong). Spirulina for example contains over 50% protein, contains vitamin b12, omega 3 fatty acids etc..
  • KaydeForce
    KaydeForce Posts: 96 Member
    There are countless scientific studies from various sources telling you that superfoods are not any healthier than other healthy foods of the same category. Also - and that surprised me as well - antioxidants may sound great and healthy, but they don't really do anything for your body. After reading the literature I stopped thinking about what is supposed to be superfood etc. Just eat healthy and you'll be fine.
  • taekwonkenpo
    taekwonkenpo Posts: 1,004
    There are countless scientific studies from various sources telling you that superfoods are not any healthier than other healthy foods of the same category. Also - and that surprised me as well - antioxidants may sound great and healthy, but they don't really do anything for your body. After reading the literature I stopped thinking about what is supposed to be superfood etc. Just eat healthy and you'll be fine.

    excactamundo
  • abrahamsitososa
    abrahamsitososa Posts: 716 Member
    There are countless scientific studies from various sources telling you that superfoods are not any healthier than other healthy foods of the same category. Also - and that surprised me as well - antioxidants may sound great and healthy, but they don't really do anything for your body. After reading the literature I stopped thinking about what is supposed to be superfood etc. Just eat healthy and you'll be fine.

    Well I've been taking a shot of Noni each day and a shot of wheatgrass so I know that superfoods are extremely nutritious. A one ounce shot of wheatgrass is equivalent to about 2 lbs of leafy green salad. I'm not going to debate the health benefits I'm just trying to see who's tried them and how they felt.
  • pkw58
    pkw58 Posts: 2,038 Member
    I am a superfood list reader as well. I like most of the recurring foods on the list - salmon, berries, etc. Chia seeds are ok in my yogurt. I will use up what I bought and probably not get anymore. I like kale now and it is readily available here in Houston.

    If I have a choice between say salmon or catfish, I eat the salmon because it tastes better to me. Between blueberries and strawberries? I like both but if I have to choose one Strawberries wins!

    But I agree that eating healthy is eating healthy. I use a new ap when grocery shopping - Fooducate - it's free and kinda fun to see how foods are graded, etc. It also makes suggestions and so it gets me out of my ruts to try more varieties of vegetables,etc.
  • Firefox7275
    Firefox7275 Posts: 2,040 Member
    Is anyone here familiar with any of these... Chlorella, Spirulina, wheatgrass, Noni, Goji berries, mangosteen, acai berries etc... Just wondering which ones have you tried and what positive results you had with them. I'm sure I missed a few so feel free to let me know.

    Check out the mineral content of cocoa powder, the nutrients in oily fish, ORAC of various spices or garlic. You won't get healthy from eating one or two media touted 'superfoods', it's your entire diet that needs to be balanced and contain all the vitamins, minerals, essential fatty acids, soluble and insoluble fibre and amino acids that the body needs plus a wide range of antioxidants. Nutrients also need to be bioavailable to be absorbed by the body and research suggests food/ nutrient combinations can be beneficial. Many of these 'superfoods' taste disgusting and we cannot even digest wheatgrass, perhaps the body is telling us something .... ??
  • abrahamsitososa
    abrahamsitososa Posts: 716 Member
    Is anyone here familiar with any of these... Chlorella, Spirulina, wheatgrass, Noni, Goji berries, mangosteen, acai berries etc... Just wondering which ones have you tried and what positive results you had with them. I'm sure I missed a few so feel free to let me know.

    Check out the mineral content of cocoa powder, the nutrients in oily fish, ORAC of various spices or garlic. You won't get healthy from eating one or two media touted 'superfoods', it's your entire diet that needs to be balanced and contain all the vitamins, minerals, essential fatty acids, soluble and insoluble fibre and amino acids that the body needs plus a wide range of antioxidants. Nutrients also need to be bioavailable to be absorbed by the body and research suggests food/ nutrient combinations can be beneficial. Many of these 'superfoods' taste disgusting and we cannot even digest wheatgrass, perhaps the body is telling us something .... ??

    Who says we can't digest wheatgrass? I would like to know your source because that isnt true. Everyone I know that takes it sleeps a lot better and I know someone that can't have a period unless she takes it.

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