IMHO, Superfoods are a myth.
A single food doesn’t act as a remedy, just as a single food doesn’t cause an illness.
So many whole plant-based foods have lots of nutrients (unlike those that may be processed with added ‘ingredients’, aka chemicals and flavorings).
- Turmeric can reduce inflammation (especially with a little pepper added).
- Blueberries and walnuts are good for the brain.
- Beans and greens have absorbable calcium for our bones.
- Watermelon is good for blood flow.
…All these foods are, indeed, super healthy.
But the concept of eating a single superfood (or supplement, for that matter) on its own, or blended in a high sugar smoothie or in non-dairy ice cream to get healthy is not realistic. Expecting it to protect us from our bad habits while eating poorly the rest of the day, month or year is a myth. The best diet for a healthy lifestyle includes so much more.
Our body is a system, not an on/off switch. It responds to food on many levels and in many combinations. In fact, it is not only what we eat but what we absorb that really matters. I once took a supplement for a whole year and when tested again found much lower levels than when I started. Why? I was treating the symptom, not the cause. Changing to a whole food plant-based my diet, not my supplement, made all the difference.
By all means, enjoy healthy plant foods of all kinds. But eat them together and in their unprocessed forms. The best meals include a variety of phytonutrients, vitamins, minerals, antioxidents and flavonoids. Together, they are found in a colorful balanced plant-based lifestyle. No Acai Bowl needed.
Where to start? Count your colors. Try for at least 5 colors of plant food (as grown) at each meal.
Now that’s Super!
