Superfood does a body good… or does it?

A look at the dark alter egos of superfoods

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Superfood; the term is thrown about with such abandon it seems to have lost most of its influence. Yesterday’s must-have health consumable is today’s discount fodder. Foods that have been dubbed as superfoods are equated with health and well-being, but is it possible to get too much of a good thing?

Take kale as an example. Who hasn’t had kale show up on their dinner plate at this point? It’s the superfood to end all superfoods. Thrust into the healthy eating hall of fame, these leafy greens are considered by many to be the Holy Grail of super eating. Nutrient dense, packed with vitamins and minerals, one cup of cooked kale offers ten times more vitamin C than a cup of cooked spinach. Popeye, are you listening? And it offers 3 grams of protein per serving! While there may be hundreds of kale worshippers in Boulder County alone, there are side effects of over consumption. Eating too much kale may bring on a serious bout of diarrhea like the super models that missed out on fashion week in 2013. It may bring on hyperkalemia, a medical term for too much potassium in a person’s blood stream. Another underlying concern is due to kale’s high vitamin K content. Vitamin K is considered a clotting vitamin. A kale devotee who is also on blood thinners or an aspirin regimen should speak with a doctor about adjusting their kale intake.

So what makes a superfood superior to all other food items? What are the specifics that determine a consumable to go from mere sustenance to an annihilator of death and disease? Every month, half a dozen health magazines push a new “undiscovered” superfood. Sometimes this new health staple will be found in the far western reaches of some small country, hiding in damp undergrowth near a swamp, surrounded by angels, singing the food’s praises. That’s a little bit of a stretch — there is usually only one angel with a harp. Marketing companies are the ones that proclaim what foods get launched into the stratosphere of ultimate health nosh; science has little to do with it.

Kefir, for instance, is a milk-based drink, mixed with certain yeast, good bacteria and left at room temperature while it cures; usually 18 hours or so. Laden with probiotics, Kefir supports a healthy gastrointestinal tract. This product has been a popular drink in Europe and the Middle East for centuries and was newly introduced to America. It can be found in most grocery or health stores in the dairy aisle next to its less healthy cousin, yogurt. It can also be mixed at home with a Kefir starter. For all its health benefits, this superfood may cause intestinal distress, cramping or constipation to someone who has never ingested Kefir before. There is also the possibility the good bacteria in the Kefir will wreak havoc inside the body of someone with a weak immune system. Those on MAO inhibitors for depression may want to see their doctor before ingesting this superfood. The bacteria and the prescription medicine have been shown through research to cause severe spikes in blood pressure in some people.

Marketing gurus do ask for some research by scientists to hype the newest health foods. How else would the general public know about the incredible feats these special food products offered? Packed with vitamins, minerals and healing properties, science weighs in on the nutrient density of superfoods. Nutrient density is determined by the ratio of the most nutrients to the least calories. In other words, the more whole a product is, the closer it comes to being considered super.

Now salmon exalts such benefits as cutting the risk of Alzheimer’s, possible prevention of macular degeneration and reducing the risk of heart and stroke related deaths. It is also low in mercury, making it a popular seafood entrée. But like other superfoods, the claims of potential health can be matched by claims of potential harm. Certain varieties of farm-raised salmon have tested high for amounts of carcinogens due to the fish oil and fish meal they’ve been fed. Consider that 70 percent of salmon available in the U.S. is farm-raised. If the urge to eat salmon is overwhelming, opt for wild-caught salmon. If farm-raised salmon is the only option available, remove the skin and the outer layers of fat under the skin. That is where a majority of the carcinogens seem to settle, according to research.

It’s all too easy for a consumer to get overwhelmed with what to eat, when and for what. There are foods that can lower blood pressure, fight heart disease, reduce cancer risk or deflect diabetes. They can curb obesity, boost brainpower and take pain out of joints. What’s a person to do? Buy it all and hope for the best?

One of the newer superfoods being celebrated in health circles is the mangosteen. Native to Thailand, this fruit has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. It also has been reported to treat various ailments such as diarrhea and skin afflictions. (Maybe you should eat it when you feel like kale-binging.) However, to someone with food hypersensitivity or allergies, mangosteen may bring on negative reactions such as hives, chest pains, insomnia or muscle aches.

The superfood craze doesn’t stop with humans. There are lists for dogs and cats also. Before splitting a blueberry/kale smoothie with the four-legged members of the family, consult a vet first. There are human foods that are considered toxic to dogs. Every dog is different; no two reactions are the same. Toxicity response could be as mild as abdominal distress and diarrhea or as severe as convulsions. A feline system is more finicky, and less forgiving, than that of a canine.

Superfoods, no matter what list is used, all claim to give the consumer a long and healthy life if used on a daily basis. It’s true, ingesting the thousands of fantastic health foods does increase the likelihood of a healthy life. So does exercise, laughter, sleep or snuggling with a pet. Moderation with all aspects of life is what keeps people healthy and happy. A balanced life; that’s what does a body good.