Every season there seems to be a new miracle food ruling the beauty block. Over the last few years, foodies have gone through hoards of acai berries, followed by goji and noni berries, wheatgrass shots, spirulina and chlorella tablets, maca powder, and bee pollen sprinkles. Then came coconut water, coconut oil, and most recently chia seeds…okay, okay, enough!
These so-called miracle foods are calorie-restricted and nutrient-rich—and can really take a toll on your monthly supermarket bill if you are using them as directed. With the rich and famous plugging various assortments of these high-end treats and their healthy living benefits, it is time that we stopped to question the actual efficacy of it all. Dara Mohammadi from The Guardian enlightens the superfood fanatic about the actual benefits—or lack thereof—of these items in her feature, The Truth About ‘Miracle Foods’-From Chia Seeds to Coconut Oil—a must-read for every detox or diet book victim.
“There is no scientific evidence to suggest that if you top up your diet with any ‘miracle’ or special food that you’ll get any of the promised effects,” Duane Mellor, a spokesperson for the British Dietetic Association, states in the article. Oh dear.
The feature goes on to dispute the effects of taking certain expensive supplements, such as Vitamin E and other antioxidant-rich potions, while promoting that we tackle our everyday diet instead. “Rather than taking such supplements, it would be better to spend your money on vegetables and fruit—this will help make your whole diet better, rather than adding a supplement and not thinking about the food you actually eat,” added Mellor.
Read the article here and think about whether you want to swap coconut oil for good old olive oil (even though it contains 45 calories per spoonful). I might just ditch a load of dried berries for fresh red grapes and cherries and spend the money saved on a date with my personal trainer to keep my heart in good health.
