On superfoods.

I thought I would just not get involved in this whole superfoods debate. Since my opinion is pretty controversial and it is not really one of the most important aspects of nutrition I would like to focus on. Furthermore, I would rather put focus on the foods TO eat than NOT TO eat cause everybody seems to get more and more confused and does not understand what truly is healthy food anymore.

But…. listening to the radio excerpt from the debate on superfoods I feel I can just not keep quiet any more and share my side of the story on this subject.

Superfoods are quite the hype at the moment. People that are into eating healthy are often including highly prized foods as goji berries, chia seeds and raw cacao. It is used as a supplement to healthy eating, and with these foods being so high in specific micro-nutrients they seem to be like the magic pill everybody is looking for for a younger, healthier and more vital life.

Side note:Even some people I look upto in the world of health and nutrition seem to be into tropical superfoods and this is one of the main reasons I did not want to get involved. I applause and highly respect them for what they are doing and the influence they have. Please know I am in no way trying to undermine their expertise, there is just some very crucial information on the subject of superfoods I believe they have overlooked.

The debate:

On the one hand you had the “voedingscentrum” defending the government guidelines for eating and telling people that eating a variety of foods are more important than including superfoods. Moreover they claimed many of the so called health benefits of these foods were unproven.

On the other hand was Jesse van der Velden who explained that people in Holland noways are feeling so sick and tired of feeling sick and tired, they are looking for ways to enhance their health and vitality and for many superfoods is the answer to this. People eating superfoods are feeling better quite soon, so what is the harm?

If you are interested, listen to the debate here: http://www.3fm.nl/a/135343 (it’s in Dutch)

My take on this subject.

While exotic natural superfoods are already WAY better than the foods the government guidelines are trying to push us (far too many processed foods which are depleted in nutrients and enriched with additives that are far from beneficial) superfoods are not the answer to our health crisis. Why?

Importing exotic superfoods are not sustainable
If you are into the whole superfood thing you will probably have noticed the prices have gone up tremendously. Because of two reasons, simply because demand is going up but also because of a more important reason and that is sustainability. These foods are scarce and now have to be mass-produced and shipped all over the globe for you.

Because demand is so huge, superfood crops exported for the international market are quickly displacing local staple food crops, which in turn undermines local self-reliance and the sustainability of nourishing traditional diets!

Let’s take quinoa as example. Quinoa is one of those really popular superfoods, everyone seems to eat nowadays, which is grown in the Bolivian Andes. With demand explosive rise in demand for export, Bolivians themselves cannot afford to buy quinoa anymore, and the people living on the country side are getting malnourished since they now have to live on cheap processed and exported grains!

Not locally grown thus not the most beneficial to your health
Most superfoods used nowadays are derived from exotic plants. These expensive, fashionable foods include things like goji berries from China and Tibet; açai, maca, chia, and quinoa from South America; coconut, nonifruit and durian from Southeast Asia; mesquite, agave, and spirulina from Mexico; and chlorella from Japan. The obvious problem with the importing of products is that it is not very good for the environment as a lot of fossil fuel is needed to package, storage and ship these to the other side of the world for consumption.

What might be the bigger issue however, is that eating a diet of mostly local foods is of key importance of your health, and eating more tropical superfoods does not support this theory at all. The foods that grow locally are the foods we are meant to consume by nature, they surely don’t grow here by accident. Nature is the cleverest thing ever, and grows the foods that can live in this environment because it will best support and sustain you in the climate that we live in right here.

example:

–         Coconuts grow in hot climates. Coconuts are a cooling by nature and therefore highly beneficial for sustaining people trough the heat of the day. Moreover, they are high in potassium, which is exactly what you need in hot climate to replace the potassium lost trough excess sweating. Other particular potassium rich foods that thrive in warmer climates: bananas, oranges and papaya. Living in colder climates and eating these potassium-rich foods is not beneficial and can create disbalance as we simply don’t need that much here!

Not seasonal thus not most beneficial for your health
Same thing with seasonal. Products that are in season are in season for a reason. In winter, our bodies do need more dark leafy greens like kale and more root vegetables like beets to sustain us trough the (usually) cold winters. Tropical superfoods are produced and available year round and will disconnect your body from the natural cycles of season. What foods thrive in which season are the actual foods that will help you thrive through that season, it’s really that simple!

example

–         Kale is one of the rare green leafy vegetables that is able to grow throughout the winter in our country and for this reason, jam-packed and richer than any (common) green leafy vegetable grown in summer with all of the nutrients we so need from our leafy greens such as: vitamin K, A, C, B5, manganese, copper and calcium.As in summer many of these green leafy vegetables grow they neednt be THAT nutrient-dense as those rare once that grow in our winter season.

Too expensive
With the money you save on not buying superfoods you could invest in buying a whole lot of local, seasonal organic veggies or treating yourself on a relaxing massage or yoga class..

Not whole foods thus not most beneficial for your health
If this wasn’t enough reason to rethink your superfood collection:  many superfoods are dehydrated, processed and in powder form. Far from the whole, natural plant that contained all these lovely health  benefits that are raved about!

Superfoods, the right way
Sustainable, local and seasonal

The definition of a superfood according to google:
a nutrient-rich food considered to be especially beneficial for health and well-being.

Realise that ALL natural, whole, local and seasonal foods are superfoods!

They all have an array of superpowers called micro-nutrients that are beneficial for your health and well-being. No need to spend all your money on superfoods that are not sustainable for the earth, local communities AND our health.

Researching and promoting local superfoods

I am no biologist or herbalist but would absolutely LOVE to create local teams to discover the hidden treasures nature holds in each area of the world. I am absolutely sure that there are some herbs, mosses and plants with amazing health benefits right in front of us but we are just not aware of(anymore). Anymore, since traditional cultures did make use of these superfoods as medicin and prevention of disease but somewhere we got lost..

example:

– Stinging Nettle: a plant that so common and unwanted weed in many of our gardens, is actually a nutrient-rich food that is very beneficial for your health (AKA superfood). Very high in iron, this superfood will aid in reversing national iron deficiency which led to the now so common attention deficit disorders (ADHD, ADD) . Furthermore, stinging nettle is high in quercitin which supports the body’s response to allergens  and inhibits histamine release (the substance produced in the body that causes sneezing, itching, and respiratory complaints). And these are just 2 of the nutrients this superfood holds…

So there you have it. My superfood rant.. If you are someone or no someone interested in looking in (or already involved in) discovering the hidden treasures of local superfoods… Please let me know, I would love to get involved! biohiliabylinda@gmail.com

If you take anything from this I hope it is this: Nature is brilliant, it will provide us with everything we need to thrive and be our healthiest and happiest self. Wherever we are in the world, whatever climate we are in and whatever season it is, nature will supply.

Everything in nature is there for a reason and it is all interconnected(biophilia, y’all), once we start to grasp the brilliance of this we will start living like we are meant to: in harmony with nature which will allow us to finally (re)discover our natural vitality and be our healthiest and happiest selves!

Would love to join in any discussions about this subject, please share your ideas, experiences and or critique on this subject and get the conversation going!