Forget superfoods, you can't beat an apple a day | Uk-news | The Guardian
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Myths exploded: (Info source: The above link)
Berries
Claim: The superfood of the century. Packed with essential nutrients, berries have been labelled as the best food to help brain development, higher IQ, energy and boost immunity against infection.
Reality: There is no published evidence supporting the role of berries in IQ. They do contain folic acid, though this appears across a wide range of plant-based foods.
Pomegranate juice
Claim: Pomegranates contain plant anti-oxidant called polyphenols, a major polyphenol antioxidant being ellagic acid, a supposed anti-carcinogen. Pomegranates are widely claimed to have eight times the anti-oxidant potential of tea.
Reality: Consuming a modest 180ml serving of pomegranate juice leads to an increase in blood anti-oxidant levels for one hour, but it is rapidly removed from the blood.
Seaweed
Claim: A so-called nutrient powerhouse that stimulates the immune system, boosts brain power and guards against dermatitis, obesity, heavy metal poisoning, depression, congestion and anaemia.
Reality: The nutrients in seaweeds are found in all green vegetables. In addition, seaweed produces natural toxins called microcystins that can cause liver damage in humans and are thought to be potentially carcinogenic.
Wheatgrass
Claims: A blood cleanser and detoxifier attributed to both the 'natural plant enzymes' and the chlorophyll content of the freshly-juiced grass, claimed to 'detoxify the body'. Wheatgrass does contain the anti-oxidant apigenin.
Reality: The commonly held assumption that a 30ml shot of wheatgrass juice is nutritionally equivalent to a kilogram of vegetables is a complete myth. A floret or two of broccoli, or a tablespoon of spinach, contain more folic acid and vitamin C than 30ml of wheatgrass juice. Chlorophyll is not absorbed into the body (or else we would all look an attractive shade of green), and its supposed high levels are no higher than other green vegetables.
Berries
Claim: The superfood of the century. Packed with essential nutrients, berries have been labelled as the best food to help brain development, higher IQ, energy and boost immunity against infection.
Reality: There is no published evidence supporting the role of berries in IQ. They do contain folic acid, though this appears across a wide range of plant-based foods.
Pomegranate juice
Claim: Pomegranates contain plant anti-oxidant called polyphenols, a major polyphenol antioxidant being ellagic acid, a supposed anti-carcinogen. Pomegranates are widely claimed to have eight times the anti-oxidant potential of tea.
Reality: Consuming a modest 180ml serving of pomegranate juice leads to an increase in blood anti-oxidant levels for one hour, but it is rapidly removed from the blood.
Seaweed
Claim: A so-called nutrient powerhouse that stimulates the immune system, boosts brain power and guards against dermatitis, obesity, heavy metal poisoning, depression, congestion and anaemia.
Reality: The nutrients in seaweeds are found in all green vegetables. In addition, seaweed produces natural toxins called microcystins that can cause liver damage in humans and are thought to be potentially carcinogenic.
Wheatgrass
Claims: A blood cleanser and detoxifier attributed to both the 'natural plant enzymes' and the chlorophyll content of the freshly-juiced grass, claimed to 'detoxify the body'. Wheatgrass does contain the anti-oxidant apigenin.
Reality: The commonly held assumption that a 30ml shot of wheatgrass juice is nutritionally equivalent to a kilogram of vegetables is a complete myth. A floret or two of broccoli, or a tablespoon of spinach, contain more folic acid and vitamin C than 30ml of wheatgrass juice. Chlorophyll is not absorbed into the body (or else we would all look an attractive shade of green), and its supposed high levels are no higher than other green vegetables.
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