Do so-called ‘superfoods’ REALLY boost your health? Trial reveals which ones may be worth the money

•     Superfoods are said to have ‘extra’ health benefits – but tend to cost more
•     Include blueberries, kale, almonds and quinoa – and sales have soared
•     Theory is they help mop up dangerous oxygen molecules in the body
•     Trial set out to discover if eating blueberries would have health benefits
•     Researchers found levels of ‘stress’ in their bodies were reduced 

They are hailed as the key to good health, requiring the minimum of effort.

But do so-called superfoods actually have an added health benefit – or are they simply an easy way to part with cash?

From kale to chia seeds, blueberries to broccoli, these foods are credited with preventing and treating a host of diseases, from dementia to cancer.

Research last year found that 61 per cent of people have bought a food or drink because it had been labelled as a superfood.

Indeed, figures show we’re buying three times more quinoa, spending double the amount on kale and eating three times as many almonds as five years ago.

New research has found that eating blueberries – hailed as a superfood – really can benefit our health

 The theory behind superfoods is that they are particularly rich in antioxidant chemicals.

These are said to mop up dangerous oxygen molecules called free radicals, thought to have a hand in everything from ageing to diabetes and cancer.

Now, in a bid to find out if that is the case, one TV show put superfoods under the microscope – with surprising results.

ITV’s Tonight examined the health effects of blueberries, mainly due to their popularity – the British public splashes out £200m a year on them.

The show recruited five ordinary women to test if regularly eating blueberries would have an effect on levels of oxidative stress in the body.

This is the damage caused by free radicals in the body.

In the trial, conducted at Newcastle University, the five women ate two bowls of Canadian wild blueberries every day for eight weeks.

Researchers, led by Professor Mark Birch-Machin, then performed two tests.

In the programme, he explains: ‘The first is really trying to find out how much antioxidant protection you’ve got.

Around 60 per cent of us have bought a food or drink because it was labelled as a superfood. And figures show we’re spending double the amount on kale and eating three times as many almonds as five years ago

‘The second test is really all about the protection of the DNA inside the batteries of our cells.’

Levels of oxidative stress in the women’s bodies were then measures using a test developed by Professor Birch-Machin’s company, PB Bioscience.

This uses finger prick blood samples which are responsive to dietary changes and show how different people respond to an antioxidant rich diet.

source:maildaily.net