Superfood or Super Fad?

If you’re not sipping an acai and kale superfood smoothie and throwing back a double shot of matcha, followed by an ACV (apple cider vinegar, duh) chaser every morning, like, what are you doing with your life?

*insert eyeroll as big as an Instagram mega-influencer following*

With new “superfoods” and fad diets popping up on the daily, it can be near impossible to keep up with the hype. Even worse, it seems like two minutes later there’s evidence that the latest crown jewel is actually a cheap knock-off. So how are we supposed to navigate the moguls of the new food landscape? Read on for my take on “superfood” or “super hype”.

Acai Bowls

These Amazonian berries are all the rage with the smoothie bowls trend. While they have high amounts of inflammation-fighting antioxidants, the issue is that pure acai is quite bitter. And to maintain its nutrient level and make the voyage to the U.S., acai berries need to be ground up or frozen within 24 hours of being harvested.

Often, this process includes mixing in loads of sugar. Those frozen packets of acai? Check out the second ingredient: sugar. And that dried acai powder? It’s usually being blended with sweetened almond milk at your favorite smoothie shop and drizzled with honey. Not to mention, acai bowls are never complete without sugary toppings like granola, more berries, coconut flakes, etc.

In fact, one of the popular acai bowls has 67g of sugar! That’s 2-3 times the amount you should have in a DAY. Yes, a whole day, according to the American Heart Association.

Verdict: SUPER FAD

Chia Seeds

Remember those clay figurine Chia Pets that sprouted grass-like fur (maybe I’m showing my age here)? Those same chia seeds are being popularized for their ability to energize and keep you full due to ample amounts of fiber, protein and omega-3’s.

The tiny seeds expand when added to wet ingredients and are commonly used in smoothies, sprinkled on top of yogurt or oatmeal, or used to create chia pudding by adding the seeds to nut milk (one of my favorites is this PUMPKIN CHIA PUDDING).

While these little bundles are quite nutrient-dense, there are still limited studies to prove that continued use leads directly to weight loss, if that’s your end goal. However, they contain all nine essential amino acids that our body needs, but cannot make, to build muscle. That’s a big woo-hoo for plant-based protein!

Verdict: SUPERFOOD

Coconut Oil/Butter

Consuming fat is back in vogue and as a result, we’ve seen the proliferation of avocado toasts and coconut butter “bombs” deemed as “healthy” sweet treats, especially for those following the keto diet.

But ACCORDING TO DR. ALICE H. LICHTENSTEIN, Tufts University professor of nutrition science and policy, “there’s virtually no data to support the hype” behind coconut oils and butter. In fact, coconut oil is high in saturated fat, which is linked to high cholesterol and heart disease. Refined, bleached and deodorized (R.B.D.) versions are so processed that many of the good essential fatty acids and antioxidants are destroyed, such as lauric acid (a medium chain fatty acid that raises good H.D.L. cholesterol).

However, less processed versions like virgin coconut oil may not have the same harmful effects, despite still being high in saturated fat.

Verdict: SUPER FAD