Although the concept of “superfoods” can be traced back to the start of the 20th century, it has experienced a rise in popularity in more recent years as it became a buzzword for better health.
However, with no real definition or criteria to determine what exactly superfoods are, the word is often used by the food industry as a marketing term to market “health foods,” for weight loss and detox diets. The term has no official definition by U.S. regulatory authorities such as the Food and Drug Administration or the Department of Agriculture.
In recent years, several sources have tried to set a more specific definition for superfoods. The Oxford Dictionary defines them as “a nutrient-rich food considered to be especially beneficial for health and well-being.” Meanwhile, according to Merrian-Webster, superfoods are “a food that is rich in compounds (such as antioxidants, fiber, or fatty acids) considered beneficial to a person’s health.” If you were to do an Internet search of what the top superfoods are, you’ll end up with different lists from different sources – you’ll likely to see blueberries, salmon, avocados, green tea, turmeric and other items on many lists. Now many are putting both seaweed and medicinal mushrooms on their lists as well. And we couldn’t agree more!
If you are new to these two “superfoods,” (or need a refresher on their benefits) we’ve prepared a backgrounder on each. And keep your eye open as both seaweed and medicinal healing mushrooms are sure to appear on many more magazines’ and organizations’ lists of the top superfoods.
GO TO: Seaweed GO TO: Healing Mushrooms