A balanced diet is the key to health. But even with a carefully thought out diet, many are addicted to various superfoods in the hopes of preventing the development of certain diseases or even curing ailments. Indeed, many products contain "biologically active compounds" that have the most beneficial effect on the state of the body.
Here are just some superfoods to achieve the effect, you will have to consume in excessive quantities, while others can be harmful if you forget about the sense of proportion. Molecular nutritionist Emma Beckett and epidemiologist Gideon Meyrowitz-Katz have compiled a list of foods that have been exaggerated.
Dark chocolate
The theobromine, found in dark chocolate, lowers blood pressure. But only if you consume about 1 gram of theobromine per day, which is 100 g of chocolate. The problem is that chocolate is classified as discretionary food (aka "unhealthy"). The recommended serving size for discretionary foods is no more than 25 grams of chocolate.
Red wine
Depending on the variety, a bottle of red wine can contain about three micrograms of resveratol. But the benefits of resveratol are seen when consumed at least 0.1 grams per day. Thus, to get the required daily dose, you will have to drink about 200 bottles of wine. Hardly anyone would argue that this is not very cool.
Blueberry
Blueberries contain resveratol, an antioxidant polyphenol. But to get an active dose of resveratol, you have to eat over 10,000 berries per day. Blueberries are also a source of anthocyanins, which have a positive effect on heart function, but to achieve the effect, you will have to consume 150-300 berries a day, which is also too much.
Cinnamon
Cinnamal, cinnamaldehyde, contained in the seasoning, helps regulate appetite and is considered a good way to fight obesity. Cinnamal also helps reduce cholesterol levels in diabetics. But this is only when using from 1 to 7 grams of cinnamaldehyde per day, which is about 13 grams of cinnamon (see also: "Real and fake cinnamon: how to choose the right spice so as not to harm yourself"). Much more than most of us are able to add to our cup of oatmeal or coffee.
Turmeric
Turmeric is a favorite of almost all fans of healthy eating. Usually, the healing power of turmeric is associated with the chemical compound curcumin, which can reduce inflammation (also read: "5 Reasons Your Skin Will Love Turmeric"). To get the minimum active dose of curcumin, you need to consume more than 30 g of the spice. But the fact is that curcumin in turmeric is not the most bioavailable compound: our body absorbs only a quarter of what we eat, so you have to consume more than 100 g of turmeric daily, which is a lot of curry.
Photo: Legion-Media
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