8 Superfoods That Aren't All That Super

by Larry Schwartz
AlterNet

These supposed miracle foods just don’t live up to their hype.

Five hundred years ago, Ponce de Leon searched in vain for the Fountain of Youth and immortality (in Florida, no less). Had old Ponce been a 21st-century man, he might have gone to his local supermarket and searched the aisles for humanity’s latest health and longevity obsession, superfood. Virtually every newspaper, magazine and broadcast outlet, major or minor, has extolled the miracles of superfoods, often more than once. Superfoods are minimally processed foods that are so nutrient-packed they promise to protect your body against all manner of illness and add years to your life, all the while supercharging your sex life and growing hair on your head, never mind perking up your brain and freshening your breath. They’re the veritable Fountain of Youth…or at least that’s what they say. Let’s examine eight of the major superfoods, their purported super powers and the facts behind the hype machine.

1. Green Tea

The Story: Green tea has been popularized in the past several years as a health tonic extraordinaire. While commonly consumed in Japan, it only recently has caught on in America. Green tea, unlike regular black teas, is made from unfermented tea leaves (black tea uses the same leaf but it is fermented). This minimally processed tealeaf contains higher concentrations of antioxidants (specifically one called EGCG) which enthusiasts claim slows cellular growth and can prevent cancer. Green tea is also supposedly helpful in lowering cholesterol and battling Alzheimer’s disease.

The Reality: Green tea is good for you. Two or three cups a day, no argument there. Especially in lieu of sugary beverages or coffee with half-and-half. But studies have shown mixed results in lowering cholesterol (it lowered total cholesterol but the bad stuff—LDL and triglyceride—remained unchanged), and other studies have suggested it may block the effects of some anti-cancer medications. Additionally, drinking it piping hot may increase the chance of contracting esophageal cancer, especially among smokers and alcohol drinkers. Alzheimer’s? There have been no human trials to back up lab tests (which have shown some helpful benefit of green tea in combatting the disease).
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