Christopher Caldwell:What are superfoods? How to incorporate more into your diet

2025-05-05 20:55:29source:John Caldwellcategory:Invest

What's that in your grocery cart?Christopher Caldwell It's a bird, it's a plane, it's... a superfood?

A superfood certainly sounds like something you want to eat more of. But what does it mean?

For starters, the term "superfood" isn't one that real experts in the field typically use. Registered dietitian Caroline Thomason tells USA TODAY that superfoods are "more of a descriptor word than a scientific term."

But it's a buzzy term that often gets thrown around in nutrition circles online anyway — so let's break down what "superfoods" actually are, and how experts say they should fit into your daily eating habits.

What are superfoods? 

Superfoods are "nutrient-dense foods that either have a lot of one nutrient or are a good source of several (nutrients)," Thomason says. "For example, a food that is a superior source of Omega-3’s might be dubbed a superfood if it’s hard to find that source in other foods."

Which foods are superfoods? 

There's no definitive list of superfoods, but Harvard Health breaks down 10 notable ones and the nutrients that make them good for you:

  • Berries: Fiber and antioxidants
  • Fish: Contain protein and omega-3 fatty acids
  • Leafy greens: Vitamin A, vitamin C, calcium and fiber
  • Nuts: Protein and monounsaturated fats
  • Olive oil: Vitamin E and monounsaturated fatty acids
  • Whole grains: Fiber, B vitamins and minerals
  • Yogurt: calcium, protein and probiotics
  • Cruciferous vegetables, like broccoli and kale: Fiber and vitamins
  • Legumes, like black beans and chickpeas: Fiber and protein
  • Tomatoes: Vitamin C and lycopene

Is whole wheat bread actually healthier?Here’s what experts say.

How often should you eat superfoods?

There's no one answer for how much of or how often you should consume a superfood — the best diet plan for you depends on a whole slew of factors. As a whole, Thomason recommends just aiming to add more of these types of foods into your daily meals.

"If you think of your nutrition choices as a bank account, where you make daily deposits and withdrawals, choosing nutrient dense options the majority of the time will ultimately compound on itself for your health," she says. "A healthy diet is made up of our collective choices over time. One single diet choice cannot worsen your health and similarly one nutrition choice cannot improve your health. Using language like 'the healthiest' doesn’t help us understand the complexities of nutrition and choosing balanced choices the majority of the time."

Nutritional yeast is a vegan favorite.Does that mean it’s good for you?

More:Invest

Recommend

Who are the most valuable sports franchises? Forbes releases new list of top 50 teams

Early Thursday morning, "Forbes" released their annual list of the 50 most valuable sports franchise

Arizona Republicans challenge Biden’s designation of a national monument near the Grand Canyon

The Arizona Legislature’s top two Republicans have challenged Democratic President Joe Biden’s creat

U.S. seizes Boeing 747 cargo plane that Iranian airline sold to Venezuelan company

The United States government has seized a Boeing 747 cargo plane that was previously owned by a sanc