Superfood. Let’s start with a definition of superfood… and at the first hurdle, we get stuck. There is no accepted definition, and definitely no scientific way of classifying foods into superfoods. The term superfood is not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration. And yet, a simple internet search for the word, superfood, reveals close to 10 million results — predominantly from health and nutrition blogs, online newspapers and magazines, and providers of nutritional supplements. When it comes to the concept of it, people are eating it up. The Global Superfoods Market size is expected to reach $209.1 billion by 2026. Maybe it has something to do with the over 10 billion donuts are consumed in the US every year.
BANANAS FOR SUPERFOODS
In the early 20th century around World War I, the United Fruit Company initiated an enthusiastic advertising campaign to promote its major import of bananas. It published informational pamphlets including Points About Bananas and the Food Value of the Banana and touted it as a magical panacea that would wrap you in a cape of unproven, pseudoscience promises that it will cure disease, improve vitality, take years off your age and do everything but actually make you fly. And so, the first superfood was born.
SUPERFOODS: GOOD CUCKOO VS. CRAZY CUCKOO
Let’s look into some of these “superfoods”. Some are probably really good for you and some seem absolutely nuts. Which are really good for you. (In limited quantities). There are berries and dark leafy greens, rainbows of vegetables. Salmon and soy, seeds and avocados. And then there’s kale. (Aren’t we kind of super over that one, though?) Cottage cheese, cauliflower, whole grains and legumes. Bored yet? This is where it starts to get kind of questionable: kaniwa, teff, dulse, rambutan, arame, cordyceps extracts, cam camu, lucumo, and wakame. Which you have to admit sounds a tad wacky. But not as funky as cricket flour, pearl powder, chlorella (which can cause face swelling, upset stomach, headaches, vertigo, and shaking) and freekeh. Freaky, huh? And wait, Tik Tok has introduced us to a viral coffee trend: Proffee—protein +coffee. A protein shake with cold-brew coffee. Super for helping Americans in their eternal quest to consume more protein. In determining if these things would be super as super pre-workout fuel that may improve physical performance, and give you extra oomph at the gym, maybe you should take a lot of it with a grain of salt. Which we all know isn’t that super for you.
ARE SUPERFOODS REALLY FIXES FOR THESE?
It may…it’s said to…it might…it’s reported to…
Superfoods claim to do miraculous things: reduce risk of heart attacks and strokes, undo diabetes, prevent ulcers and yeast infections, ward off PMS symptoms, improve oral health, stimulate bone-building cells, detoxify your liver, improve fine motor skills, unstuff stuffy noses, protect bones, improve vision, enhance libido, fight infection, improve mood…and for our purposes…naturally balance hormones.
WILL HEAPS OF HEMP REALLY BALANCE YOUR HORMONES?
A lot of “experts” and “authorities” think so:
- THE TOP 5 HORMONE BALANCING SUPERFOODS
- 10 HORMONE BALANCING SUPERFOODS
- 40 SUPERFOODS TO RESTORE HORMONE BALANCE NATURALLY
- 20 BEST HORMONE BALANCING SUPERFOODS
- HOW SUPERFOODS CAN CURE HORMONAL IMBALANCE IN FEMALE
- 16 HORMONE-BALANCING SUPERFOODS
- THE TOP 5 SUPERFOODS FOR YOUR HORMONES
- 7 SUPERFOODS TO EAT AFTER FIFTY
- HORMONE BALANCING SUPER DIET
- 10 SUPERFOODS THAT CAN HELP BALANCE YOUR HORMONES NATURALLY
The thing is, every list out there is different. So who’s writing these things anyway? They do their research based on the research of someone who did their research partly on someone else’s research. Like to see their CV’s and roster of degrees, should they actually have any.
SUPER SMART
If you have a real hormone imbalance, you might not even know it. But you know something wonky is going on that all that almond butter and Kombucha beer didn’t make better. So what do you do? The first step is to let the professionals at Sculpted MD test to find out if, in fact, you do have a hormone imbalance. This also lets them pinpoint exactly which of your 50 or so different hormones aren’t at the levels they’re supposed to be, and might really be affecting your health and performance. The experts at Sculpted MD will work with you to create a unique treatment plan tailored to your needs that includes a healthy, balanced nutrition plan based on your fitness goals. Incorporating certain foods into your diet can’t hurt, but mountains of acai bowls can’t give you the help you’ll get at Sculpted MD. Call Sculpted MD for an appointment now.
