Lettuce or peach are not the same as before. It is the subject of conversation on many tables and the fact that a new generation of dietitians has pushed the so-called super-foods.

Due to the low quality of the products we consume today, and sometimes in the face of an unbalanced diet, the arrival of these new products with additional properties is highly welcome: they are high in antioxidants (eg vitamins A, C and E) Plants that provide color and flavor, as well as UV protection and inflammation), eliminate toxins, and contribute to reducing the risk of heart disease or cancer and anti-aging.

It is common to hear about the excellence of traditional products in the diet of the Mediterranean, such as olive oil.

Myth or fact

Are we facing medicines that are capable of healing and preventing possible diseases, or is this a temporary, unfounded tendency, a product of the popular interest of the developed world of diet and health?

Google's simple search for "super-food" reveals that every 0.13 seconds someone follows the term on the Internet.

In addition, they return about 700,000 result.

However, despite its existence everywhere, there is not even a formal definition.

Is it a trend or a fashion? Nothing new. For years, the scientific community has called functional ingredients of healthy nutrients without adding calories, such as olive oil, nuts or blue fish. Hence the name of super food, but this is not scientific evidence. It is true that the products are very healthy.

"There is no such supernatural food, instead, instead of specific products, we are talking about super-food patterns: there is little evidence of their claims," ​​agrees nutritionist at the Carlos III Institute for Biomedical Research, Manuel Monino. Characteristics, in fact, most studies were carried out in laboratory tests on animals and the use of very high doses of substances, impossible to achieve with the usual intake of food they contain.

However, it is true that some are rich in biologically active substances or in plant-based phytochemicals, such as flavonoids, carotene, phenolic compounds ... "

"They are healthy products, but they do not work, they only keep healthy at best." Warns Irene Breton.

For this expert, the best way to provide the body with all you need is a varied diet rich in legumes, fruits, vegetables, nuts and whole grains, but without the exclusive consumption of a particular product or other products, such as eggs or dairy products "What contributes to health or take away "Some eat wonderful things, and ask those who market oat bran, exotic juices or goji berries, and the latter consider it a great food when they do not differ from our raisins."

In Spain, we spend more than 2000 million euros on miracle products, which sometimes include extracts from supposed large foods. According to Nevis Palacios, endocrinologist and sports medicine, when preparing a list we can not forget fruit, nuts, vegetables daily, vegetables and fish two or three times a week.

In 2013 New England Journal of Medical Results of the Carlos III Institute in Madrid published for patients with cardiovascular risk that demonstrated that diets rich in these foods and decreased in soft drinks, fatty meats and desserts decreased by up to 30% risk of heart attack. "The concept of" super "has become popular in the media, not among scientists."

Strange and traditional

What seems clear is that incorporating these foods into a balanced diet is beneficial physically and emotionally. "It produces emotional well-being and increases self-esteem by recognizing that we care for our body," says Itxasne Tome, a psychologist at Ravenna Clinic.

But what do you buy?

Acclaimed throughout life or those with a high name that has been magnified by journalists and bloggers? Paula Russo, nutritionist at Lago Plaza Medical Center, is not betting on the two alternatives.

"Some traditions come back when they discover their scientifically active ingredients: for example omega-3 fatty acids, chia fibers, cardiovascular system protectors, goji berries, excellent antioxidants, although it has been discovered that some commercial presentations included high doses of heavy metals , And therefore sell less.

However, Mediterranean foods are also a source of vitamins and the basis of our diet, "adds a dietitian." What is important to do is how to do it.

"This type of food should be consumed raw or with as little cooking as possible and eaten fresh enough to keep its properties healthy and easy for the body to absorb," Dr. Rousseau said. Nothing limits anyone and marginalizes others.