Weight loss and well-being: how superfoods can sabotage slimming success...
In order to ensure that you avoid a trend that can tighten our trousers and trigger the temptation to resort back to our unhealthy habits, we're sharing five facts that may make you think twice about slimming with superfoods...
1. Some 'superfoods' are extremely energy dense per serving.
Sprinkling sunflower seeds (a foodie favourite of superfood fans!) over soups, snacks and salads may seem like a sensible solution to sustaining healthier habits, but the reality of this avoidable action often resembles a raised risk of weight gain as a result of an over consumption of calories - this is largely due to the fact that superfoods such as nuts and seeds are extremely energy dense per portion, and are easily overeaten.
2. 'Superfood' smoothies are full of free sugars.
Despite being deemed 'healthy' by an army of deluded dieters, guzzling a glass of green gunk can result in more than just a rapid gag reflex...it can also see us sipping an (often) unfavourable fluid that's full of free sugars - the type that's released (into a readily absorbable form) when fruit is juiced or blended, and can hinder health.
3. 'Superfood' recipes are often unrealistic, unaffordable and unappealing to the average dieter.
Although sharing a snap of our Instagram friendly (super) food may see our self-esteem soar (it's not uncommon for the social acceptance that stems from snapping and sharing our superfood snacks and meals on social media to encourage us to continue to eat well), it can have the opposite affect when we step on the scales. This is primarily due to the fact that the average dieter will struggle to sustain their so-called healthier habits if they:
- frequently force feed themselves specific superfoods despite disliking them - an action that has the same detrimental affect on our weight loss efforts as dieting dictation and deprivation
- fail to feel satisfied on a psychological and/or physiological scale - many superfoods are visually unappealing and/or fail to promote a sense of physiological satiety due to being liquid based
- have to spend an absurd amount of time (and money) creating complex cuisine from scratch - a common complaint connected to superfoods.
4. Science does not support their colossal claims.
Superfoods may pack a powerful nutritional punch, particularly as many are bursting with a multitude of micronutrients, antioxidants and essential fatty acids that do benefit the body and brain, but there's still no solid scientific studies to support their superfood status - a fundamental fact to remember when force feeding yourself flax seeds!
5. They temporarily shrink our silhouette.
Although a so-called 'superfood diet' can be low in calories and/or is largely liquid based - both lead to temporary weight loss as a result of reducing our overall caloric consumption - the smaller silhouette that stems from such a sudden and severe caloric deficit will super size the second that we return to a realistic eating regime i.e.when we stop sipping our calories (and feasting on rabbit food!) and start consuming solid and substantial snacks and meals that contain a realistic amount of calories.
Final thought: aside from breastmilk - the only true superfood that has the power to protect and provide essential energy and nutrients - there is no such thing as a superfood or fluid when it comes to weight loss, health and nutrition. Instead of entertaining the exaggerated claims that surround specific superfoods (think those with proclaimed fat burning and metabolism boosting properties, etc), focus on consuming a diet that's derived from a variety of nutrient dense foods and fluids as opposed to purchasing overpriced products that provide nothing but fake promises - your body, brain and bank balance will all benefit from it!
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