Protein powder is no longer the only thing you can add to your smoothie. Now exotic ingredients like goji berries, baobab and powdered spirulina are popping up all over the place touted as health supplements. STYLEBOOK has researched what is behind the superfood powders and what effect they can have on your health.
What are superfood powders made of?
Superfood powders are made from dried, powdered whole foods, which are generally fruits, vegetables, herbs, or other botanicals. Exotic ingredients that are not easy to find in every shop, such as spirulina or goji berries, are particularly popular for these dried plant powders.
Why are they called superfood powders?
There is a lot of marketing behind the term superfood because it sounds healthy, rare and special. This is often reflected in unusual or elaborate product packaging, which also serves to justify the high prices. The term superfood is used to describe certain foods, but from a nutritional perspective, there is no such thing as a superfood because every natural, whole food is a health superfood.
Does dehydrating and pulverizing affect nutrient content?
The nutrient content of fruit and vegetables is definitely affected by the drying process and grinding. In the process, vitamins such as C and A in particular are almost completely destroyed. The time that superfood powders are on the shelf can also take its toll. For example, the phenolic content of these products, despite their high nutritional content, may have been affected by 12 months of storage. Phenolic content is a measure of compounds like polyphenols and antioxidants that are responsible for many of the nutritional benefits of these foods.
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Top 6 superfood powders
Spirulina
Due to its special properties, spirulina is one of the best known and most popular superfood powders. Spirulina is a blue-green alga or cyanobacteria. It is praised for its numerous benefits. It is one of the most nutritious foods on our planet. It is a complete protein, contains all essential amino acids and omega-3 fatty acids and is rich in many nutrients including B vitamins and iron.
Although spirulina is widely considered safe, it has several potential side effects. Like other dietary supplements, it can be contaminated with toxins. In addition, this alga can aggravate some autoimmune diseases and thin your blood. You should definitely avoid spirulina if you are taking blood thinners or have an autoimmune disease, bleeding disorder, or allergy.
Acai-Pulver
There’s a reason you don’t see whole acai berries in your vegetable aisle. Because they spoil quickly. Native to Central and South America, acai berries contain the antioxidant anthocyanin, which may reduce oxidative stress and inflammation, thereby promoting brain health. Although acai can improve blood sugar levels, diabetics should only use it after consulting their doctor. In combination with certain diabetes medications, it can cause blood sugar levels to drop too low, making the medication less effective.
Goji-Pulver
You may be familiar with goji berries as an ingredient in trail mix and granola, but now this fruit is becoming increasingly popular in powdered form as well. Goji powder is widely known for its health-promoting properties, such as anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antimicrobial.
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Maca Powder
At first glance, maca sounds like it can do anything. Maca, also known as Peruvian ginseng, is an ancient root with a variety of purported medicinal benefits ranging from alleviating sexual dysfunction to stress-relieving properties, as well as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antidepressant properties. However, these promises of effectiveness have not yet been adequately proven scientifically. So far, however, no study has confirmed negative side effects. So if you like the nutty flavor and want to try it, you can safely add maca powder to oatmeal, coffee or energy balls.
Baobab-Pulver
The baobab tree, native to Madagascar, Africa, the Arabian Peninsula and Australia, produces a fruit that is often used in beverages. Baobab is high in fiber, and this contributes to satiety, which in turn can help with weight management. In addition, the baobab fruit contains a lot of fiber and can support the health of the gastrointestinal tract and prevent constipation.
Kmountain-Powder
Turmeric powder, also known as curcumin, is known for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. It can have a beneficial effect on diseases such as type 2 diabetes, inflammatory bowel disease, cancer and obesity. However, higher doses of turmeric powder have been linked to minor side effects, so limit your intake to a maximum of eight grams per day.
Who are superfood powders suitable for?
Before incorporating a supplement like a superfood powder into your daily routine, you should speak with a healthcare professional to make sure it’s right for your individual needs and to determine dosage. If you’re pregnant or breastfeeding, it’s best to err on the side of caution and avoid these products altogether, as there isn’t enough information about many of these superfood powders to know if they’re actually safe for use in pregnancy or breastfeeding.
Do you deliver what you promise?
While superfood powders are rich in nutrients, they are not a substitute for whole, fresh foods. In addition, there is no scientific evidence of their other health benefits as research is limited. Superfood powders are considered dietary supplements, which means they have limited oversight by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).