Are These 15 Super Foods Making You Fat?

 Are These 15 Super Foods Making You Fat?

Superfoods. Let’s start by defining them. Superfoods are supposed to be healthier for you and they even (allegedly) help reduce the risk of cancer. They are a “nutrient-rich food considered to be especially beneficial for health and well-being.” So for example, blueberries, kale and salmon have been labeled superfoods. While they are typically high in antioxidants and vitamins, some scientists say they may be too high and Catherine Collins, a chief dietitian at London’s St. George’s Hospital says, “The term ‘superfoods’ is at best meaningless and at worst harmful. So pay attention when buying into the term, and beware of these in particular:

Believe it or not, eating too much kale can actually be poisonous. But. Only if you eat too much, but that’s just like anything else. According to Women’s Health Magazine, an article was published majorly bashing kale, saying, too much of it “can lead to chronic fatigue, skin problems, arrhythmias, gluten sensitivity, and Lyme disease.” As always my friends. Moderation.

Quinoa, it turns out, isn’t as wheat free as it was once claimed to be. Although it’s loaded with protein, minerals and fiber, it may not actually be gluten free. They also reportedly highly irritate the immune system. And get this, it may be bad for the environment being that it’s been in such high demand, some of the countries where it’s mostly grown are suffering because of it being imported here to the US. And the people who live where it’s actually farmed are losing access to it. Just something to think about.

Moderation. That’s the name of the game today. With goji berries, your appetite may be curbed but they can also cause IBS, and like quinoa, it causes a digestive syndrome condition called “leaky gut.” So with all of this hype, you would think these superfoods would actually be “super” and the good would outweigh the bad. But here’s the thing, they don’t have their “own food group,” and many people think it’s just a marketing term being used rather than an actual dietary term.

Oh no! Not broccoli! I love broccoli! I know that when you steam it, it takes out a lot of the nutrients, which kind of defeats the whole healthy superfood theory. Broccoli is associated with goitrogen and that’s a no no. They suppress the function of the thyroid gland which contributes to weight gain, a slow heart rate, depression, bad skin, etc., etc. Don’t cut it out all together, but maybe you shouldn’t overindulge and if you do, perhaps you should just eat it raw. Save some of the nutrients.

You may already be aware that sardines have some mercury. Yes, some, but the levels are pretty low. But the more you eat, the more you overexpose yourself. Specifically if you’re eating them out of cans. They can contain LDL, which is also bad cholesterol.

Sweet potatoes are generally considered a safe starch. But, they’re loaded in oxalates. Oxalates are particularly bad for people with fibromyalgia, who form kidney stones, have digestive issues, or falls anywhere on the autism spectrum. I read a story about a woman who ate sweet potato fries everyday for a few weeks, all of a sudden she had a stiff neck, felt nauseated and began to pass stones. Moral of the story.
1. know your health history 

2. do your research.

I’ve seen several articles warning people to be VERY cautious when consuming Brussels sprouts. A man in Australia actually overdosed in 2012. You read that correctly. Yes. Overdosed. They can be good for you, but they also promote blood clotting and can nullify the effects of certain medications. The man ended up okay, but take this as a lesson. Don’t let it be you.

Do you have problems remembering things? Maybe you should eat some blueberries. Studies show they’re great from memory improvement. But all of this “terminology,” calling it a “superfood.” There are really no facts attached to these theories. And more importantly, they’ve been placed on the list with the highest amount of pesticides. Eeek!!!

Beets have lots of minerals and are rich in vitamins. That’s all fine and good. Here’s the flip side. Juicing beets, which lots of people do, is not so great. Drinking too much can be bad for you, specifically the intake of bacteria. You can quickly build up an excess of  iron, copper, magnesium and phosphorus. This can quickly damage your liver and pancreas.

Dark chocolate is packed with antioxidants and yes, that’s great! However, it’s been said that it helps prevent heart disease and there is NO scientific evidence to support that. It’s packed with sugar and there’s no need to fill your body with that when you can prevent heart disease one hundred (plus) other ways.

The good news first, garlic has allcin which is great for you. Garlic also helps treat yeast infections. But, as we all know, it STINKS. Horribly. And oftentimes garlic supplements are packaged and sold to promote overall health, but there is no scientific evidence that proves that. And science also shows you can get the same benefits that are offered by garlic, by eating the recommended amount of fresh fruits and vegetables.

Flax seeds are connected to cancer prevention. They are also high is omega-3 fatty acids which is also very good for you. But, if you’re going to take these and you want to have the benefits, you have to consume them almost daily as they leave your system fairly quickly once you stop. So, you can add them to your smoothies in the mornings, but smoothies are a whole other thing to beware of in regards to weight gain.

In recent years, pomegranate juice has been praised as a sort of “cure all.” It’s supposed to be good for impotency and heart disease. After careful studies, it looks as if it’s not as good as “they’d” like to say it is. But, let’s be clear, it may not be all it’s been cracked up to be…but it’s better than soda. So go for it.

Peanuts actually pack healthy fats. So I won’t judge this time. Lol. I know there have been a ton of horror stores here on things that contribute to weight gain, stomach, kidney and thyroid issues. But as always, you have to do your research and do not be over influenced by what “they” say. The media, unsupported medical reports, or following trends just because. Everything in moderation and make sure you’re regularly communicating with your health professional. I wish you all healthy, happy dietary decisions! Godspeed!