Superfoods: How Super Are They?

All salt regardless of its origin, colour or granule size, primarily consists of sodium chloride with other trace elements also present in smaller quantities, exact quantities of these minerals will vary depending on where the salt is sourced from however any variations will be insignificant in terms of their effect on health. Similarly the body does not differentiate varieties of salt, they are all digested in the same way and sodium chloride is broken down and absorbed by the body in one way only. It is claimed that pink Himalayan salt contains less sodium chloride than your average table salt, and therefore contains more trace elements such as magnesium, calcium and copper, making it "˜superior to table salt`.

There is no scientific evidence to support these claims and in the event they were found to be true, any difference in mineral content and composition would be minor, therefore would not be sufficient to make any claims comparing the composition of Himalayan salt with table salt, or any other variety of salt for that matter. You`d also have to most likely consume a lot of this trendy salt to reap the benefits of any higher levels of trace elements. In summary pink Himalayan salt has exactly the same effect on the body as any other salt, the sodium chloride is broken down and the sodium used in the regulation of the movement of water into and out of our cells. When salt is consumed excessively over time it can increase blood pressure which then has a knock on effect on heart health.

An algae, available in tablet or powder form. Tablets can be consumed with a drink whereas powders can be added to any dish or mixed into a beverage. Claims include "˜reduces cholesterol`, "˜lowers blood pressure`, "˜reduces stroke risk` and "˜boosts energy`. For the latter claim its supposed energy boosting properties are due to its protein content. Whilst it is true that spirulina is high in protein, the recommended doses of spirulina are ~6 tablets daily, with each tablet typically weighing 500mg, which equates to 3g per day of spirulina, and serving sizes for powders are also similar. Therefore per 3g serving you`ll consume about 2g protein which is what you can get from a slice of bread. Consuming such small amounts of spirulina and therefore protein will provide no beneficial effect in terms of "˜energy boosting`.

As for other claimed benefits, particularly those associated with the cardiovascular system, such as reduced cholesterol and blood pressure, studies that have tested for improvements in cardiovascular markers (reduced blood pressure, reduced cholesterol) have produced no significant results to prove of any beneficial effects of consuming spirulina on cardiovascular functioning. Existing studies have either been conducted on animals and therefore results cannot be generalised to humans^{3, 4} or findings have been statistically insignificant⁴. But there is no harm in consuming spirulina if you like it and feel it supplements your diet.

A golden spice popularly used in Indian cooking and due to its strong colour it tends to be used to enhance appearance of dishes rather than to add flavour, however its taste is bitter and earthy. It is similar to ginger when seen in its root form and turmeric can be used fresh although is most commonly used in its ground form which is relatively inexpensive. Turmeric contains curcumin which is the active ingredient that is responsible for the majority turmeric's health claims. It is claimed to provide pain relief, is an anti-depressant, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant and has even been hailed as the "˜most powerful spice` for its "˜healing properties`.

Turmeric lattes have taken coffee shops by storm with consumers paying the extra money for a dash of turmeric. As with many superfoods it may well contain high levels of many nutrients however if it is consumed in small amounts the body will in no way benefit to the extremes often reported, and curcumin is only found in small amounts in turmeric. There are plenty of studies that have researched various effects, or non-effects, of turmeric, yet as with spirulina many are animal studies and their findings cannot be generalised to humans.

In summary turmeric is primarily used as a colouring agent with there being no significant scientific evidence to support any strong health effects of turmeric in humans.

A scientific paper published in 2015 found that a single dose of AC given within 5 minutes of consuming the drug produced a 74% reduction in absorption of the said drug. And when a minimum dose of 50g of AC was administered there was a 47% reduction in drug absorption when taken 30 minutes post drug consumption, a 40% reduction after 60 minutes and a 16.5% reduction after 120 minutes. Implying that the sooner the AC is administered the more effective it is in terms of reducing absorption of toxins and gases post consumption.

However these studies are in relation to AC and its effect on reducing drug absorption only, therefore comparisons cannot be made between drugs and other perceived "˜toxins` that are present in the body as a result of the diet<sup>5</sup>. Our livers have the job of removing any toxins from our body, therefore we already have our own ready made detoxifying process. AC is also claimed to whiten teeth via the removal of plaque through adsorption (binding to the surface of the AC), however brushing your teeth for 2 minutes, twice a day, also removes plaque but much more effectively. Water filtration is another use of AC, whereby the "˜impurities` in tap water are removed by the action of AC. In countries where the tap water is safe to drink there is no need for additional filtration with AC, and in other countries where tap water is not safe for consumption the water would need treating with more than AC.