Chia, goji & co. — more about these superfoods

The Energy Diet
The Energy Diet

The term “superfood” is not legally regulated. Superfoods, however, are often referred to as foods whose ingredients are considered particularly beneficial to health – for example, due to their high content of vitamins or minerals and fibre. Only 8 percent of respondents associate health risks with the consumption of superfoods.

Superfood products are often not sufficiently investigated to be able to evaluate them from a health perspective,” says BfR President Professor Dr. Dr. Andreas Hensel. “A balanced and varied diet remains the best basis for staying healthy. This can be supported by the consumption of imported superfoods just as by the consumption of local fruits and vegetables.”

Link to the Consumer Monitor special on superfoods: https://www.bfr.bund.de/cm/364/bfr-consumer-monitor-2020-special-superfoods.pdf

Link to the superfoods A-Z index: https://www.bfr.bund.de/en/a-z_index/superfoods-259079.html

In Germany, 70 percent of the respondents have already heard of the term “superfood“. About half see high health benefits in these foods. The main benefits cited are the content of vitamins, a generally positive effect on the body and a strengthening of the immune system. One third of respondents have superfoods on their menu at least once a week. However, almost 40 percent state that they do not consume any superfoods at all.

Compared to local foods, the majority tend to label imported foods, such as chia seeds, goji berries and quinoa, as superfoods. Yet, local foods often provide comparable health benefits. For example, blackcurrants present an alternative to goji berries due to their high content of vitamin C just as linseed, with its high content of proteins and omega-3 fatty acids, shares similarities with the nutritional profile of chia seeds.

About two out of five respondents consider the health benefits of superfoods to be scientifically proven. Just as many assume that superfood products are tested for health safety before they are available in Germany.

This particularly applies to superfoods that were rarely used for consumption in the European Union before 1997 and are, therefore, considered to be novel foods. They have to go through strict approval procedures, including an official health safety assessment. Thus far, this has applied to chia seeds, for example.

However, some superfood products, such as certain food supplements, consist of extracts or preparations of plant-based superfoods, which may contain potentially harmful substances in concentrated form. The lack of standards in extraction procedures or partly insufficient data from studies can make the health risk assessment of these products difficult. For this reason, they cannot be compared to the plant-based superfoods from which they are derived.

Only 8 percent of respondents believe that superfoods can pose health risks. Even though the positive effect of these foods for the health usually takes centre stage, certain ingredients and contaminants can be harmful to health if consumed excessively. In some cases, superfoods can also trigger intolerances or allergic reactions.

More detailed information on the possible health risks of superfoods can be found at: https://www.bfr.bund.de/cm/343/superfoods-super-gut.pdf (in German)

Multiple Sclerosis and Diet Part Two – MS and the Gluten Free Diet.




MS and Gluten free

MS and Gluten free

As regular readers may recall we ran a blog recently on the subject of multiple sclerosis and diet.  For the first post we looked at MS and the Paleo or caveman diet.  You can read up about it here https://patienttalk.org/?p=1383.  As you can see it created a lot of interest.  A number of commenters both on our blog and on the Facebook MS page (https://www.facebook.com/MultipleSclerosisTalk) said they had found benefit from a gluten free diet.




So we thought we would look more closely at the gluten free diet and how it might be of value to people with multiple sclerosis.

Now gluten free diets are used to treat a number of medical conditions.  Obviously gluten intolerance and the similar, but unrelated condition, Celiac, come to mind.  You can find out more about Celiac in a past blog here https://patienttalk.org/?p=349.

So what is a gluten free diet?  Well, as the name suggests it is intolerance to gluten, a protein found in wheat and other grains such as spelt and rye.

This means that people who require a gluten free diet need to avoid products from those cereals.  So typical cereal-based items which need to be avoided can include bread, pasta and beer.  That being said, gluten free alternatives are available and they include other grains and starch sources which include chick pea flour, arrowroot, millet, quinoa, taro, teff, chia seed, almond meal flour, coconut flour, pea flour, corn-starch and yam.  These are normally available in your local health-food store.

Now many people with MS do find improvements with the diet.  This may be in part due to “non-celiac gluten sensitivity”.  It is thought that such sensitivity in a person with multiple sclerosis may increase the severity of their neurological symptoms.

One of the objectives of this blog post is to allow our readers to share their experiences with the gluten free diet as a treatment for multiple sclerosis.  It would be great if you could tell your story in the comments box below.   You may wish to think about the following questions when framing your answer.

a)   Have you ever used the gluten free diet to treat your MS?  And for how long?

b)  How effective was it?

c)    Tell us a bit about the realities of the diet.  Was it more expensive and time-consuming?

d)  Please share an average day’s menu with us.

e)   Would you recommend this diet?

f)     Any advice for a person with MS about to embark on a gluten free diet.

Feel free to use the comments box below to share your story and include any links you think may be of use.

Thanks very much in advance.