You may have heard of superfoods. You know, people like to slip in that they heard of a new superfood after mentioning that they are a vegan, practice gravity yoga, and are training for a half marathon. I'm writing to debunk the myths about superfoods and open your eyes to the false advertisement that accompany superfoods.

"Superfood" is not a term or category that is recognized by the FDA. Basically, this means that the use of this word can be applied to just about anything, leading to the widespread deception of consumers.

Common superfoods include blueberries, pomegranates, green tea, cherries, spinach, kale, collard greens, broccoli, salmon, sweet potatoes, quinoa, gogi berry, hemp seeds, chia seeds, and many more. Now, I have to admit that many of these foods have made it onto my plate and have gained my recognition because they are considered superfoods. Eating these foods is certainly not a bad thing. These foods are high in vitamins and are nutrient-dense. You may be wondering, "How is this bad? If it grabbed my attention to try healthier eating, is there really a bad side?"

My answer is yes and no. No, eating healthier is never a bad thing! I encourage everyone to make small replacements in their diets in order to have well rounded and nutrient-dense meals that are representative of all food groups. But yes, there is a downside. The advertising tool used to sell these foods is deceptive.

The danger is that many people assume that by eating a diet composed of just a few of these superfoods they will be healthy. While adding these to your diet will not hurt you, a diet focused on only a few foods is not nearly complete. Incomplete diets lead to many other health problems. The misconception that eating just one or two healthy foods is being healthy is quite prominent and damaging.

It's important to recognize that, although healthy foods are healthy, they are usually good sources of just one or two vitamins or minerals and may be completely lacking in another essential component of a diet. Each meal should include fruits, vegetables, whole grains, dairy, a source of lasting protein, and minimal fats. Your body cannot necessarily function as it needs to without all of these groups.

Think about carbohydrates for a minute. People think that carbohydrates are the enemy, that they should be avoided at all costs, and that we are healthier without them. Yet, carbohydrates are not only a great source of energy, but our cells are literally lined with carbohydrates, proteins, phospholipids, and cholesterol in the plasma membrane. Carbohydrates have a special role in maintaining the consistency of the membrane. Animal cells are coated in a sugar coating of carbohydrates called a glycocalyx. Without these carbohydrates, cells in our body would not be able to communicate and regulate the movements of substances across the cell membrane as they do.

Overall, you should think about what you are doing before you make a rash decision and radically change your diet. Recognize that the term superfood is devoid of meaning and don't let yourself fall into unhealthy habits because of the media's deceptions. Keep eating healthy and realize that every healthy choice you make, no matter how small, really does make a difference.