Poor old Peter. No one is going to knock him for his foraging - that's bang on trend. But peppers? And pickling? Someone needs to give Pete a Superfood 101.
Or do they? Just how much better is your diet if your dinner table plays host to quinoa burgers; spirulina squats in your pepper grinder and your cup runneth over with coconut water
The answer, as always, isn't straightforward. But what is conclusive is that the evidence on some Superfoods is, well, inconclusive.
The NHS choices website* published a nifty little series 'Superfoods: the evidence", which attempted to interrogate the facts and determine whether the goji berry really was the Messianic morsel it has been rumoured to be, and if we all should indeed be stuffing our faces with pomegranates like ravenous fiends (albeit smug ones that make heavenly food choices).
A common thread throughout the site's assessment was that so called Superfoods are not harmful; however, they can often be pretty darn expensive and their potential health benefits are far from proven.
Studies examining their qualities frequently involve small numbers of participants, making it difficult to upscale the results and view them as representative. What's more, the supposed über qualities that are used to justify exorbitant health store prices can often be found in far more humble supermarket alternatives.
The pragmatist in me thinks: look, if you want to invest a small fortune in reishi mushrooms and chlorella powder, knock yourself out. It probably suggests that you're being pretty health conscious more generally and, if you're also exercising, staying hydrated, getting enough sleep - hats off to you.
But the stroppy little realist in me wants to say, "Rather than gagging every morning on your Matcha Tea Powdered Chia, give yourself a break. Better to have a balanced diet, rich in fruit and vegetables with the right amount of protein, fibre, carbs and good fats (and, from time to time, throw yourself a bone with a teeny bit of cakey fats).
Frankly, fresh fruit and veg that is not deep fried, sugar-coated, or dressed in a creamy, cheesy, fat suit should constitute pretty super duper food by anyone's standards.
* http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/superfoods/Pages/superfoods.aspx
