Superfood is an unscientific marketing term used in various contexts. For example, it is sometimes used to describe food with high nutrient or phytochemical content that may confer health benefits, with few properties considered to be negative, such as being high in saturated fats or artificial ingredients, food additives or contaminants. An often-cited example of a superfruit is blueberries which contain moderate-rich concentrations of anthocyanins, vitamin C, manganese, and dietary fiber,^[1] pterostilbene (an undefined phytochemical under preliminary research) and low calorie content. Other examples of superfoods include broccoli, spinach, pumpkin and tomatoes which are rich in various nutrients. All these fruits and vegetables contain a variety of nutrients and phytochemicals in varying amounts as do common plant foods like bananas, pineapples and potatoes which have only rarely been called superfoods. Fish may be considered a superfood due to their omega-3 fatty acids which may promote cognitive development.^[2]

Blueberries, often called a superfood

The term is not in common use by dietitians and nutrition scientists, many of whom dispute that particular foodstuffs have the health benefits often claimed by advocates of particular superfoods.^[3] There is no legal definition of the term and it has been alleged that this has led to it being misleadingly used as a marketing tool.^[4]

Etymology[link]

The Oxford English Dictionary^[5] includes citations for superfood in the general sense of "a food considered especially nutritious or otherwise beneficial to health and well-being," dating from 1915,^[6] 1949,^[7] as well as more recent examples.^[8]

The term superdrink is a variant term referring to beverages with the same supposed properties as superfoods, often used to refer to other categories of food, as in superfruits or supergrains.

Use of the term[link]

The term is used frequently in a wide variety of contexts. It appears to first be referenced by Aaron Moss in the journal Nature Nutrition in the August edition of 1998, which stated, "Humans have many options when it comes to fueling their bodies, but the benefits of some options are so nutritious that they might be labeled as superfoods." In legal terms it has no standing however, although its use has been regulated in certain jurisdictions. For example, since 1 July 2007, the marketing of products as "superfoods" is prohibited in the European Union unless accompanied by a specific medical claim supported by credible scientific research.^[9]

Potential health effects[link]

Possible health benefits and effects of foods described as superfoods are often disputed or unsupported by solid scientific studies. Superfoods may be represented by pseudo-scientific research, exaggeration or misrepresentation, while no peer-reviewed research has demonstrated their specific benefits.

Many recent superfood lists contain common food choices whose nutritional value has been long recognized. Examples of these would be berries, nuts and seeds in general, dark green vegetables (such as kale, collard greens, Swiss chard, Brussels sprouts and broccoli), citrus fruits, fatty fish such as salmon, mackerel and sardines, vegetables with bright, dark or intense colors (such as beets and their greens, and sweet potatoes), many legumes (peanuts, lentils, beans (with some beans being significantly higher in certain nutrients than others)), and whole grains as a group. Possibly the most studied superfood group, berries, remain under scientific evaluation and are not proven to have any specific health benefits.^[10] Dark (ie, over 70% pure) chocolate may also be included in superfood lists, although its claimed merits remain unproven scientifically. Traditional fiber-rich foods like porridge and pea soup may be called superfoods. Others stress that it is as healthy to eat apples and oranges rather than expensive, exotic foodstuffs often cited without evidence as being superfoods.^[11]

Concerns[link]

The term superfood is often misused, with one expert saying it can be harmful when applied to foods which have drawbacks. For example, some seaweeds hailed as superfoods contain natural toxins which are thought by some to increase risk of cancer and liver damage.^[11]

Epicatechin gallate, the catechin present in green tea which has been studied for its role in weight-loss

Dietary supplementation[link]

Another consequence of the term superfood is that it is often used as a marketing strategy for companies. For example, green tea and its extracts have been studied over decades for their potential benefits, including possibly weight loss, as well as for polyphenol content that might supply other potential benefits. Many weight loss supplements contain green tea extracts as a key ingredient, due to a tea flavanol called epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG).^[12] However, there is no established scientific evidence that the consumption of green teas has any health benefits.^[13]

See also[link]

• Phytochemicals
• Nutrition
• Nutrients
• Antioxidants
• Superfruits

References[link]

Food portal

This article includes a list of references, but its sources remain unclear because it has insufficient inline citations. Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations. (September 2010)

Richard Eugene "Grass" Green (May 7, 1939^[1] – August 5, 2002) was an African American cartoonist notable for being the first black participant in both the 1960s fan art movement and the 1970s underground comics movement.^[2] His creations included Xal-Kor the Human Cat and the feature 'Wildman and Rubberroy".

Biography[link]

Born in Fort Wayne, Indiana, Green was given the nickname "Grass" by his childhood friend Ronn Foss, with whom he later collaborated in editing two issues of the magazine Alter Ego.^[3] Beginning in 1964, Green's fan art appeared in such fanzines as Alter Ego, Star-Studded Comics, Fantasy Illustrated, The Buyer's Guide to Comics Fandom, Rocket's Blast Comicollector, Komix Illustrated, Super-Hero, and Masquerader.

In 1967, Green broke into the professional comics world, collaborating with Roy Thomas on "The Shape" in Charlton Premiere #1. In the late 1960s, Green drew several more humorous strips for Charlton Comics, mostly in Go-Go Comics. (He also had work published in witzend.) He then became involved in the underground comix movement, where his work was published in Super Soul Comix and a Wildman and Rubberroy series. In the 1990s, Green produced work for among other places Eros Comics.

Xal-kor the Human Cat[link]

Green's Xal-kor character (which first appeared in 1964) was often voted the most popular fan creation in the fanzine Star-Studded Comics. The character returned several times over the years, most recently in May 2002 in a collection from TwoMorrows Publishing. Green was working on a new series of Xal-Kor adventures when he died in August 2002.^[3]

Holiday Out[link]

Green collaborated for many years with writer Michael Vance, including for four years on the comic book strip Holiday Out, featuring the characters Plastic Mam and Rok. Holiday Out stories were collected in Holiday Out #1-3, from Renegade Press, as well as books like Comico Primer (Comico), and Mangazine (Antarctic Press); much of it was re-released in June 2002 from Blue Moon Comics.

REGCo[link]

In the 1960s, Green founded the company REGCo, an acronym for his name, Richard Eugene Green, which offered comic book artists and newspaper cartoonists ready-to-use layout art boards with borders and panels pre-drafted, delineated with non-repro blue ink. Green promoted this as a major time-saver for fellow artists, recognizing the time and tedium required for repeatedly laying out pages by hand. Although this was a practical idea, his business was only modestly successful, as many comic artists tend(ed) to be very particular about which type of art board they penciled and inked on.^{[citation needed]}

Personal life and death[link]

Green was also a musician, who as a young man appeared on Ted Mack's The Original Amateur Hour — a popular national television program that was the precursor to today's America's Got Talent and American Idol. On the Ted Mack show, Green won the talent contests with his singing, guitar-playing, and comedy performances, and, for a short time, he became a local celebrity, which offered him an opportunity to perform professionally at various clubs around the Fort Wayne area.^[3] Green died of lung cancer in Fort Wayne, Indiana,^[1] on August 5, 2002. He was survived by his wife, Janice.

Awards[link]

Green won a 1966 Alley Award for Best Fan Comic Strip for "Xal-Kor."

Critical assessments[link]

In the 1960s, Green's Harvey Kurtzman-like^[3] zany, action-packed, humorous comics parodies appeared in numerous fanzines. His "outrageous" 1970s and 1980s underground work used searing humor to expose America's racism and bigotry.^[4]

Notes[link]

References[link]

• Obituary, The Comics Journal #247 (Oct. 2002)