Superfood supplements - are there certain foods that offer more health benefits than other foods? by Ray Sahelian, M.D.

Fruits, berries, nuts, seeds, roots, herbs and other plant and not plant substances from various exotic places like the Amazon, and anti-aging elixirs are becoming more and more popular. But, are there certain foods that can be classified as superfoods? I think so. Although almost every vegetable, fruit, herb, legume, grain etc, in its whole state is a healthy food, certain ones seem to stand out. There is, of course, a wide range of viewpoints on this topic and different scientists and nutritionists would have their own list. Here I present some of my own favorite superfoods and will add more to the list over time.
   I do wish to emphasize that it is very important to have a variety of foods in one's diet. Even a superfood, when consumed too much at the expense of other healthy food options, may not be a good thing.

My favorite list
Not all foods have similar health benefits - some are so packed with vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, essential fatty acids and other beneficial substances that they've been deemed superfoods.

Acaí berry
Blue green algae are considered a superfood by some people.
Cocoa or cacao - the antioxidant activity of dark chocolate and cocoa powder is equivalent to or higher than that found in some other so-called "super fruit" powders or juices, including acai berry, blueberry, cranberry, and pomegranate. Cocoa or cacao beans are not beans but the seeds of the fruit of the Theobroma cacao tree. The seeds are dried and then processed to produce cocoa powder.
Colostrum is a superfood since it has many substances that have immune boosting properties.
Flaxseeds may lower the rate of prostate cancer and are a wonderful stool softener, reducing the risk for constipation. See for more information.
Ginger - I consider ginger to be one of the healthiest spices to add to one's diet on a regular basis. This spice has many healthful nutrients and compounds in it. I try to eat a little bit of ginger root every day. I even take along a piece of ginger root to a Japanese restaurant and slice a few pieces to have with my wild caught salmon teriyaki dish.
Garlic and onions
Goji berries are somewhat tart, but I have noticed improved vision after eating a palm full in the morning. Occasionally I take a goji supplement and I do notice better vision with goji pills, particularly after a few days of use.
Royal jelly is a super food with lots of nutrients, protein, fatty acids, antioxidants, and other substances that have an influence on the immune system, energy, and well being.
Salmon roe have lots of fish oils and phospholipids. The Japanese name in a sushi restaurant is Ikura. I try to have some Ikura when I visit a Japanese restaurant.
Soy sauce is derived from fermented soya beans and contains antioxidant properties about many times more effective than red wine and vitamin C.

Green foods
Nuts and seeds
Sprouts

Other foods that have health benefits
Beans and lentils
Blueberries: Hidden within the juicy, deep blue-purple flesh of this tasty fruit is cancer-fighting ellagic acid, an antioxidant that has been proven in laboratory research to slow the growth of some cancerous tumors. Blueberry extracts have also been shown to have anti-inflammatory properties and help prevent infectious bacteria from clinging to the walls of the gut, bladder and urethra.
Buckwheat
Sauerkraut (fermented cabbage) contains the beneficial ger leuconostoc and lactobacillus. Select unpasteurized sauerkraut because pasteurization (used to treat most supermarket sauerkraut) kills active, beneficial bacteria.
Wild salmon: Full of omega-3 fats, wild salmon can help reduce the risk of sudden-death heart attacks and contains lots of vitamin D and selenium for healthy hair, skin, nails and bones. Wild salmon can be eaten with little fear of mercury or excess contaminants and is more nutritionally rich than farmed salmon. Wild salmon also has a smaller environmental impact.

Emails
First, I'd like to thank you for all of this wonderful pertinent information on your website. I tell about your website to all my friends and customers...I'm a salon owner who tries to promote wellness first...great reading on superfoods. I have found that taking my superfood supplement first thing in the AM (before coffee) gives me a natural jump start, actually puts me in a better mood and I don't have to have a cup of coffee until 9am. My eye exam actually improved and don't need another set of eyeglasses...and...I have not had to use my glasses for distance anymore...pretty amazing how many nutrients we are lacking and I thought I was pretty healthy...sometimes I would rather drink my superfood (by Dr. Schultze) than to make something nutritious...is this what "soylent green" was supposed to be about?.. just kidding...have a great day and thank you again!!!

I am writing a story for a health magazine on the benefits of new superfoods including: pumpkin seeds, mangosteen, acai berries, cherry juice, pomegranate, goji berries, and green foods (spirulina, wheat grass, etc.). I found your name while I was in the process of doing research and am hoping you can speak to the health benefits of one or more of these foods.