The new superfood

Every day the media excitedly reports that 'scientists' (in inverted commas because we aren't told who they are, who they work for and who paid for the research) have discovered yet another superfood. These edible miracles are claimed to make us healthier, slimmer and more beautiful.

The following is just a small selection of some of the headlines which have been published in 2010 in major newspapers :

- "Cloves are new healthy super-food, scientists discover."

- "The latest anti-ageing food? Pigs' trotters."

-  "Popcorn and cereals – the new superfoods?"

- "Eggs: the new superfood"

- "Is beetroot juice the new superfood?"

- "Could rabbit stew be the new superfood?"

- "Kiwi: now classified as superfood"

- "Quinoa: the perfect superfood!"

So many 'superfoods' so little evidence that any one of these and the countless other foods that are given this accolade make a blind bit of difference to your health and well being. And yet, the promise of quick and easy health or weight-loss or skin 'rejuvenation' (whatever that means) is such that we see countless women yo-yoing between Cadbury's and acai berries, cheeseburgers and shots of wheatgrass, muffins and green tea.

Be your own guru: eat what you like, what tastes good and what satisfies your appetite. If you're overeating chocolate, cheeseburgers and muffins: find ways to stop overeating and resist the temptation to compensate by cramming even more food in. If you don't like it, it doesn't taste good and you're not hungry for it, it can't possibly be good for you.