The new term "Superfood" appeared around 2004, which refers to foods that are good for health and rich in nutrients. However, many people don't realize that there is no official definition of "Superfood", it's just a market prediction of food trends, so there is no fixed version of it, and each prediction may be different.

Some people even think it's just a marketing tactic, and that the price of each food item labeled as a "superfood" will increase several times over, and that the term "superfood" has brought more than a billion dollars of business to the global food industry since 2007. In 2007, the European Union banned the use of the term "superfood" in the marketing of food products, unless the manufacturer can provide accurate medical claims and reliable scientific research evidence.

With the rise of health and environmental awareness, the dietary trends for 2018 will be in the direction of: veggies, plant-based proteins, sprouted seeds, purple and black, foods from ancient civilizations, transparency and traceability...etc., so the superfoods of 2018 are predicted to be as follows.

1. Kelp Kelp

Kelp has been known to be a superfood since 2017, and the benefits of this 'nutritious sea vegetable' will continue even further into 2018~2019. Kelp and seaweeds are rich in dietary fiber, alginate, polysaccharides, iodine, calcium, magnesium, potassium, beta-carotene, vitamin B12...and other nutrients. Eating more kelp can help boost immunity, lower blood sugar, lower blood lipids, promote bowel movements, and maintain normal thyroid function.

Note: It is not recommended for patients with hyperthyroidism and kidney disease, and patients with high blood pressure should avoid eating large amounts of kelp due to its high sodium content.

2. Mushrooms

Shiitake mushrooms, enoki mushrooms, amaranthus mushrooms, fungus mushrooms, mushrooms, mushrooms... Mushrooms have been on the list of superfoods for quite some time, and new varieties of them are being developed all the time.

Mushrooms are rich in dietary fiber, polysaccharides, vitamin B complex, and a variety of minerals, and dried shiitake mushrooms even contain vitamin D. Eating more mushrooms can help boost immunity, regulate immune function, promote defecation, lower blood pressure, and lower blood lipids. For those who are prone to allergies or colds at the change of seasons, and for those who want to prevent cardiovascular diseases, it would be a good idea to put more mushrooms on your family's dinner table! And don't be surprised to see mushroom coffee or mushroom desserts in restaurants some day.

Note: Mushrooms have a high content of glucocorticoids, which is not recommended for people with gout.

3. Purple yams and berriesPurple and Black

Deep purple and black have been trending for two years now, becoming a healthy staple in major restaurants in 2017, and 2018 is certainly no exception. In addition to fruits and veggies like eggplant, purple kohlrabi, purple onions, purple corn, purple carrots, purple cauliflower..., healthy carb foods like purple groundnuts and purple yams have been a popular focus.

Of course, there are also many varieties of blue-purple or black berries that have been promoted, such as blueberries, acai berries, mackerel berries, and so on. The purple and black foods are rich in anthocyanins, which help to prevent cardiovascular disease and inhibit the breakdown of collagen, so they are also helpful for beauty and anti-aging, and are essential for modern 3C people to protect their eyes.

4. Moringa

Spirulina, green tea powder, matcha tea was once popular for many years, and now is about to be Moringa steal the limelight. Originating in India and and Africa, Moringa is a perennial tropical deciduous tree that is also grown in China. Moringa whole plant can be eaten, moringa leaves are rich in vitamins A, C, E, B group and minerals calcium, magnesium, zinc, young leaves can be eaten as a vegetable, the older leaves can be dried and ground powder can be added to drinks or cuisine, the flavor is similar to matcha powder. Moringa seeds are rich in protein and monounsaturated fatty acids, and can be extracted from the oil, the ratio of fatty acids is similar to olive oil, which helps to reduce blood cholesterol.

Donna is no stranger to moringa, my grandmother used to make her own moringa tea bags, and I used to visit the Chinese king of moringa with my teachers at the Institute, and when we were talking about the subject of moringa in the seminar, we didn't even know it (I remember the report was that moringa can lower blood sugar), and I didn't realize that more than a decade later it had become a superfood.

Note: Moringa contains plant alkaloids, more than 70 years old, cardiovascular disease, liver and kidney dysfunction, allergy-prone people, please consult a doctor and then discretionary consumption, to avoid poisoning. Pregnant women should avoid Moringa flowers and Moringa bark.

The future will replace buckwheat flour and coconut flour. Tapioca is one of the main carbohydrate food sources in Bali and Southeast Asian countries, and it is also used to make sago soup in Western countries, while it was also common in China in the early days. Tapioca can be directly steamed and eaten, and it can also be washed out of the starch to make it into a thickening, thickening the use of the starch, but later, because of the prevalence of chemical starch, the natural tapioca almost disappeared from the market. In response to the promotion of various healthy diets, the ancient flavor of tapioca is about to make a comeback, and it is gluten-free, so it can be used in place of wheat flour to make gluten-free and whole-vegetable dishes.

6. Watermelon Seeds

Pumpkin seeds, flaxseeds, and chia seeds were popular in the last few years, and watermelon seeds are about to become popular. Watermelon seeds are rich in protein and make up about 1/3 of the total weight of the seed, which is 1.6 to 1.8 times more than nuts like sunflower seeds and almonds.

Also watermelon seeds contain vitamin B complex and monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids. But it's not easy to get the nutritional benefits of watermelon seeds - they have to be sprouted, hulled and dried, and watermelon seed butter is already available.

Donna's nutritionist advice

Even though some superfoods seem to be very nutritious, Donna would like to remind everyone that superfoods are not a substitute for a healthy and balanced diet, so it is important to remember to eat a well-balanced diet when consuming superfoods. And real health also includes good eating habits, living habits, regular exercise, physical and mental stress relief ... and other aspects, not just eat a single food can achieve health, so do not excessive myths about a certain kind of food.