Cranberries (Vaccinium macrocarpon L.), the only superfruit
with a health claim (but only in France)
[follow the Wikipedia links]
Synopsis of what you'll find in this essay
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4 key nutrients/phytochemicals contained in superfruits -- combined high levels of dietary (prebiotic) fiber, vitamin C, carotenoids, phenolics
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link to the FDA website displaying health claims activity for fruits and vegetables
Superfruit is simply a marketing term used by any manufacturer wishing to give its product marketing glow. You won't find this word in any scientific report.
If used under "best possible scientific" definition, it would mean a given fruit has
1. extraordinary nutrient richness and diverse range of nutrients
2. high content of antioxidant phytochemicals (mostly pigments, so the fruit has rich color)
3. sufficient medical research evidence pointing toward eventual proof of human health benefits
4. performance in the market showing that consumer interest is high
5. appealing taste, fragrance and appearance or consumers will not be repeat buyers.
** Children's preferences are important market indicators because
there is evidence for increasing favor by children
toward fruits for snacks, click!
These definitions, however, do not help a typical shopper
while choosing products in the grocery store.
Spoon yourself some color!
Let color be your guide for putting superfruits into your diet.
The more color, the better the possible benefit.
What medical research backs up use of
superfruits as healthy for my family?
You won't find the word superfruit in medical literature or in doctor's office literature.
It's a new marketing term started around 2005 and used often in the manufacturing industry for functional foods and nutraceuticals where marketers are trying to create an edge for selling their products.
Read the Wikipedia article on superfruits, click!
Health claims information -- SSA
Progress of superfruits toward SSA and health claims
(numbers are ranks from 0 for no progress to 5 for near health claim approval)
Fruit |
Preclinical status |
Clinical trial status |
Total SSA |
Acai |
1 |
0 |
1 |
Blueberry |
3 |
0 |
2 |
Cranberry |
4 |
4 |
4 |
Red Grape |
4 |
2 |
3 |
Goji |
2 |
0 |
1 |
Mango |
3 |
0 |
2 |
Papaya |
3 |
0 |
2 |
Pomegranate |
2 |
3 |
2 |
Seaberry |
2 |
0 |
1 |
What plants have nutrient criteria
to qualify as superfruits?
Not many.
Here's a partial list based on available nutrient and antioxidant analyses and sufficient amount of published research
[follow the Wikipedia links]
mango
kiwifruit
guava (rare in most grocery stores)
papaya
seaberry (not found in grocery stores)
wolfberry (goji) (rare in most grocery stores -- dried whole fruit preferred)
red raspberries
blackberries
strawberries
Mango (Mangifera indica L.).
A great package of superfruit nutrients.
Practice the Color Code in how you shop and prepare
snacks and meals!
One author, Dr. Jim Joseph, is a USDA scientist.
Click the image to launch Amazon.com where inexpensive copies are available
Here's a list of color-rich fruits and vegetables for getting "superfruit nutrients" into your diet!
Remember -- plant foods don't have to be only fresh to obtain significant nutrient content: dried, frozen and canned products are fine!
Red: strawberries, red raspberries, goji berries, tomatoes, red bell peppers
Orange-Yellow: cape gooseberries, mangoes, oranges, sweet potatoes, squash
Blue-Purple: blueberries, Concord or black grapes, black plums and prunes, blackberries, purple cabbage
Green: green (white) grapes, kiwifruit, spinach, broccoli
From the above list, you not only get color, you get fiber!
Next in Part 3!
How regulatory agencies like the US Food and Drug Administration
have already provided clues for superfruits to be allowed health claims
on product labels.
Reading
* See the Wikipedia article on superfruits, click!
* Superfruits take center stage in the functional foods industry
