Healthy Diet Superfoods like Chia seeds bring millions in sales

Record sales for superfood: consumers love Chia seeds and co
For many health-conscious people, exotic berries such as goji or chia seeds are very popular. Such "Superfood" should make slim and beautiful, have a rejuvenating effect and sometimes even help against diseases. The sale of such foods has now reached new record levels.

Record sales for superfood industry
Foods advertised as "superfoods" such as goji, acai berries or chia seeds are said to improve health. Some of the exotic berries are said to have not only a rejuvenating effect, but could even help against diseases like diabetes or cancer. The trend towards such foods has proved record sales for the "superfood" industry, reports the magazine "Wirtschaftswoche".

According to a new study, sales of so-called "superfoods" reached new record sales last year. Chia seeds are particularly popular with consumers. (Image: Diana Taliun / fotolia.com)

Effects on human health
Chia seeds are considered a natural remedy. Goji berries are said to have an immense effect on human health.

They contain a lot of iron, calcium, magnesium and vitamins A, C and E over other fruits and have been used in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) for millennia.

Among other things, for the treatment of high blood pressure, high blood sugar, to strengthen the immune system, or eye problems.

Their alleged rejuvenation effect is according to experts scientifically but not proven. Even with chia seeds, according to some experts, it is not clear what the superfood can do. These are not healthier than similar products such as flaxseed.

Unbroken trend to superfood
Nutritionists have pointed out in the past that local vegetables are as good as exotic superfoods.

In addition, the consumer magazine "Öko-Test" found in an investigation that almost all such products contain harmful substances.

Nevertheless, the trend towards superfood continues.

Chia seeds are the most popular
As the "Wirtschaftswoche" reports, chia seeds, goji berries and Co. were sold in Germany in 2016 for a total of 42.6 million euros. This emerges from a study by the market researcher Nielsen, which is available to the magazine.

Two years earlier, sales were still at 1.5 million euros. According to Nielsen expert Anne-Kathrin Haubert, the increasing interest of many consumers in healthy nutrition and a massive expansion of retail offerings are responsible for the increase.

Last year, many drugstores and discounters would have included the Trend products as own brands in their assortment. According to the study, especially chia seeds are popular.

"Overall, chia seeds make up about 63 percent of Superfood's share of sales," explained Haubert. Then come dry fruits like Goji or Aronia berries as well as dietary supplements like Spirulina, Moringa or Wheatgrass.

According to "Wirtschaftswoche", superfood eaters spent an average of around 21 euros per year on trendy foods. (Ad)