Linseed and blueberries These are very healthy and domestic alternatives to superfoods

Many people expect great health effects if they eat so-called "superfoods" such as chia seeds or acai berries. However, most do not know that these very healthy products are mostly imported from South America and thus have a long journey behind them, which in turn damages the environment because the transport led to high CO2 emissions. But there are also alternatives in Germany that can fulfill the same effects and are even cheaper in most cases. The German Federal Agency for Agriculture and Food (BLE) drew attention to this on the portal "Ökolandbau.de". We show which domestic wonder remedies where to acquire.

Every morning I drink a green smoothie with chia seeds and açaí berries in it, you should also try it! "You may have heard this or a similar sentence in your friends in recent months. "Since I do that, I just feel fit!" And all without tablets, just by "superfood". In the meantime, cereals are hardly available without promising additives such as goji berries and amaranth, and even the small village bakery now offers chia bread. According to a survey by the British Dietetic Association, 61 percent of the participants have already bought a food only because it is a superfood. For a long time, Superfood has been on the shelf in the organic food trade. But what exactly do these fabled products promise? And are they as good as their reputation?

There are equal alternatives to the exotic superfoods, which promise the same effects. Image: baibaz - fotolia

Chia seeds and açaí berries, the miracle cures from the rainforest
Currently the most popular superfood are Chia seeds from Latin America. The small black and white miraculous seeds look very inconspicuous, but quickly swell when put in water. They form a kind of mucus, which should support digestion and make you feel full for longer. According to advertising brochures, they contain ten times more omega-3 fatty acids than salmon, four times the amount of iron from spinach, and fifteen times more magnesium than broccoli. It is unclear, however, with such information, what quantities of chia seeds must be consumed in order to take the promised substances in the recommended amounts. Health experts advise not to exceed a maximum of 15 grams per day.

Barely appreciated are Açaí berries from the Amazon that promise slimming and eternal youth. They contain a lot of calcium and also many vitamins. The fruits of the cabbage palm are very rich in anthocyanins, a dark red plant dye. This has an antioxidant, so as radical scavengers, and thus has quite health-promoting properties.

Too much promised?
However, there is also criticism of the ingredients of super seeds and miracle berries. Nutritionists recently warned against consuming large amounts of antioxidants. This may therefore lead to an interaction with drugs or to a reduced intake of vitamins.

Another point of criticism is the often very long transport routes over which the coveted products reach our supermarkets. Pollution pollution from local agriculture is often difficult to control. At this point, it makes sense to opt for certified organic products. They are in any case produced without the use of chemical pesticides and fertilizers. The Fairtrade Seal is also a guarantee of more sustainability for products from distant countries. Local farmers get minimum prices for their goods and other social services.

Local Superfoods
Agriculture in Germany and Europe also has many local "superfoods" to offer. Flax seeds are a real alternative to chia seeds because they have similar "slime-forming" properties. They taste broken in cereal and as a nutty ingredient in bread. Their omega-3 content can be seen well next to Chia, the fiber contained saturate and also accelerate digestion.

Other regional heroines are blueberries, elderberries and blackcurrant. In contrast to so-called superfood berries such as Goji and Açaí, they do not have to be flown in dried, you can freshly into the yogurt or pure nibble. Also in terms of vitamins, they are the superfood berries after. Another advantage of local fruits: they do not have to be sweetened additionally with a lot of sugar in order to make them suitable for consumption. This is routine with the açaí berry and also with the very popular cranberry, because the fruits are just too sour.

Certainly, the trendy superfood products have many good properties that are also proven. Still, the native fields and fields provide all the vitamins we need, often at a much cheaper price. It is therefore worthwhile in many ways to look for fresh, seasonal and organically grown fruits and vegetables in the market. And anyway, it has long been known: self-harvested "superfood" tastes best! (Sb, pm)