Are superfoods always safe?
Are superfoods always safe?
In the first video of the final week, we discuss some reasons why this might not always be the case. Some superfoods, like kombucha, might be particularly susceptible to contaminations, and have been linked to toxicity in a few cases. Others, like spirulina, were found to be contaminated with specific bacterial toxins, but most manufacturers now explicitly test their product to avoid this problem.
In more general cases, food can have interactions with medicines – for instance, because of their high vitamin K content. This is the case of kale or other green leafed vegetables. Omega-3s can also interact with medicines.
However, generally speaking, superfoods are not dangerous, especially when included in a varied diet. The chances of “overdosing” on them and ingesting an excessive amount of vitamins or other micronutrients is very unlikely.
Lastly: can superfoods be harmful due to their content of bioactive compounds? We will discuss this topic in the next steps of this week.
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