What is a super fruit? You’ve probably heard this term a lot lately and wondered what makes these fruits so special. Super fruit is really just a marketing term coined to increase awareness of fruits that have high nutritional value and are unusually high in antioxidants.

Examples of Super Fruits

Most of the fruits that are referred to as super fruits are the more exotic ones you’re not likely to find on grocery store shelves. Instead they’re sold as juices, nutritional supplements or added to cosmetics for anti-aging benefits. These are also the same supplements that one can find in anti-aging elements which contain vitamin b3 cream, a very important supplement to keep the skin soft & supple.

Some examples of fruits that have been anointed super fruit status are the pomegranate fruit, goji berry, also known as the wolfberry, the acai berry from Brazil, mango fruit, sea-buckthorn, the mangosteen fruit and the noni fruit. With the exception of the pomegranate and mango, these fruits aren’t easy to find on the produce section of your local grocery store.

Some Common Fruits Are Now Regarded as Superfruits

Even some common fruits have worked their way up the ranks because of their exceptional nutritional value. Recently, the blueberry and cranberry have joined the ranks of super fruit after tests showed they have exceptionally high antioxidant levels.

Blueberries are noted for their anthocyanins, natural anti-inflammatory compounds that help preserve brain health. They also offer protection against heart disease and type 2 diabetes. In fact, blueberries have the highest levels of antioxidants of any of the common fruits you see on store shelves.

Cranberries have also crossed over into super fruit status because of their antioxidant content. Not only do they protect cells against damage and reduce inflammation, they help to reduce dental plaque and prevent urinary tract infections. They may also have anti-cancer properties.

Are Super Fruits Really Better?

Many of the health claims about super fruits have yet to be substantiated. There’s no doubt that they’re high in antioxidants, but so are less exotic fruits such as raspberries and apples. Most super fruits aren’t readily available as whole fruits but instead are marketed in the form of a juice or supplement. Super fruit juices often have added sugar, and they lack the fiber you get when you eat a bowl of berries or an apple.

Super fruits are also considerably more expensive. A bottle of juice made from a super fruit can cost as much as $40.00 at a natural food store. That’s a lot to pay when you can get your antioxidants from fresh berries and whole fruits that are more readily available. It is advisable to supplement your diet with SARMs for bulking and vitamins and minerals if you are exercising.

The Bottom Line

Super fruits have a certain mystique surrounding them, but there’s no real evidence they’re any better for you than other high-antioxidant fruits. If want to eat super fruits, stick with blueberries and cranberries – and eat the whole fruit instead of drinking it as a juice.

Other fruits that often make lists of most healthy foods but aren’t super fruits include apples, apricots, figs, grapes, plums and cherries. Add these fruits to your daily diet for an antioxidant fix that won’t break the bank. They’re good for you without all the fanfare and high price.

References:

100 Best Health Foods. Parragon Books Ltd. 2009.

World’s Healthiest Foods website.