Are Superfoods Really Super? – A Little Story
Dr Amitava Roy
December 11, 2025
Riya scrolled through her phone one morning, watching yet another influencer blend a bowl of frothy chia pudding topped with exotic berries she could hardly pronounce.
“Superfoods you must eat for glowing skin!” the caption screamed.
Riya sighed. Again?
Everywhere she looked—fancy berries, famous nuts, fluffy avocados, quinoa flown across continents—everyone seemed obsessed with these so-called “nutritional powerhouses.” But deep down, Riya knew something felt… off.
She remembered reading that the term “superfood” has no official definition. It’s not scientific, nor regulated. It’s a clever marketing label designed to sell expensive foods by making them sound magical. Meanwhile, local staples—makai, bajra, ragi—quietly sat in the background, nourishing people for generations without the glamour.
Riya thought of her grandmother, who always spoke of “Satwik Ahar” from Ayurveda.
“Fresh, natural, simple foods keep both body and mind clean,” her dadi would often say while cooking warm ghee-laden rotis.
No imported berry, no viral trend—just wholesome, balanced meals that brought peace and clarity.
But in today’s world, Riya noticed how bloggers spun dramatic “scientific-sounding” claims, convincing people to chase new superfoods every month. One month it was goji berries. Next came moon dust mixes. Then quinoa subscriptions. A billion-dollar industry fed on people’s hopes.
What people didn’t realize, Riya thought, was that no single food can fix everything.
Fish and eggs remain richer in protein than any quinoa bowl.
Leafy greens, pulses, and humble millets offer the same (sometimes better) nutrition than fancy imports—without the heavy price tag, transport footprint, or risk of contaminants and adulteration.
Yes, foods like berries and marine fish have benefits—antioxidants, healthy fats, complex carbs—but they’re not magical. They work only as part of a diverse, balanced diet.
As Riya closed her phone and walked to the kitchen, she smiled. She picked up a handful of local grains and fresh vegetables.
Maybe the real “superfoods,” she thought, were never on Instagram.
They were already in her home—simple, authentic, and part of a tradition that never needed a marketing label. (GI specialist and health columnist, Unity Gastro & Liver Hospital, Agartala)
(Tripurainfo)
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