Superfoods

Food and nutrition

Published on 1 February 2020
by Isabelle Huot

The buzz around healthy food products is alive and well! Each year, certain foods such as quinoa, kale and chia take the spotlight due to their popularity. But are they really that miraculous?

 

While all of these foods have great nutritional qualities, it’s wrong to believe that eating a single product will have a significant impact on your health. A good diet is a varied diet! Take kale, the shining star in recent years.

 

Though not as popular, Brussels sprouts are higher in fibre than kale and are an excellent source of vitamins C and K. And, although kale may contain more vitamins overall, there is no need to exceed the recommended intake. And excess vitamin C will simply be excreted in the urine!

 

Nutritional value*

Brussels sprouts

Kale (curly)

Protein

2.7 g

2.6 g

Carbs

7.2 g

8 g

Fibre

3.3 g

1.9 g

Vitamin C

68 mg (114% needs)

96 mg (160% needs)

Vitamin K

142 mg (177% needs)

651 mg (815% needs)

 

*For 80 g raw kale.

 

Finally, remember that the term “superfood” is a concept created by the food industry. So as a consumer, you must be wary. Just because one of these featured foods is found in a product doesn’t mean that it’s a healthy choice.

 

Isabelle Huot
Doctor in nutrition