Superfruits — whose name was coined in in the early 2000s to refer to fruits that have high antioxidant levels — have not been scientifically proved to be any better than other fruits. Antioxidants, the substances that give fruits their colors, are thought to strengthen the immune system and help prevent disease, but scientists do not know whether there is a limit to how many the body can absorb or when their benefits stop. There is no scientific definition of what constitutes a superfruit. Pomegranates, goji berries and acai berries are some of the most common fruits marketed as superfruits. Nutritionists tend to take the stance that superfruits have health benefits, but at roughly the same levels as other fruits, such as bananas or apples.
More about superfruit:
- The types of fruits marketed as superfruits grew by 67% from 2007 to 2008.
- The term "superfruit" was banned by the European Union in 2007 except when the advertising for the product has an officially authorized and approved claim of specific health benefits.
- Blueberries are thought to be the first fruit to have been referred to as a superfruit in literature, and pomegranates are considered to be the first marketed specifically as a superfruit, in 2002.