Super Fruits Are Not All that Super

Who decides which fruits deserve the title "super" anyhow?

Goji berries, acai berries, mangosteen, noni and pomegranate are all considered to be super fruits. What makes them super? Is it their age-defying-fat burning properties? Maybe its their antioxidant levels? No, its more like clever marketing. Tell the consumer that something is exotic...they'll buy it.

Common berries such as strawberries, raspberries and black berries all contain high levels of antioxidants and are rich in vitamins and nutrients. But we don't get these berries from Brazil or the Rain Forest. We grow them in our back yards. They are not exotic. Why would we want them?

Apples, oranges, tomatoes and raspberries all have the criteria to be superfruits. However, being commonly known and not being trendy, they are not considered to be super fruits. (No one told us they are super)

Comparing apples to oranges, or rather goji to raspberries - the goji berry is a good source of essential and dietary minerals, amino acids, essential vitamins, fatty acids... Raspberries are a good source of essential and dietary minerals, amino acids, essential vitamins, fatty acids... But goji berries cost more, they must be more effective.

For those who would rather drink their super fruits, several companies offer super fruit juices. The problem is that most people don't enjoy the bitter taste and consequently, sugars and other flavoring (like good tasting pear juice) are added. Therefore, you aren't even getting the super fruit in it's pure form.

According to foodnavigator.com, the superfruit of 2009 is expected to be baobab. The baobab is a large green fruit and is primarily grown in South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Mozambique and Zimbabwe.

I don't care where it grows or what color it is. I only wonder if it tastes better than the past trendy super fruits.

Speaking of taste - the acai berry - have you ever tried it? I have, so save your money. It tastes kind of like this - get an old shoe, (a very old, very worn shoe) and fill it with blueberry juice. Add to the juice, a hunk of cheese. Let it set for about a week. Remove the cheese and taste. Now if you like that sort of thing, then go ahead, spend the extra money on this 'exotic ' fruit. I'll save a dollar and eat an orange or strawberry.

The 'old' fruits may not be in style, but they taste great!