The superfood marketing scam nobody talks about

Good morning Healthy Mail family!

$45 for a bag of açaí powder. $38 for "ancient" quinoa that's supposedly better than regular quinoa. $52 for spirulina that promises to "transform your health."

Sound familiar?

I've been watching the superfood industry for years, and I need to call out something that's been bothering me: We're being sold expensive solutions to problems that don't exist.

Here's what the superfood industry doesn't want you to know:

"Superfood" isn't a scientific term. It's pure marketing. The FDA doesn't regulate who gets to call their product a superfood. Anyone can slap that label on anything.

Most "exotic" superfoods aren't better than regular foods. Goji berries aren't magically superior to blueberries. Expensive hemp hearts aren't dramatically better than regular sunflower seeds.

The "ancient wisdom" angle is mostly nonsense. Just because people ate something 1000 years ago doesn't make it healthier. They also died at 35 from preventable diseases.

What really gets me? These companies prey on people who genuinely want to be healthier but feel overwhelmed by conflicting nutrition advice.

The truth nobody's telling you:

The healthiest populations in the world eat simple, local foods. Mediterranean diets built around olive oil, fish, and vegetables. Japanese diets centered on rice, fish, and seasonal produce. Blue Zone communities eating beans, greens, and whole grains.

None of them are spending $50 on superfood powders.

Here's what I've learned from talking to nutrition researchers:

• Blueberries are just as antioxidant-rich as goji berries (and cost 1/4 the price)

• Regular spinach has the same nutrients as expensive "baby spinach"

• Frozen vegetables often have more nutrients than fresh "superfoods" that traveled across the world

• Beans and lentils are nutritional powerhouses that cost pennies per serving

The real scam? Making people think they need expensive, exotic ingredients to be healthy.

What actually works:

• Eating a variety of regular fruits and vegetables

• Getting enough protein from affordable sources

• Staying hydrated with plain water

• Moving your body regularly

• Getting enough sleep

Boring? Maybe. Effective? Absolutely.

I'm not saying all superfoods are bad. If you love açaí bowls and can afford them, go for it. But don't let anyone convince you that you're "doing health wrong" because you can't afford $30 powders.

Real nutrition is accessible. It's found in regular grocery stores, not specialty health food shops that require a second mortgage.

The recipes in my collections use ingredients you can find anywhere - regular spinach, regular berries, regular nuts and seeds. Because good nutrition shouldn't require a trust fund.

Get the Complete Collection - $19.99 instead of $89.99 - Save $70!

Every recipe uses affordable, accessible ingredients that you can pronounce and find at any grocery store. No exotic powders required.

What's the most expensive "superfood" you've ever bought? Was it worth it? Hit reply and tell me - I love hearing these stories!

Here's to real food that doesn't break the bank! Sarah

P.S. - My favorite "superfood"? Eggs. Cheap, complete protein, available everywhere, and they've been nourishing humans for thousands of years. Sometimes the best solutions are hiding in plain sight.