Superfoods and food supplements, what are the differences?

• For a full contribution, one or more nutrients present in a 100% natural food

• For the taste pleasure, adding it to everyday recipes

• For supplement a deficiency or specific need in one or more well-defined nutrients

• For their galenic formulation and doses usable in cures

Superfoods are natural products particularly rich in nutrients and considered beneficial for health and well-being. This term does not result from any legal definition, but was initially used to designate foods rich in nutrients and minerals, thus making it possible to cover a large number of the body's needs. However, to highlight the nutritional and health benefits of superfoods, allegations can be attributed to them. Nutritional and health claims are highly regulated, they must be recognized by theEFSA (European Food Safety Authority) and the European Commission to be validated and the product must prove the suggested virtues due to its composition.

Since 2002, food supplements have been governed by strict regulations at the European level and since 2006 in France. They are defined as follows: “foodstuffs whose purpose is to supplement a normal diet and which constitute a concentrated source of nutrients or other substances having a nutritional or physiological effect alone or combined, marketed in the form of doses. ». This is a purely regulatory definition of food supplements. To put it briefly, food supplements allow, as their name suggests, to supplement our diet in the event that it does not provide the nutrients necessary for the proper functioning of the body. This may, for example, be the case for certain dietary behaviors such as a vegan diet completely devoid of vitamin B12 present in foodstuffs of animal origin.

Several organizations are linked to the development of food supplements. There DGCCRF (Directorate General for Competition, Consumption and Fraud Prevention) participates in the declaration of the marketing of food supplements. Other organizations can take over, notably theHandles (National Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health Safety) which is responsible for ensuring nutrivigilance, that is to say health monitoring in order to improve consumer safety. THE Synadiet, the national food supplement union, was also created to bring together players in the sector and support them on a daily basis in their efforts.

They are mainly consumed for satisfy our taste desires, while covering the needs of the organization in various and varied nutrients, often more than fifteen different nutrients. Depending on the composition of superfoods, they can therefore meet several nutritional needs. For example, Chia seeds are both rich in omega 3, protectors of the cardiovascular system, in fibers beneficial for intestinal health, weight loss and blood sugar regulation, but also in proteins, vitamins and minerals. bringing energy, vitality, tone and well-being.

Food supplements are products that are taken at a defined dosage to benefit from certain effects on health, well-being or slimming. They mainly help to fill deficiencies or to prevent certain deficiencies in the body. However, food supplements do not exert any therapeutic action, but only nutritional action and therefore a physiological action. They are therefore not intended to treat an illness and they do not replace a medication. On the other hand, the food supplement may have health claims or nutritional claims on its packaging, in the same way as foodstuffs such as superfoods or your jar of fromage blanc for example. This corresponds to messages suggesting the particular properties of the product. Food supplements can be prescribed by a doctor, but are most often subject to self-medication, which is why care must be taken when using them.

Superfoods are foods under their natural shapes or slightly transformed, we find:

• Fresh or dried fruits and vegetables
• Plant or root powders
• Seeds
• Bee products
• Juice, syrup or plant sap

We can therefore enjoy all the benefits of superfoods without being reduced to a single dosage form. The advantage of superfoods is that they can be eaten at any time, alone or as part of a recipe. Be careful, this does not mean that they should be abused, they must be incorporated into a varied, balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle.

Food supplements are marketed in the form of doses which come in several dosage forms depending on the nature of the supplement, the ingredients it contains, its use and the preferences of the consumer. There are generally 4 galenic forms:

• Tablets, capsules or capsules
• Bottles and syrups
• Powder
• Bulb

The advantage of food supplements is that the necessary quantity of a substance is directly present in the capsule for example. You just need to respect the number of doses per day to supplement the deficiencies or provide the desired effects. These galenics also avoid the sometimes unpleasant taste of certain products and therefore once again facilitate the consumption of active substances for the consumer.

Superfoods may have the same components as certain food supplements, with the difference that these components are naturally present in the food and do not result from a formulated mixture. The components are therefore “dosed” in a natural way, and it is this particularity that makes superfoods exceptional. Indeed, their composition depends on many factors and in particular on their region of origin, certain plants must face harsh climatic conditions and thus develop numerous nutrients in order to protect themselves. It is thanks to this that we can then benefit from all the benefits of these plants!

Food supplements are mainly made up of ingredients having a nutritional or physiological effect. They can be made up of different components such as vitamins, minerals and trace elements, fatty acids, amino acids and proteins, plants and mushrooms, prebiotics and probiotics, enzymes or excipients. There exists a exhaustive list which lists the components authorized in food supplements by French and European legislation. They generally consist ofone or more nutrients from the list above and often excipients such as preservatives, colorings, flavorings, or even anti-caking agents. Food supplements are dosed according to a strict dosage based on daily reference intakes. To put it simply, a simple small capsule taken over the long term is sufficiently dosed to cover certain daily intakes.

Good to know : although food supplements and superfoods are two different products, it is important to emphasize that a food supplement can be composed of one or more superfoods.

Although superfoods and dietary supplements are two different products, it is nevertheless important to be careful when consuming them.

Indeed, there are several risks linked to the consumption of food supplements, for example misuse which can lead to toxic effects due to overdose or overconsumption. These risks can also apply to superfoods if the precautions for use are not respected. Interactions can also occur with other plants or medications. It is therefore important before taking any food supplements or superfoods to look at the contraindications or if in doubt, do not hesitate to seek medical advice.