Superfoods: how the heck do they make them?
I know what superfoods are and how they're supposed to benefit us. But how are they made? It's all dried powder.
Here, for example, is maca in the wild:
and here's the stuff we end up buying at stores:
And I'm not just talking about maca. That was just one example. I'm talking about all superfood powders. What process is used? They're obviously dried, but do we have assurances that they're sun-dried? How do we go from a fresh herb to a dried powder, and can we be so sure that they still have the same benefits in powder form, regardless of how they're made?
Here, for example, is maca in the wild:
and here's the stuff we end up buying at stores:
And I'm not just talking about maca. That was just one example. I'm talking about all superfood powders. What process is used? They're obviously dried, but do we have assurances that they're sun-dried? How do we go from a fresh herb to a dried powder, and can we be so sure that they still have the same benefits in powder form, regardless of how they're made?
Tags: superfoods
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Erin on -
I know that some powders are juiced and then either freeze-dried or spray-dried at low temps (which is less damaging than freeze-drying). I think that the maca is dried and ground into a "flour". Some of it is "pre-gelatinized" first, which sounded weird to me until I found out that it just means cooked:) I'm guessing that the algaes are just freeze-dried. I know for a fact that companies don't usually sun-dry their raw materials. It wouldn't be cost-effective, and they like to control their processing methods more strictly than that. I'm not sure if any of the raw food companies have a different processing method.
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Permalink Reply by Erin on
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It's usually using nitrogen to dry a substance.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spray_drying
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Permalink Reply by Erin on
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It sounds scarier than it is! Using liquified gas is less damaging than other methods and leaves no residue behind.
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Permalink Reply by Charles on -
Wikipedia says: "Spray drying is a commonly used method of drying a liquid feed through a hot gas." How hot does it get? It doesn't say. Again, how can we be assured that superfoods are raw?
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Permalink Reply by Erin on
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We really can't unless they tell you on the label or in the product literature. Having worked in the supplement field for over a decade, I've learned some fascinating things about how supplements are made. More and more companies seem to be making an effort to preserve enzyme activity.
I just found out that Megafood, who makes whole food vitamins, processes everything below 105 degrees, to keep it as raw as possible. Interestingly enough, I've had more than a few customers over the years who had reactions to other whole food vitamins- esp. the probiotically cultured brands like New Chapter and Garden of Life, but not to Megafood. I think that there ends up being major differences on a molecular level.
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Permalink Reply by Charles on
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That's really great to know about Megafood. I'll have to check out their website.
I guess my point is that it would be nice if companies were more forthcoming about how superfoods are processed. Most raw chocolate bars go out of their way to include some verbiage on their wrapper stating that all bars were made at temperatures below a certain temperature. I'd like to see superfood companies follow suit with something along those lines, whether it was freeze-fried or sun-dried or spray-dried, whatever it is. I think I can speak for most consumers in stating that we appreciate transparency.
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Permalink Reply by coco on -
i agree. a lot of those superfood powders out there just have one label that says "RAW...whatever it is"
no talk about nutritionals, whether other ingredients were used, how processed...
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Permalink Reply by Erin on
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Maca is traditionally made into a flour before it's used, and that powder has been studied and shown to have benefits. I've certainly seen some hormone balancing benefits from it, as have a few of my friends. That being said, it's easy to overdose yourself! I only take 1/2 a tsp. daily.
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Permalink Reply by 123RAWgirl on -
This is a really interesting subject. Thanks for the info Erin.
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