Mesonutrients, the Super in Superfoods

Superfoods are nutrient-dense foods that come straight from the earth and the sea. These powerhouse foods are chalked full of vitamins and minerals. Superfoods have also been linked to metabolism regulation, healthy weight management, reduced inflammation, improved brain function, softened signs of aging, and an increase in energy, immunity, and overall wellness. 

While the awareness and availability of superfoods is nothing new, what is likely to trend in 2019 in relation to superfoods is the rise of mesonutrients. Mesonutrients are the nutrients that are found in the superfoods that make them so super. 

While we should all be eating more plant-based foods and more nutrient-dense foods, in order to obtain the full range of benefits that are often listed next to foods like turmeric, green tea, pomegranates, and tomatoes, you would actually have to consume an inordinate amount every day.

For example, most studies that have been conducted proving the benefits of curcumin, the mesonutrient found in turmeric have been on study subjects who are taking 400 mg of curcumin a day. In order to get 400 mg of curcumin by ingesting turmeric root, you would need to consume 220 pounds of turmeric or 22 pounds of dried turmeric powder. This is completely impossible and unobtainable. 

This is not to say, however, that there aren’t amazing benefits that come from consuming less than 400 mg of curcumin on a daily basis. It is just that a lot of the data highlighting turmeric’s super strength as a superfood comes from studies where subjects were just taking the curcumin and not the entire root. 

This is the same with the mesonutrients anthocyanins, lycopene, saffronal, and epigallocatechin gallate. Eating the whole food has many benefits that go beyond the key mesonutrient found within each of them, so this is not a call to stop eating the whole food. The trend that we will see in 2019 though is, a rise in the direct access to these powerful mesonutrients. This could be through powdered or capsule concentrates. 

While curative medicine is still the front runner methodology in Western medicine, preventative medicine in the form of diet and nutrition is really starting to make some bigger waves in the wellness world.  Access to mesonutrients could end up playing a key role in preventing many of the diseases that are commonly faced in our modern world.