A new book released this month is challenging the way we consumers view the "superfruits" that are on the market today and exposes the realities behind making a superfruit "brand". Those fruits which are held up to be more nutritionally valuable than others, such as acai berries, blueberries and pomegranates are actually just marketed in very effective ways, according to Karl Crawford and Julian Mellentin, authors of Successful Superfruit Strategy - How to build a superfruit business.

Rather than relying on the fruits' overwhelming nutritional benefits, superfruit manufacturers are using the right combination of health, science and marketing – giving them exponential growth within a dwindling fruit market.

Superfruit market beats all the rest
While the sales of seasonal fruit such as apples and pears are actually falling, the superfruit market is experiencing growth of..

When it comes to Italian food, not many would doubt that it's one of the world's favourite cuisines. That may be the case, however Italys' residents are having to forgo their pasta dishes and fresh fruit and vegetables in the wake of the food crisis and spiralling prices of staple ingredients.

Pasta too Expensive
With wheat prices rising 130% since March 2007, the average Italians' shopping basket is looking quite different, as sales of pasta have dropped by 2.6% in the last 12 months. The Italian Farmers' Confederation (CIA) reported that basic, low-cost protein sales such as..

Antioxidants have been touted as good for everything from skin quality to heart disease, and now research has found that fruits high in antioxidants can reduce the prevalence of atherosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries.

Apples / Grapes reducing Cholesterol
A study conducted by the University of Montpellier and Victor Ségalen University in Bordeaux linked the consumption of apples and purple grapes with a decrease in measures of atherosclerosis and cholesterol levels in..

Big business appears to be around the corner for those farmers selling raw milk as the organic foodie brigade is craving it by the golden gallon. The popularity of "raw" or unpasteurised milk is on the up, despite governments warning of the potential health risks of being exposed to salmonella and other potentially harmful bacteria.

Vitamins in Milk
The biggest argument for drinking raw milk is that it is higher in vitamins and healthy bacteria. Also, crucially, it still contains all of milk's natural enzymes - the element that makes it digestible for humans. However, the argument that it is dangerous for our..

As if there wasn't enough evidence to suggest that it's healthy to eat lots of fruit and veg, there's another argument to tip the balance further. It has been found that an increased intake of dietary fibre can dramatically reduce the risk of obesity and can also aid with weight loss.

Soluble Fibre
Fibre comes in two forms, soluble and insoluble. Soluble fibre is found in varying quantities in all plant foods, including vegetables such as broccoli and carrots, fruit and fruit juices, legumes, oats, rye and barley. Insoluble fibre is found..

Sun exposure can be extremely harmful for our skin and can also increase the signs of ageing by giving us more lines and wrinkles. As well as putting on sunscreen, we can also change our diet to include tomato-based products as it has been found that tomato paste, of the cooked variety, can act as sun protection.

The tomato experiment
Research conducted at the University of Manchester, UK, aimed to investigate the effects of tomato paste in protecting human skin from the sun and premature ageing. 10 volunteers were given 5 tablespoons (55g) of tomato..

Maybe the world seems a bit upside down already, but when it's discovered that diet coke makes you put on weight, we seriously need a reality check. It has been found by researchers at Purdue University in Indiana, USA, that artificial sweeteners can actually cause the body to gain weight rather than aid it to lose weight.

Researchers Susan Swithers and Terry Davidson fed 27 rats with either real glucose or saccharin to monitor any changes in weight.

Their findings reveal that the super-sweet taste of..

Whilst researching for our Irish Food series we came across some interesting new information on Food Intolerance and the potato.

A Euromintor study rates The US, Italy and the Uk as the three largest markets for gluten free products, citing the fact that sales of lactose free foods have increased by 29% since 2002. This is creating a niche new market that food manufacturers are eager to service.

Fatigue and Migraines
Food Intolerance can lead to fatigue and can exhibit symptoms of migraines, eczema, and irritable bowel syndrome. Sufferers will normally follow a gluten, lactose or wheat free diet to overcome..

Potatoes, oats and dairy products have been the traditional staple diet in Ireland. Soups using seafood, and meat also are very popular. Irish soups are made to be thick, and filling; perfect with a fresh Irish soda bread, recipes below...

A relaxing cup of green tea is perhaps not the first thing that you would reach for after a hard workout, however a new study conducted in Brazil suggests that it's one of the best things to drink post-gym, due to its high antioxidant qualities.

Weight Training
During weight training, our cells come under "oxidative stress" as they get attacked by free-radicals, or excess oxygen, released by our muscle tissue.

Finding an alternative source of protein to our adored rump steaks and salmon fillets may be difficult in the wake of a food shortage crisis. Or will it?

Mini Livestock
"Mini-livestock"- meaning grubs and insects - are growing in popularity as a valuable new source of protein and minerals that could one day replace meat and fish at our dining tables.

Amazingly, Muffins, Puddings and breakfast Cereals all contain high salt content, and 97% of people interviewed did not understand this fact and the hidden risk to their childrens health. Over 80 per cent of our salt intake comes from processed foods in Europe and the USA according to CASH (Consensus Action on Salt and Health). Intuitively no-one expects salt to be included in sweet products but sadly this is widely practised. CASH ran a survey on the parenting website..

In 1983 it was revealed that leaded petrol could seriously stunt children's growth and intelligence, and thankfully it was phased out by the year 2000. Now there is a new nemesis for our children's health which may be just as lethal, and those are E-numbers. Since research conducted in the 1970's highlighted a link between artificial food colourings and behavioural problems in..

More than 4% of Europeans, 19 million to be exact, suffer from diabetes. A new study suggests that if they had been encouraged to eat more beans and peanuts there is a 40% chance they would not have been at risk. In Europe alone the figure is predicted to rise to 26 million..

If you go to any restaurant in Europe it's likely that you'll be asked to choose from still or sparkling water. So why are we not given the choice of bottled or tap? The bottled water industry has attracted growing criticism in recent years over its detrimental impact on the environment, so why have we stopped using our clean, safe tap water in favour of the stuff in plastic bottles?

Sleeping is one of the vital components of getting the most out of our day, and maintaining a regular sleep pattern is just as important as maintaining a healthy and energising diet. Below are the key tips for those who want to get the most out of those precious 8 hours. BANANAS & MILK : Warm milk is an excellent source of tryptophan, an amino acid that has a relaxing effect on the brain, and bananas are great sources of magnesium which is a muscle relaxant so have a little snack around half an hour before going to bed. However, be aware of your own digestion patterns and don't eat a whole banana if you feel it will sit in your stomach and cause discomfort during the night..

After a hard day at the office, the one word that should be on your mind is relaxation and everything you do should be towards the goal of relaxing! This is not only to benefit our bodies and relax our muscles, but to give our brains and our energy levels the best chance of waking up energized and raring-to-go the next day. If you always think in advance of the effects of what you're eating, you can't go wrong. Be aware that what you eat at dinner time has a direct effect on your sleep, so try and choose foods that naturally relax the body and mind. Tryptophan is an amino acid that our bodies cannot make, but the brain needs it in order to make serotonin – a neurotransmitter that has a calming effect on the brain..

Lunch is the time when many people will either stock up on heavy carbs such as potatoes or pasta because their energy has been flagging all morning, or when people simply skip lunch altogether because there is no time to fit it in between meetings. Either way, the body isn't receiving the treatment it needs and in order to properly refuel, lunch has to be manoeuvred with extreme care. Eating things that can boost your brain functioning and mental agility is a great idea at midday, as this will aid in combatting any afternoon energy slump and keep you revived til closing time..

The mid-morning and mid-afternoon "limbo" times are when people at work are susceptible to inevitable slumps. Inevitable, that is, unless you eat properly and sustainably! Mid-Afternoon is a time when most of us feel at our lowest because after eating lunch we feel tired from digestion and home time is just within reach, but not quite! Below are a few pointers to help you avoid the morning and afternoon energy crash. STAY HYDRATED: A key to staying alert and on form is to increase your fluid intake. However, by fluid we mean water - not soft drinks, tea or coffee as these have a dehydrating effect on the body, making that sluggish feeling even worse. The daily recommended amount of water varies, but it is generally accepted that 2 litres per day is a good amount to maintain healthy body and brain functioning. Indeed, the brain is comprised of 75% water, so when you're dehydrated, your brain will start giving warning signals, such as dizziness, tiredness and lack of concentration. By this time it is too late and you are already dehydrated, so try not to wait until you're thirsty..

Many of us are acutely aware of the minefield that is the working day, and how difficult it can be at times to eat healthily and consciously so as to stay alert and perform at our best at work. How can we possibly give ourselves the best chance of climbing the corporate ladder if we're lacking in energy? Well, it has been found by the International Labour Office in Geneva that many company bosses have got to where they are because they ate their way to the top - health consciously. Breakfast literally means "breaking the fast" where we eat for the first time after 6 to 10 hours of fasting, and it is one meal where we can really make a difference and give ourselves a positive energy boost for the entire day. To this end it is so important that this vital meal is not..

Raw foodies beware! New research coming out of Italy claims that cooked vegetables can actually be good for you and in some cases, nutritionally better, than eating them raw. It is a common misconception that cooking vegetables can destroy their nutritional qualities and this new study set out to disprove this theory. Nicoletta Pellegrini and her colleagues at the University of Parma tested the effects of boiling, steaming and frying on three types of vegetable – broccoli, carrots and courgette – to see if their antioxidant and other qualities were reduced. They found that after boiling and steaming, all three vegetables maintained their original antioxidant content, but frying caused a significant loss in antioxidants. Meanwhile, steaming the broccoli actually increased..

It appears that more and more Europeans are putting "healthy chocolate" high on their shopping list- or at least their shopping lists- but can there be such a thing? According to data collated by the Zurich-based chocolate company Barry Callebaut, 27% of people in Belgium, Switzerland, France, Germany and the UK buy some sort of "functional" chocolate each month- meaning chocolate that claims to contain a health benefit of some sort. The market research company Euromonitor reports that the market for "functional foods" has grown by an average of 15% each year over the past four years, and over a quarter of us want the "bad" food we eat to be good for us in some way. Types of so-called "healthy chocolate" include those which are pumped full of..

e market in organic produce is now, officially, huge. The organic industry in Europe is currently worth 66m euros and is expected to grow by 10 to 50 % in the coming years. So why is there doubt about it's true quality? To date, no substantial or rigorous evidence has been supplied to prove that organic produce is nutritionally more..

Fisherman all over the world have until now relied on a stock of a particular type of fishmeal used to to feed farmed fish such as salmon and trout. However this resource is proving to be finite and fishermen are currently racing to catch the remaining wild-caught marine food, an example of which is anchovy. To stay on top form salmon need to ingest..

It is perhaps slightly unlike the French to conduct a study into the benefits of tea, as they often pride themselves on their fantastic coffee making skills. However at INSERM, France's national institute for medical research, a research program was set up to study the effects of tea on the build up of plaque in the arteries of older men and women, with interesting..

Beetroot is a healthy, low-cost and delicious vegetable as is well known, but now it may be better for our health than we originally thought. Studies published on the online journal Hypertension claim that drinking 500ml of beetroot juice daily can significantly reduce blood pressure, rendering it extremely beneficial for maintaining a healthy cardiovascular system..

Porridge oats again hit the headlines this month, this time for the enduring quality of reducing cholesterol and blood pressure. Since 50% of Europeans die every year from cardio vascular diseases, this is a timely reminder of this simple foods' health benefits. The authors of the review conclude that "given the numerous positive evidence-based reviews of oats and cholesterol reduction, the consumption of oats..

Not so long ago porridge was viewed as a healthy but boring start to the day and was associated with the sort of watery gruel fed to prisoners or the sick. Now it has been decided by a huge growth in sales, that porridge is now not only excellent for your health, but also very fashionable. In Europe, oat sales grew by 81% between 2000 and 2005 and in the UK alone 47 million gallons of porridge..

In relation to health, salt is one of the parts of the western diet that we are constantly instructed to cut down on and avoid at all costs. Pre-packaged food contains too much of it and we are warned that high levels of salt in the diet are directly linked to heart disease and dangerous cholesterol levels. However, a little known fact is that salt can actually be exceptionally..

Scientists in the US have now created carrots enriched with calcium to help consumers more easily consume their recommended daily dose of calcium without having to gulp down litres of dairy products that are often high in fat. For years now there has been much debate on the ethics and the need for what are known to some as "Frankenstein foods"- foods that have been genetically modified. One could argue that in many cases of the genetic modification of crops or..

Calorie control has always been something associated with weight-loss obsession and the only people thought to want to count calories are dieters hell-bent on the latest fad. However, research into the world of calorie restriction (CR) has produced evidence that a diet restricted to 1800 calories per day can increase our life span..

Eating the typical Mediterranean diet of fish, olive oil, cereals, wine, fruits, nuts, and legumes is now credited with reducing hay fever by 66% and a 39% reduction in asthma symptoms. The research which was conducted by the Unversity of Crete with assistance from Royal Brompton Hospital, London, and the Centre for Epidemiology in Barcelona, looked at children living in Crete..

Christmas is the make or break time for chocolate manufacturers, none more so than Switzerland based Lindt who report a big increase in sales this year. Dark chocolate is doing particularly well in an overall up trend in 2007. Another famous manufacturer is Teuscher of Zurich who specialise in top end gift type chocolates such as Champagne Truffles, Marrons Glacés and the delightful cherry..

Over 80 per cent of our salt intake comes from eating processed foods. But if we could reduce our intake by only 15% through some simple dietary changes, then many lives could be saved according to research published in the Lancet. Many experts now believe that eating too much salt increases blood pressure leading to cardiovascular problems responsible for almost 50 per cent of deaths in Europe..

Should garlic be classified as a medicine ? That simple question apparently could not be answered without the full weight of the European Court of Justice, who ruled on 15th November. The garlic case was heard because Germany had previously announced that garlic should be called a medicinal product and therefore, under that classification, they would be able to refuse any imports of the product from..

Three new studies lend convincing support to the Omega 3 bandwagon. All claim that eating Omega 3 rich fish can improve your brain functions. Whilst much past research has focussed on the heart health benefits, the emerging consensus is that this particular fatty acid is also good for the thought processes..

ke sure you eat only well ripened fruit if you want the full antioxidant effect. Antioxidants become unlocked the more the fruit ripens, and more stilll as the fruit eventually turns towards going bad, claim researchers at the Uni of Innsbruck in Austria. Looking closely at Pear and Apple fruits, the research team found that as the skin changed colour during the ripening process as they underwent a decomposition similar to..

Hyperactivity in children is still being aggravated by mixtures of artificial colours and sodium benzoate found in many snacks and childrens foods. Richard Watts, of the Children's Food Campaign, said: "Parents have said for some time that this is what is happening to their children, but it is disappointing that it has taken so long for an official body to recognise that"..

“Our message to parents is whenever possible, eat family meals and try to keep television viewing to a minimum.." says a concerned Ph.D, Dianne Sztainer. Dianne heads the Project EAT study which discovered that watching TV has a bad influence on your diet. She believes that the advertisements being watched are directly influencing children..

Research shows that eating garlic regularly can reduce blood pressure and allow the blood to carry more oxygen to vital organs says Dr Kraus of University of Alabama. "Certainly in areas where garlic consumption is high, such as the Mediterranean and the Far East, there is a low incidence of cardiovascular disease..

Nirvana for Switzerlands' Nestle Research centre would be to find out the reason why some people crave chocolate and why some do not. Their recent study which showed a link between what bacteria type we have in our stomach, and the chocolate we crave has got everyone excited. Mr S. Kochar writing the study found that 'glycine', an amino acid, was more prevalent in chocolate eaters, but taurine was higher in those who claim not to eat chocolate..

Finland alone is claiming 269 foods as healthy under new EU regulations which has seen a flood of thousands of claims across the European continent. If a company wishes to advertise its products as having either a nutritional or health benefit to consumers they must submit a dossier of information to their country regulator, which is then supposed to pass it on to the European Food Standards Authority. Unfortunately EFSA has not issued any guidelines on exactly what scientific support is need for the claims. Aiming at producing a definitive EU wide list..

We could inceasingly see big brother taxes on food to persuade us what to eat. Applying a so called 'Fat Tax' to unhealthy foods changes peoples buying habits and persuades them to buy more healthy options, so says a study lead by Buffalo Uni in New York. UK academics have also suggested that 3,000 deaths could be avoided if the government were to apply a targetted Fat Tax..