What's the next superfruit to be seen with?

As 2009 starts to wind down, we at the L.A. Times Booster Shots blog have been wondering what the next trendy health fruit will be -- you know, the superfruit that Oprah or Dr. Oz or Dr. Perricone will swear by in 2010, the one that is packed with all the condensed healing power that the ancients knew about but we modern dunderheads have overlooked.

Acai -- so yesterday. Mangosteen, goji -- yawn. Pomegranates and kiwi -- barely exotic, really. (Apples pears, grapes, strawberries, bananas? What a waste of time.)

So it was a thrill to receive news from a public relations firm -- about a fruit called the maqui berry.

There's been some buzz about it, but we don't sense the maqui has come into its own quite yet. Never heard of it? Wonder how it's pronounced? Those things in and of themselves make the maqui berry prime superfruit material.

And there's more: According to the press materials, the maqui -- a purple berry from the Patagonia region of South America -- is "traditionally used by the indigenous Mapuche Indians for supporting stamina, increasing strength, and promoting healthy immune response. The only unconquered Native American Indians in all of the Americas, the Mapuche Indians’ legendary strength and stamina are attributed to drinking a fermented Maqui drink several times a day. Research shows Maqui is the highest antioxidant superfruit in the world — two to three times higher than acai, pomegranate, goji berry, or mangosteen."

The only other contender we've heard of recently for superfruit sash-of-the-year is the prickly pear, in a release that made reference to a Disney tune sung by Baloo the bear, and that's just not going to hack it next to ancient brews quaffed by unconquered Patagonian Indians. 

Me, though -- I'm still rooting for the fruit of the baobab because the tree looks ridiculous and it's pollinated by bats. (Oprah: Can't you give the lowly baobab a boost?)

-- Rosie Mestel

Photo: Superfruits, like this mangosteen, wax and wane in popularity.

Credit: www.thirteenmonths.com.

 

 

Comments

[Fleabell]

Ha, yes, the modern "Mad Men" can't do better than promoting the ancient brew of an unconquered people. But I'm with you on the baobab.

[Dearlizzie]

Hilarious! Thanks for the chuckle!

[Kevin]

We laugh at this over-the-top advertising copy, but this same sort of marketing campaign is used to elect presidents (and other elected officials).

[farah e]

hilarious. Thanks for the heads up!

[sandiegan]

What?
You've never heard of Cupuacu?

I'm shocked.
Just shocked.

Here's a blurb:
"Aside from its wonderful taste, Cupuacu has some amazing health properties, and scientists are very excited about its potential to deliver a superb boost to human health. Some call it "A Pharmacy In A Fruit."

"Some of the health benefits in this delicious fruit are: It can help increase your libido, help protect your heart, boost your energy and stamina, help build and strengthen your immune system, lower cholesterol levels, and even make your skin more healthy and younger looking."

Boost libido?
Younger looking?

In other words, Cupuacu will make you young and horny.

Now THAT'S a superfruit!

http://www.squidoo.com/cupuacu

[Model 1873]

The WHAT? Maqui Berry? Just a newly self-reinventing bunch of wacked out sale nuts trying to make a quick buck offering yet another nonsensical fruit. Actually in Vietnam when I was a little kid we ate these fruits like snacks. Sweet and tart and a bit sour, it does have a wonderfully unique flavor. But a superfruit it is not. I am still short, skinny, and ain't getting any younger. (The skinny part was because we were starving back then growing up in VN, not because of the wonder fruit!)

[Tess Tosterone]

Would that be an entertainer, or an athlete?

[valentg]

do not be so quick to judge, research supports the Maqui berry, check out brunswick labs and the maqui berry study funded by the world health organization.......

[Charles]

Maqui does not exist in Vietnam; it has been tested to have the highest ORAC value of any known superfruit today; we have seen tremendous health benefits from using this outstanding product!

[Rosie Mestel]

For a discussion on ORAC values and superfruits in general, readers may be interested in a story we ran in 2008 written by freelancer Emily Sohn: "Superfruits, super powers?"

You can find it here:
http://www.latimes.com/features/health/la-hew-superfruit,3,838677,full.story

A quote from it:

"I hate that term 'superfruit,' like your [fruit] is somehow wearing the cape," says Jeffrey Blumberg, director of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Antioxidants Research Laboratory at Tufts University in Boston. "There's no evidence that one type of fruit is better for you than any other variety. They're all good."

The article also says it's not clear what ORAC values (which measure antioxidant levels) mean with regard to health outcomes.

And, sandiegan: Many thanks for drawing my attention to the Cupuacu. I cannot believe I overlooked this potent fruit.

--Rosie

[Charles]

There is significant research demonstrating that Maqui has the highest concentration of anthocyanins and polyphenols which are the two most powerful antioxidants and the ones with the supporting research related to inflammation, free radicals etc.

so when I read Rosie's comment and the quotes from the Dept of Agriculture it is clear they are on of the masses loosely using the term antioxidant without undertand the nutriona benefits. its very true that many are good but Maqui Superberry products lead the category with demonstrated nutrional benefits over the competing products.

[Janet Helm]

Isn't this superfruit frenzy getting out of hand. I wrote a similar article on my blog Nutrition Unplugged about the guessing game of what will be the next superfruit. My conclusion, I wish people would think all fruit is super.

[Rosie Mestel]

Janet: Thanks for alerting us to your blog entry on this, and for letting us know that there truly exists a "Superfruit Information Organization" as well as a list of superfruit guidelines, a.k.a. "Comprehensive Criteria for Superfruit Status."

Made my day.

Rosie

[Berry Boy]

I think this has some excellent potential and should not be written off out of hand.
The Maqui Berry appears to offer some outstanding benefits especially if the ORAC rating is to be believed, thats through the roof compared to other superfoods out there. We already know that acai berry offers these proven health benefits, its just rather unfortunate that the scammers got hold of it and milked everyone on recurring billing cycles. Lets hope this does not go the same way.

[Andrea Toochin]

Baobob is great too, but I think India's Amalaki, aka Amla, aka Indian Gooseberry is another big winner.

Baobob
http://www.trendceteramag.com/2008/11/baobab-beautythe-african-miracle-multi-tasker-whatmany-researchers-are-predicting-that-the-extracts-fruits-and-leaves-of-the-baobab-tree-can-serve-both-developed-and-developing-nations-through-its-n/

Amla
http://www.trendceteramag.com/2009/03/amla-or-indian-gooseberry-what-the-element-found-in-this-indian-fruit-is-said-to-treat-everything-from-dry-scalp-to-gastrointestinal-ailments-to-high-cholesterol/

[Marcus Sims]

We know it is the highest antioxidant performing superfruit in the world as we have ran extensive tests ourselves in coordination with Brunswick Labs. The real science behind the Maqui Berry is still forthcoming folks. There is a reason the Mapuche have used the shrub and its fruit extensively for hundreds of years. We are a manufacturer of organic Maqui whole berry freeze dried powder here in Santiago, Chile. www.pristinemaqui.com

* We scrutinize every client that seeks us out as we are determined to only sell to reputable and sincere marketers of the product.

[Marcus Sims]

To the Author:

Any interest in flying down and doing a REAL story here in Santiago, Chile?

[Charles]

Maqui Superberry products are available at The Vitamin Shoppe, Erewhon and Mother's Markets in the LA/Orange county area. After I experienced the benefits first hand I can assure you it is real.

[Jeff]

It seems we might have ourself another round of acai berrry histeria as far as seeing it popping up in everything from supliment pills to smoothie add-ins at Jamba Juice. At least with this one, it actually tastes better than acai. Plus you can make a traditional pudding out of it which makes for a pretty tasty, chocolate-like dessert.

http://ezinearticles.com/?What-is-Cupuacu?&id=3928390