Reasons superfoods won’t help you lose weight

As long as obesity remains a worldwide problem, there will be plenty of quick fixes marketed as the next great solution: Try this supplement. Eat this food. Some of these “solutions” are obviously just gimmicks.

Can eating more kiwi, avocado, grapefruit, pistachios, or any other superfood really help anyone become healthier or lose weight? Here are three reasons why super foods simply aren’t a solution when it comes to weight loss:

Counting calories in versus calories out is still the ideal way to lose weight.

While research has clearly shown that all calories are not created equal, there still is a direct connection between the number of calories a person eats, how many they burn, and what weight shows up on the scale.

Many so-called super foods are packed with nutrients but are also heavy on calories. For example, almonds, avocados, and many beans and lentils have all been declared “super” but can quickly lead to overconsumption of calories.

As with any food, super foods need to be portion-controlled, which is often easier said than done. One study showed that people often overestimate portion sizes by 30 percent or more. Whether it be snacking on almonds or chomping down Doritos, this extra calorie consumption can lead to weight gain.

Adding super foods to an unhealthy diet won’t help much.

Imagine someone whose diet looks like this: A donut and coffee for breakfast, pizza for lunch, and takeout Chinese food for dinner. Can this diet be fixed by adding a super food (or even a dozen super foods!) among all that junk? Not a chance.

It can be tempting to think that adding healthy foods to an already broken diet will be a step in the right direction.