Are Superfoods Super?

Aug 28

In this episode of Your Diet Sucks, Zoë and Kylee take a skeptical look at the so-called world of “superfoods.” Where did the term even come from? (Hint: it’s got more to do with clever marketing than actual science.) We unpack the history, debunk common superfood myths, and explore why putting all your faith in one miracle berry or powder can backfire when it comes to long-term health and performance.

Instead, we highlight the foods that do have a solid base of evidence for supporting athletic performance, recovery, and adaptation — and yes, we’ve got some spicy takes about bananas along the way.

If you’ve ever wondered whether you really need acai bowls, spirulina, or maca root to be healthy, this episode is for you.

Zoë Rom

Zoë Rom is a science and environmental journalist with bylines in The New York Times, Outside, and High Country News. She co-hosts Your Diet Sucks, an evidence-based nutrition and wellness podcast, with registered dietitian Kylee Van Horn, RDN, where they investigate how wellness culture distorts science and how athletes can do better. A Colorado-based ultrarunner, she finished second at the Leadville Trail 100 and top five at Run Rabbit Run 100. Her reporting and commentary focus on the intersection of sport, science, and the wellness industry's long history of selling women their own anxieties.