Superfood Snake Oil: Why Kale Won’t Save You (But Also Isn’t Killing You)

Every week, there's a new superfood: sea moss, turmeric shots, raw milk, lion’s mane mushrooms, and the obligatory $18 acai bowl. These so-called miracle foods promise to heal your gut, detox your liver, reverse aging, and apparently, cure loneliness if you add enough coconut flakes.

But here’s the reality: “superfood” is a marketing term, not a scientific one.

Let’s dig into the hype, the risks, and what the research really says.

The Superfood Scam: Health Halo for Sale

The term “superfood” has no regulatory meaning. It’s not recognized by the FDA, USDA, or any legitimate scientific body. It originated in marketing campaigns and caught fire because it sells. All you need is one small, usually poorly designed study, a press release, and a social media influencer to make your food the next panacea.

Blueberries? Excellent.

Avocados? Delicious.

Are they miracle cures? No.

References:

• Hasler, C. M. (2002). Functional foods: Benefits, concerns and challenges—a position paper from the American Council on Science and Health. The Journal of Nutrition, 132(12), 3772–3781. https://doi.org/10.1093/jn/132.12.3772

Turmeric: Anti-Inflammatory or Hepatotoxic?

Turmeric has become the golden child of the wellness world. Its active compound, curcumin, has been studied for its anti-inflammatory properties. But here’s the problem: it doesn’t absorb well, and most studies showing benefits are in vitro or animal studies, not humans.

Worse? Turmeric has been linked to liver injury.

Several case reports have now documented turmeric-related liver failure, especially when consumed in high doses or combined with alcohol or other supplements.

So no, a turmeric shot after tequila won’t detox your liver. It may just damage it further.

References:

• Luber RP et al. (2019). Acute Liver Injury With Turmeric Use. ACG Case Reports Journal, 6(5). https://doi.org/10.14309/crj.0000000000000113
• Nelson KM et al. (2017). The essential medicinal chemistry of curcumin. J Med Chem, 60(5), 1620–1637. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jmedchem.6b00975

Raw Milk: Microbial Roulette, Not a Wellness Hack

Let’s talk about raw milk—a rising star among TikTok wellness influencers. The claim? Pasteurization destroys enzymes and nutrients. The truth? Pasteurization destroys pathogens that can kill you.

Raw milk can harbor E. coli, Listeria, Campylobacter, and Salmonella—especially dangerous for kids, pregnant women, and the immunocompromised. The CDC has linked multiple outbreaks to raw milk in the last decade.

Pasteurization was a public health revolution. Rejecting it isn’t “natural”—it’s negligent.

References:

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2023). Raw Milk Questions and Answers. https://www.cdc.gov/foodsafety/rawmilk/raw-milk-questions-and-answers.html
• Mungai EA, et al. (2015). Increased outbreaks of nonpasteurized milk–associated foodborne illness. Emerging Infectious Diseases, 21(1), 119–122. https://doi.org/10.3201/eid2101.140447

Sea Moss, Super Iodine, and Hypothyroidism

Sea moss is having a moment. Touted for thyroid health and “minerals,” it's become a staple in online supplement stores. Yes, it contains iodine—but that’s a double-edged sword.

Excess iodine intake can trigger thyroid dysfunction, including hypothyroidism and thyroiditis.

If you’re eating a balanced diet and using iodized salt, you’re probably not iodine-deficient, but you can become iodine-toxic with concentrated seaweed supplements.

Reference:

• Leung AM et al. (2012). Iodine nutrition in the United States: Strategies and trends. Endocrine Practice, 18(5), 566–573. https://doi.org/10.4158/EP12167.RA

Science Over Hype: What Actually Works

Here’s the unsexy truth:

• Eat mostly plants
• Choose whole over ultra-processed foods
• Use olive oil, not coconut oil
• Get your fiber from food, not powder
• Supplements are okay... but legumes are better
• Don’t fear carbs—fear quackery

The Mediterranean diet remains the most evidence-supported eating pattern. It reduces cardiovascular risk, supports gut health, and—surprise—it doesn’t require imported mushrooms or blue-green algae.

Reference:

• Sofi F et al. (2010). Accruing evidence on benefits of adherence to the Mediterranean diet on health: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 92(5), 1189–1196. https://doi.org/10.3945/ajcn.2010.29673

Pill vs. Pinto: What to Eat Instead of Swallowing Hype

Here’s a quick reality check:

• Cholesterol lowering? → Skip red yeast rice. Eat beans.
• Magnesium? → Lentils, not gummies.
• Iron? → Cook with cast iron and eat leafy greens, not liver capsules.
• Fiber supplements? → Pinto beans do it better—and they taste good.

Supplements aren’t evil, but they shouldn’t replace actual food. Nutrients work best in their native habitat: inside whole, delicious, minimally processed foods.

Final Thoughts: No One Food Saves You

If a food promises miracle cures, detox powers, or “anti-aging” effects, it’s marketing, not medicine.

Superfoods are sold as shortcuts. But health takes consistency.

Eat well, real, and boring sometimes. It works.

And next time someone hands you a turmeric liver cleanse shot after a night of margaritas? Just tell them: Fork U.

Dr. Terry Simpson

Surgeon. Culinary Medicine Nerd. Your Chief Medical Explanationist.

If you want more unfiltered food and medicine insights, subscribe to my podcast [FORK U] and follow me @DrTerrySimpson on Instagram and TikTok.