Birch water - Another 'super food?'

Birch water: The latest super-super food.

By Hannah Thompson

With each season comes a new ‘super food’ trend. Whether it be a new strain of kale, a variation of the chia seed or a bit of your standard coconut water, there seems to be a new kid on the block that shows up just when we think we’ve found the new ‘super super’ food.

So… What are they? Super foods are said to contain a full body of nutrients and have strong amounts of antioxidants in them. The most popular of which can sell for extraordinary prices and are purchased by people in the hope of leading a healthier lifestyle.

With things such as chlorophyll and spirulina topping the bill, which by the way we think taste like the bottom of an algae infested pond, it seems there’s a newcomer and it comes in the form of water from your bog standard birch tree.

Birch water is exactly what it says it is. It’s water that is drawn from the sap you get from a birch tree. Exotic, huh?

We didn’t think so, but apparently it has properties that reduce cellulite and detox your body to the hundredth degree. It’s also claimed that the water than can be collected from a birch tree in Spring can help flu, headaches, liver disease, dandruff and eczema. Who knew!

Sophie Stanley is a London based nutritionist that’s particularly passionate about super foods and the properties they behold. After studying nutrition for years and working as a dietician, she decided to dive into the crazy world of super foods after a trip to LA in 2012.

“To be honest the whole super food ‘thing’ is driven a lot by celebrity culture. All it takes is one celeb to be pictured holding a bottle of something for it to start flying off the shelves. I love it all though and have a habit of using a lot of these ‘super foods’.

Sophie, who is particularly fond of extra virgin coconut oil which she admits to “smothering herself in” before bed, confirms that the amount of “super powers” these foods hold are small, she says however that waters such as coconut water and birch water do contain large amounts of potassium and other detoxifying ingredients that can make a difference, if they’re drunk in the “gallons.”

“Life and diet is all about balance and if you want to live a healthy lifestyle, you don’t have to eat super foods. They are novelty items, almost luxury items which aren’t cheap. They nice to have, I love things like bee pollen, blueberries and powders like matcha and cacao.”

Nicki Newman claims she gets “obsessed” with super food trends. “I’m constantly in Wholefoods and Planet Organic looking for the next weird thing I can find. I’m an addict. I’m a super food, health-freak addict!”

The mum of 3 has passed on her ways to her children and only feeds them whole, natural and organic foods. “Every week I come home with something new and weird, they’re used to it now! My husband doesn’t even comment anymore. I win!”

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