SUPER FRUITS!
Kim Colpitts is a dietitian from Fredericton, New Brunswick. She is very involved in the world of volleyball, assistant coaching the UNB Varsity Reds women’s volleyball team, and having a son on the UNB Varsity Reds men’s volleyball team and a daughter on the Canada Games team. She has four kids, Dale (the oldest), Alison, Ryan, and Lauryn (the youngest). Kim and her husband, Mark, coach the Reds U15 Crimson girls volleyball team. They have been doing so for about 3 or 4 years.
Exclusive Interview with Kim Colpitts!
1. Q: What is the best vitamin that is found in super fruits?
A: All vitamins and food components are important for good health. There is not one that is more important than the others.
2. Q: What is the main vitamin found in super fruits?
A: The main vitamin or nutrient will vary depending on which fruit you are examining. All fruits contain similar nutrients and have similar health benefits. The claims are that super fruits have higher concentrations of certain vitamins, nutrients, food components or antioxidants.
3. Q: What makes a super fruit a super fruit?
A: The term “super fruit” is used in advertising and media to describe fruit with high nutrient density or those containing components which have potential health benefits. There is no legal or scientific definition of “super fruit” so there is not one single answer to this question. Overall, the most common feature of foods named as super fruit are higher than average levels of vitamins, other nutrients and/or antioxidants.
4. Q: Are there some super fruits that are better than others?
A: Getting a variety of fruit (”super” fruit or otherwise) will ensure your body is getting all the provided by that food group, therefore maximizing health benefits.
5. Q: How are they good for our body?
A: Adequate fruit and vegetable intake (according to Canada’s Food Guide recommendations) ensures that we are getting the recommended daily allowances of all the vitamins and minerals and other nutrients required for health (growth, repletion, energy, etc). The media promotes super fruit for boosting immunity however there is no scientific proof that this is the case.
6. Q: How often should we be eating super fruits?
A: Whether super fruit or otherwise we should be eating the numbers of servings of fruits and vegetables specified for your age on Canada’s Food Guide.
7. Q: Can you eat too many?
A: All the nutrients contained in fruit including those promoted in super fruit and primarily water soluble. This means that if you consume more than you need your body will excrete it so they are not harmful.
8. Q: Where in the world are super fruits commonly grown?
A: Many of the foods typically referred to as “super fruit” often come from tropical countries. Exceptions are berries like blueberries, cranberries, etc.
9. Q: Are super fruits priced higher compared to regular fruit?
A: Prices depend on time of year and supply. Likewise, depending on media advertisements and claims the demand for certain foods can be higher which in turn inflates the price that retailers charge for the food.
