Forget much-touted superfoods, you can't beat an apple a day

Blueberries began the superfood trend. The hype continued with pomegranates, acai berries and seaweed. Now a long list of expensive and exotic foods has been credited with health-enhancing and memory-boosting qualities.

With each announcement, sales have leapt, superfood cookbooks have multiplied and supermarkets have rushed to meet demand, offering a year-round supply of items once available in only the most hardcore of health food shops.

But the reputation of superfoods is under attack. Experts say people would do as well to eat an orange or an apple as expensive foods that may be dense in "micronutrients"-tiny amounts of essential vitamins and minerals, for instance-but which add little to well-being.