Miracle foods: just how amazing are they?

What's the deal with all of the new health supplements being touted on every early morning news show and late night infomercial? The following rundown on the latest fitness fads and miracle meds may help you sift through the mess of this new miracle health food craze.

Pomegranate juice

Pomegranate juice has been gaining popularity in specialty supermarkets thanks to its antioxidant content, nearly three times that of the same serving of red wine or green tea. The juice is high in fiber, rich in potassium and contains vitamin C and niacin. These antioxidants have been said to help prevent everything from cancer to aging, and even to improve your cardiovascular health. While there are no definitive studies done to prove these claims, surely drinking it can't hurt anything but your wallet, with a bottle of Pom Wonderful averaging $4.50 for a 16-oz. bottle.

Blue-green algae

Blue-green algae, harvested primarily from a lake in Oregon, has also been hailed as a miracle cure that prevents cancer and heart disease, helps weight loss, asthma and ADHD and increases your body's immunities. Found mostly in pill form and usually expensive, some consider it to be a bit of a hoax and potentially dangerous. According to the UC Berkeley wellness newsletter, this type of algae is very easily contaminated by toxic microcystin and heavy metals.

Though this product does contain certain vitamins and minerals, they are in such small quantities that it would be far cheaper and healthier to simply eat more vegetables. There are no scientific studies to support this product's wide range of claims.

Soy nuts

Some of the most strongly touted items on the health food market are soy nuts or products containing soy. The benefits of soy are legitimate according to many studies linking a high soy diet to increased bone density in menopausal women and lower prostate cancer rates in men. The FDA has approved claims of increased heart health in addition to lowered bad cholesterol and increased good cholesterol due to ingestion of soy products. Soy nuts specifically are a great source of protein and good fat in small quantities (about a half cup serving).

Green tea

Green tea has been widely featured in the media for its antioxidants, which are said to help prevent cancer and heart disease. Studies are in the process of connecting the antioxidants in green tea to actual disease prevention but preliminary studies have shown it to have beneficial effects. The antioxidant concentration is lower than that of the pomegranate juice, but green tea is more readily available, less expensive and contains only a small amount of caffeine to keep you going without wiring you up.

Xango juice

Mangosteen, known as Xango juice, is made from a Southeast Asian fruit that has a history of medicinal properties. The juice is gaining popularity in the United States for its high concentration of anti-oxidants. According to the MayoClinic's Web site, "Like many other plants, extracts of mangosteen have shown in lab tests that they can stop the growth of certain bacteria and fungi. However, there are no published clinical trials showing evidence that either the fruit or its juice as an effective treatment for arthritis, cancer or any other disorder in humans." It seems to be harmless but expensive for its yet scientifically proven results.