Magic Bullet Syndrome

The Magic Bullet Syndrome (also known as flight of fancy) is the idea that if a little of something is good for us, then a lot of it will even be better. This syndrome often occurs when some foodstuff is overhyped into a superfood. Yes, it is possibly an potentially effectively or healthy ingredient, but it is not always more effective or healthier that any other food.

Magic Bullet Syndrome is simply an obsessive conduct that might even bring us harm. Some foodstuffs, marketed as superfoods, are indeed more or less healthy if consumed in small quantities but might have harmful effects if consumed in larger amounts.

When foods like goji or açaí berries are hyped into superfoods, most people tend to forget that the these foods are not healthier than regular blueberries, strawberries or other berries[1]. Science has since found that ingesting goji berries might even induce allergic reactions[2], trigger autoimmune hepatitis[3] and might interfere with the anticoagulant warfarin[4].

Which all means that a magic bullet is not always a quick cure for any ailment and might even be a bullet you might not be able to dodge. Bullets you do not dodge usually kill you.

[1] Stoner et al: Multiple berry types prevent N-nitrosomethylbenzylamine-induced esophageal cancer in rats in Pharmaceutical Research - 2010
[2] Larramendi et al: Goji berries (Lycium barbarum): risk of allergic reactions in individuals with food allergy in Journal of Investigational Allergology & Clinical Immunology – 2012
[3] Franco et al: Autoimmune hepatitis triggered by consumption of Goji berries in Medica Clínica – 2012
[4] Rivera et al: Probable Interaction Between Lycium barbarum (Goji) and Warfarin in Pharmacotherapy - 2012