Chocolate that gives you flawless skin? Drinks that make you slim? Every week there seems to be another so-called ‘clever food’ promising to improve your body and mind. But which ones are really worth it?

Spot-banishing chocolate bars

What is it?
Acne Care Frutels
The claim It’s what every woman dreams about – a tasty chocolate treat that can clear up your complexion and banish unsightly blemishes.
New Acne Care chocolates are made by an American company and are due to arrive in euro shops any day now.
The bite-size chocolates contain skin-aiding antioxidants and nutrients – and the makers claim these ingredients “clear the skin from within”.

THE EXPERT’S VERDICT:
“Well, these chocolates are certainly packed with nutrients and they probably taste delicious,” agrees nutritionist Carina Norris, author of The Food Manual and You Are What You Eat.
“But having said that, it’s better to get antioxidants from real fruit, which will probably be cheaper than this product.
Fruit contains more fibre too, and that helps digestion, and in turn, clears up skin.
“I can’t help thinking this product may also make people complacent about the rest of their diet .
“If you drink plenty of water and eat fruit and veg every day, your skin will benefit anyway. Of course, this does look like one of the better tasting supplements out there!”

Fat-busting skinny water

What is it?
Skinny Water, Vitamin Water and VitSmart
The claim Katie Holmes was spotted last month with a bottle of this. Janice Haley, who works for the drink’s manufacturers, says that Celsius is the first “clinically proven, calorie-burning soda”.
Haley goes on to claim that drinking a bottle will cause you to burn about 77 calories in the following three to four hours and that the drink will also raise your metabolism by 12%.

THE EXPERT’S VERDICT
“This drink actually is packed with the same amount of caffeine as two cups of coffee,”caffeine does boost your metabolism slightly and studies show it can help athletes perform better and for longer.
“However, you’d have to drink a lot of this before you would see any real benefits — but, of course, the company wisely warns that you shouldn’t drink more than three bottles of it a day. Even two bottles would probably make you jittery with all that caffeine!”

Wrinkle-blitzing marshmallows

EIWA Beauty Collagen Marshmallows
What is it?
The claim The marshmallows, which are huge in Japan, claim to plump up your skin and banish wrinkles because of their high collagen content (collagen is the building block of skin and levels drop as we get older).

THE EXPERT’S VERDICT
You’re far better off eating your way to better skin.Vitamin C helps the skin to build collagen, so tuck into vitamin C-rich foods every day, such as citrus fruits, broccoli, peppers and sweet potatoes.”
Studies show sugar slows collagen production, so cut back if you want to stay line-free for as long as possible.

THE REAL DEAL

Salmon

The omega-3 fatty acids found in oily fish such as salmon and mackerel boost brain power and concentration, according to several studies.

Blueberries

As well as being packed with antioxidants and very low in calories, super-food blueberries can also improve your memory, according to scientists from the University of Reading.

Sunflower seeds

The vitamin E in these are great for preventing wrinkles, so add a handful to your cereal every morning.

Baked beans

They’re packed with a digestive hormone called cholecystokinin, which is a brilliant natural appetite suppressant, according to a study by the University of California.

Eggs

Dieters who eat eggs for breakfast lose twice as many pounds as those who don’t, according to studies. Experts say it’s because they contain a type of protein that helps keep you full for hours.

Peas

Filo

Oven chips

Ice pops

Fish

Fish frozen at sea has locked in freshness and makes the perfect low-cal supper simply grilled or steamed with new potatoes and veg. If you don’t like it plain, choose “dusted” (not breaded or battered) fillets, as the calorie count is lower.

Spinach

Blueberries