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Nutrition Advice Untangled
Why is there such conflicting nutrition science in America?
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Nutrition science is a confusing field. Choose any type of diet or food you want to eat, and we can probably point you to a study that shows that the diet or food is healthy. This is in large part because many of the studies are funded by corporations who make their money from people buying their food products. The media also plays a role in reporting only parts of studies and avoiding the truth in the findings. Advocacy groups, associations, and some public health figures also contribute to the problem by clinging to old scientific information and conclusions that we now know are at a minimum questionable, but more and more appear to be down right wrong.
What is the easiest way to wade through the mirage of studies and diets that seem to come out each year? We use a common-sense, historic standard. Think about traditional diets in our world. Does the information conflict with the way healthy people have been eating for thousands of years? Or, does it support those diets? If it conflicts, be weary of changing your diet based on the news release.
Most people can be healthy on any traditional diet in the world, except the Western diet. The Western diet--and the processed foods and sugar laden food and drinks that come with it--are not healthy for anyone. The good news is that the perscription for health is simple:
- Avoid processed and fast foods,
- Eat lots of vegetables and fruit
- Be sure to eat healthy fats, protein, and whole grains
- Don't eat too much
- Drink lots of water
- Live an active life including daily exercise
- Sleep
That is all there is too it, really.
If you are looking for books to explain in sharp detail how whole, unprocessed foods and traditional diets support good health, we recommend the following:
Real Food, by Nina Planck
The Jungle Effect, by Dr. Daphne Miller
We also recommend articles, books and webinars by the following doctors:
Dr. Robert Lustig, UCSF Medical Center
How Sugar and Carbs Are Controlling Your Weight:
"Sugar: the Bitter Truth"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dBnniua6-oM
Dr. David Ludwig, Boston Children's Hospital
Tips to slim down your kids and other common sense eating advice:
Ending the Food Fight: Guide Your Child to a Healthy Weight in a Fast Food/Fake Food World
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