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DEL.ICIO.USBurned out on Nutrition
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Can you trust what nutrition experts advise? Or are you tired of them constantly changing their minds? Used to be butter was bad so we all switched to margarine and then margarine was maligned for containing heart disease causing trans-fats. Margarine makers responded by developing trans-fat free versions. Caffeine has been implicated in causing high blood pressure in the past, then researchers find out drinking a few cups of coffee helps jump start our brains increasing focus and concentration. We’re supposed to eat more fish; then warnings come out about mercury levels in certain types of seafood. What’s a well intentioned consumer looking to eat healthier foods supposed to do? Has nutrition research left you more confused than ever?
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By More Than Modicum of Common Sense
January 29, 2007 10:20 AM | Link to this
Well first, who is THEM?
You need to examine (that is—>think) where the information is coming from and then decipher who is sending the message. Is it the company who manufacturing the food? Is it an industry spokesman? Is is a lobbyist (American Dairy Association, for example)? is it the EPA? All will have their spin (and viewpoint) based on their motivation!
So, if one says, “I don’t have the time to sort through all of that…I just want the right information”, what are they suppose to do? Well, unfortunately, this is what they DON’T teach us in school…you DO have to some thinking (and reading) on your own.
I will make it a little easier on a few people with some guidelines:
Doctors, research, your mother, were right. Eat your vegetables! And lots of them..fresh ones, not overcooked and hold the salt and all the other crap.
Coffee (a cup or so) is OK, so long as you don’t have high blood pressure and you don’t load it up with sweeteners. There are even benefits to drinking a cup (black with a little half and half)…but those fat-laid-en Starbuck’s drinks…forget it!
Trans-fats. Avoid them like the plague! In fact, ANYTHING man-made should be considered off limits, if you are thinking about health. Here, I have two apples, one I picked from a nice orchard, the other I made up in my lab (so I that I can sell it and make a profit from it). Which one do you want?
Fish…yes, our planet has taken a beating. Global warming, too much pollution, chemicals in our diets. Some fish is better to eat than others. That is, some have higher Mercury contents than others. Do the research and find out which ones are better, for example, Wild Salmon (not farm raised) is better for you, it is just that is now harder to find).
Finally, make an investment in your health. Do a little reading. Yes, you don’t need the media to do your thinking for you, YOU need to do your thinking for yourself and for God-sakes! Stop whining about, “I am confused”, or “their is so much information out there”, or using terms like “them” and “they”. You are responsible for educating yourself, that is why you got an education in the first place!
By JohnF
January 29, 2007 10:36 AM | Link to this
I have a few questions also..
Vitamin E?…Should you supplement or not. First you read it’s good for your heart then you read it’s not.
Water?…Need to drink 8 glasses a day, yet urologist say there’s no scientific evidence to back up that. Is it just the bottled water industry making something up.
Fish?…You’re supposed to eat a lot because it’s good for your heart, yet there are studies that show too much actually causes heart rhythm problems.
By Peaches
January 29, 2007 10:46 AM | Link to this
I was told to eat healthy by my diabetic dr.He only told me to eat one carb at each meal..How can I do that? I went to health food store, a market and I was a fish out of water…everyone buggys were filled and all I had was one little box of blueberries…I need help!!!
By Maria
January 29, 2007 11:25 AM | Link to this
Peaches: Sounds like you should get more info from your doctor. Vegetables and fruits have carbohydrates and them, as do wheat-based foods. Perhaps you need to figure out exactly how many grams of carbs your doctor recommends you eat at each meal, and from what sources they should come. As a general rule, though, carbohydrates from vegetables and whole grains are much more valuable to your body than simple-sugar carbs (white bread, cookies, fruit, etc… though fruit is still an important part of a good diet). You don’t need to go to a health food store for those. Just pick up some fresh veggies and some whole-grain bread (i.e. 100% whole wheat bread) from your local supermarket.
By Peaches
January 29, 2007 11:30 AM | Link to this
Thanks Maria, I have only seen this Dr.once.I will be going back but I was trying to help myself but it didnt work out…thanks again
By Cletus Snow
January 29, 2007 11:44 AM | Link to this
I don’t pay much attention to the proffessionals they roll the pyramid to much.I just try to eat lots of veggies,chicken and fish and a small amount of beef.I’m by some standards about 20 lbs overweight,but it doesn’t concern me much cholesterol and BP are OK
By KATRINA
January 29, 2007 12:16 PM | Link to this
peaches doctor didn’t give her much info because the average doc is not schooled in nutrition so they are as confused as the public. the best info i have heard yet, common sense, clicks when you read it, has helped numerous people in my family when we changed to eating this way - are from the books by jordan rubin and ted broer. multiple “immediate change testimonies” from siblings, parents, and myself. my mom is pre-diabetic. something as simple as as a half teaspoon of ground cinnamon each day dropped her blood sugar. taking cod liver oil gave immediate (same week - immediately notices when she doesn’t take it) improvement in her joints (arthritis) and my husband’s knees (spends most of day on feet). we buy all of our meats and vegies (those that we don’t grow) from a farmers market (dekalb) and a local farm (for beef, chicken and sometimes eggs) so that they are fresher, cheaper and more nutritious (because they are in the market shortly after picking rather than being warehoused and because more of them are grown with little or no chemicals). only drink non-homogenized, low pasteurized milk. only 10% of docs have any nutritional training and some of that is incorrect (example: don’t drink milk, drink soy. wrong. most of our soy is genetically modified. not good for you. dairy usually only causes problems because of homogenization and pasteurization. non homogenized low pasteurized milk is doable by most people who have problems with milk - including my so called lactose intolerant husband who drinks this milk with no problem). read TED BROER’S AND JORDAN RUBIN’S BOOKS and it will ENLIGHTEN you on what is fad and what is historically documented truth about what we should and should not eat - even what type of supplements to use. lifechanging. hope this helps someone. also, check out the following sites for info www.eatwild.com, www.breadandmoney.com and www.westonaprice.org for LOTS of info www.themeatrix.com is hilariously informative.
By Peaches
January 29, 2007 12:28 PM | Link to this
Katrina,thank you for so much information..I will go look for their books…I went to Harry’s food market and felt so out of place…I am going to look at all the web sites you posted..Thank you again
By katrina
January 29, 2007 12:29 PM | Link to this
modicum i agree. many of the recommendations and studies are provided by organizations that are financially rewarded for the results by companies that will benefit from the public clamoring to purchase the recommendation. (i.e. margarine or even the prescription drug industry that funds a study that tells us that too much vitamin e is bad - well yeah if you use vitamin e made from a biproduct of GASOLINE instead of natural vitamin e! so now i won’t use vitamin e - because i’ve been lied to - i’ll use aspirin which could lead to macular degeneration with too much use instead of using the natural vitamin e which would help rather than harm me)
katrina
By nutrition is fun
January 29, 2007 05:22 PM | Link to this
I grew up with weight charts. They gave you a wide range of acceptable weight for your height. Now we have the very complicated BMI which to me seems like the same thing except much more complicated. Who knows why we threw out the older weight charts (except that it didn’t employ a nutritionist to interpret it for you). I agree that a person can learn a lot about nutrition by doing their homework, but some people are greatly helped by a nutritionist to design an eating plan personally for them.
By umoja
February 1, 2007 11:01 AM | Link to this
Nutrition experts can only give you guideline to live by. Everyones body make up is totally different. Start doing your own research to determine what works for you. In the long run who is accountable? You are for your own health.
By Carolyn O'Neil
February 1, 2007 03:10 PM | Link to this
Wow..sounds like we hit a nutrition nerve here! Great comments from everyone. JohnF with regard to your questions…Vitamin E: yeah you can take a supplement but it’s good to know which foods are rich in each vitamin. ie. did you know almonds are a good source of vitamin E? water…the 8 glasses a day thing might be hard to do for some..but did you know that the water in foods like salads and fresh fruit counts toward your daily fluid intake?
By still want to know...
February 6, 2007 12:50 PM | Link to this
Again I ask and maybe someone can/will answer: We used to have weight charts which gave a wide range of appropriate weights for your height. That worked pretty well. Why were they replaced with BMI? Thanks.
By a true nutrition seeker
February 6, 2007 12:57 PM | Link to this
So true that we’ve hit a nutrition nerve here! I confess to jumping on every nutrition bandwagon because I sincerely want to take care of myself. (I draw the line at acai - ugh that stuff tastes nasty, I don’t care how much antioxidant value it has.) But lately I’m starting to have more doubts. They do seem to change things constantly. The U.S. seems to be the only country that adopts the cuisine of every other culture if the people seem healthy but we fail to consider other factors like stress management, emotions, lifestyle, etc. I’ve been obediently forcing water down my throat almost to bursting for years but now they’re saying there’s not all that much basis for that. And is it mere coincidence that when updated nutrition info comes out, all the food companies jump right on it with new food offerings?
By common sense
February 6, 2007 02:13 PM | Link to this
If you think doctors and those in the pharmaceutical industry are concerned about making you healthier, you are sadly mistaken. If we were to become healthy, they would all be out of business, except for the occasional surgery due to a car accident.
Drug companies invent diseases (i.e. Restless Leg Syndrome?! the latest one) just so they can invent a drug (toxic chemical) to curb its symptoms and make you feel better (temporarily). In doing so, they will hopefully give you an entirely different ailment, forcing you to purchase other drugs for those symptoms. THIS IS HOW THEY MAKE MONEY.
When it comes to your health and nutrition, you are in charge! Do not be pressured by tv ads for drugs, foods that are infested with additives, chemicals, preservatives, and artificial flavorings and colorings. These companies are in business for one reason… to make money.