Have you modified your eating habits on the basis of nutritional info.disseminated by the media?why or y not?

Question

The media report numerous claims and counterclaims about the benefits and dangers of certain foodsExaples are debates about vitamin doses,advocacy of diets enriched in certain food molcules such as carbohydrates or proteins, much discussion about low-carbohydrate diets, and publicity about new products such as cholestrol-lowering margarine.How should a person evalutae whether such nutritional claims are valid?

Answer 1

I agree there is lots of confilcting info out there and it can be hard to separate quailty studies from non-quality ones. However, I have changed my eating habits based on certain themes that are constant; things like eating more fruit and vegies for antioxidants, or eating less processed carbohydrates to prevent bowel cancer and for better nutrtion.

I think when new claims come out, you should get a hold of the actual source of the claim, read the study to determine its vaility and applicability, and then use good ol common sense to decide if its for you!

Answer 2

The media is the LAST place I'd look for reliable information, on anything, so, realize they are a commercial activity, bent on selling anything they can get someone else to buy, and then move on. I must admit that, over the decades, especially in my younger, more naive, days, I'd let them influence me, but I'm not sure I'd do so to the point of changing my eating habits, unless I remember back when I believed in "Tony the Tiger" and "Sugar Frosted Flakes", but then, I did say something about naivete earlier, so, there's an example. If you hear or see something on the media, blow it off, unless your interest is piqued, whereupon I recommend going elsewhere and doing some real research, and not what they "report" from "experts". They are selling a product, and don't care one whit about the truth. I have been into bicycling as a serious sport for decades, and within that circle of friends, competitors, clubs, etc., we disseminate TONS of material and experience on dietary needs, and that's ONE source of information. Take your time and listen and look, but never allow the tv or newspapers or radio or whatever their selling their stuff on nowadays, be your sole or predominant source of information. God Bless you.

Answer 3

The media has one purpose, to sell and advertize. That is what pays their bills and signs there checks, if Company Toadskins pays a media outlet 2million dollars to tell you that Toadskins are the most Vitamin rich Fat free food in the world, they will say it, that is how they get their paychecks.
If then the US FDA says that Toadskins are not the best, but frogskins may be, that is controversy, that will sell the Toadskin ads that run inbetween the Frogskin STAY TUNED for more series.
I like raw ducklings and burnt toast , because Oprah said it was good for me.

Answer 4

I became a vegetarian after reading John Robbin's book, Diet for a New America.

He gave up the family fortune (Baskin Robbins) after studying nutrition and factory farms. The cruelty was so disturbing I have not eaten meat in about 18 years, and I loved cheeseburgers etc.

Answer 5

I don't trust TV or newspaper media to not be selling me something, therefore biased. There is an overwhelming amount of information being thrown at us about nutrition and we need to be able to ignore info based on advertising and seek out info based on the scientific method. There are legitimate newspaper columns and magazine articles that are written by experts, but I think you can get your best advice from reading books on the subject of nutrition. I have modified my eating habits by reading books by Diana Schwartzbein who is a M.D. and specializes in metabolic healing and endochrinology. Also books like "The China Study" give very up-to-date information which is the result of extensive scientific research. For weight loss I follow Denise Austin because her books are very easy to follow and incorporate exercises and meal plans. You will always find info in any group of books you read that is contradictory. Finding out what is good for you can be quite a process of elimination to find out what works best for you as an individual. They all pretty much agree on the following: Diet - fresh and raw organic fruits and veggies as much as possible, unprocessed food, nitrate/nitrite-free meat which is free of antibiotics and hormones, safe exercise, get adequate sleep, drink lots of water, control stress (yoga and meditation is great for that) and periodic fasting to rid your system of toxins (THATS the biggest challenge for me).