Nutrition Trends: Fact or Fiction?

  News about food, health, and nutrition seems to come up nearly everyday. Reports about food trends in sodium, sweeteners, sugars, or supplements that treat or prevent major illnesses like diabetes, heart disease, obesity, or stroke abound. It's important to know how to evaluate what is reliable research, and what may be a fad diet or a new theory that hasn't been proven yet. As a registered dietitian, I tend to be skeptical of new findings, which can be beneficial.

  Here are some points to consider when reading or listening to news on scientific findings: 

 -Is the report on a theory? Theories and ideas are the beginning of great research, but they are just that, a starting point. In order to be proven, a theory needs to be thoroughly researched in long-term, repeatable studies. Examine reports to determine if the study was conducted on a small group of people, or was, perhaps, just an animal study. Frequently, animal studies on mice can be useful for solving problems in people, but the research must be carried out in human studies. Although there are similarities between species, we are obviously not exactly the same as mice or other lab animals.

 -Does the story have broad conclusions? Does it claim that one small change will cure or prevent serious diseases? If so, it's questionable. Dietary changes like limiting sodium or sugar are important to overall health, but prevention of serious, chronic conditions like diabetes or stroke require many more steps. For example, if you cut out sugar, but didn't exercise or watch your weight, then you would still be at risk for developing Type 2 Diabetes. 

 Additionally, foods or products claiming "miracle cures" should be read with caution. If treating or preventing health conditions were as easy as consuming a supplement or one special food, then we would all be perfectly healthy. 

 -Does the story make sense? Use your good common sense and judgement. It can be tempting to jump on the bandwagon of a new supplement or food trend, but stop and think about it. Does it sound too good to be true? Then it probably is. Look for additional information. If limited facts are available, then don't jump on the bandwagon just yet. Wait until multiple, high quality studies have been completed using large groups of humans with repeatable findings. 

  Keeping up with the latest food and health news can be confusing and a little overwhelming sometimes. Remember to look for the facts. It takes a lot of time and large numbers of people to produce quality research. New discoveries are exciting, but they need to be proven and reliable.