The more prevalent social media becomes in our lives, the more confused we feel regarding nutrition information. As a dietitian whose mission includes eradicating food fears, I try to stay on top of the trending click bait nutrition myths. Do any of these sound familiar to you:
● Never eat foods with artificial dyes
● Carbs cause weight gain
● Artificial sweeteners are toxic
● Steroids and antibiotics in the meat supply are poison
● Sugar is the enemy
● Only eat organic produce
● Dairy and gluten cause inflammation
● Olive oil is not a great choice, cook with butter instead
It can be so confusing as a consumer to make healthy decisions with all of this misinformation. I come from an all foods fit approach and I provide my family meals that often include dairy, gluten, conventional meat and produce as I need to provide balanced meals that align with my finances. My message here is that all foods fit, no food is good or bad, and moderation matters most.
Below are some red flags to help you, the consumer, identify false claims:
● Quick fix promises
● Scary warnings from a certain product, often using “toxic” to describe an item
● Lists of good and bad food
● Simplistic statements drawn from a complex study
● Recommendations based on a single study
Here are some tips on understanding if a source is credible:
● Internet – credible sites end in .org, .edu, or .gov. Exercise caution with .com and .net sites
● Written books, magazines, newspapers – check out the author’s credentials. Registered dietitians (RDs) are the gold standard experts for nutrition information.
● Media sources – double check references for credible information, especially since media outlets often are for profit/trying to sell an item. When in doubt, ask your local RD if the info is legit.
Take the guesswork out of healthy eating by working with a registered dietitian. Set realistic goals, create an action plan, get started off on the right foot and receive guidance along the way. Reach out to the dietitians at Waverley Oaks to learn more at [email protected].