Confused about what to eat? Science can help

Do you feel that nutritionists are constantly changing their minds? Do you want scientific information about the diet but do not know who or what to believe?

If you agree, you are not alone: ​​over 80% of Americans are baffled.

Yet it is a lament that becomes quite tiring – if you are a nutrition scientist, that's it. So much so that I have reoriented my career to scientifically shed light on critical conversations about food today, which have profound implications for public health and the environment. My motto: from farm to fork, what we eat is important.

In fact, did you know that 80% of chronic diseases can be prevented through modifiable changes in lifestyle, and that diet is the main contributory factor?

Science says plants are better for you and our planet

Own eating or keto? Paleo or gluten-free? Whole 30 or vegan? Forget the fad diets, because science has the answers – there is much more agreement on diet and health than you probably know The Scientific Report of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2015-2020, for example, concluded that a herbal diet is what is best for human health and the environment. More than 75% of your meal should include vegetables, fruits and whole grains, and protein should include beans, peas, nuts, seeds and soy.

Canada's Food Guide 2019 is equally focused on plants, as well as on Harvard's healthy eating chart, while Brazil focuses on foods "primarily of plant origin." These guidelines and others also emphasize the importance of limiting processed and ultra-processed foods.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and other organizations have agreed that plant-based diets are more sustainable, mainly because of high energy inputs and environmental damage caused to livestock.

Although this may seem like a fad, a "plant-based" diet has been under consideration for decades. Awareness has intensified as it addresses two pressing public health issues: the chronic disease epidemic and the climate change crisis. It is a winning solution for human health and the environment. Herbal diets can be tailored to your tastes, traditions and cultures, as indicated by blue areas or areas of the world where people live longer than average and suffer from fewer diseases chronic.

If science has the keys to a healthy diet, preventing disease and saving the planet, why are people so confused? A closer examination will allow you to acquire the necessary skills to distinguish facts from fiction.

There is confusion in money

The unwanted science of celebrities is an obvious player. It could even be hidden in bushes, like Mr. Oz, although the Senate reproached him for his charlatanism. (Physicians, in general, have little or no training in nutrition.)

Celebrities gather huge platforms, often obscuring the truth (or drowning it completely); The agreement between Netflix and Gwyneth Paltrow, whose Goop company was sued for some jade egg, suggests that science is losing the battle.

But you must not be a celebrity. A list of the top 100 influencers showed that most were bloggers or athletes without expertise. (None was a scientist.) These voices gain considerable influence on social media. Health Feedback, a network of scientists who examined the accuracy of online content, conducted a survey with the Credibility Coalition and discovered that a minority of articles had received a positive rating, the most "exaggerating the advantages and disadvantages of various foods".

The traditional media do not always light, alas. The sensationalism of a single study is ubiquitous – for example, glyphosate in oats, coconut oil and weight, cancer causing coffee – and the results lack context.

And science journalism has taken a hit, and that's perhaps why CNN interviewed an anti-science fanatic. Or why the Los Angeles Times tweeted that there is a "growing belief" about the health benefits of celery juice. (Pro tip: it's not a thing.)

The heckling of dietary advice and hype is a backdrop to scientific denial, which legitimizes anti-science when it is espoused by the highest levels of government. Scientific illiteracy also plays a role.

Nevertheless, there are gaps in knowledge: 57% of Americans have never seen the food stamp of the US Department of Agriculture, MyPlate, or know very little, and 63% said it was difficult to recognize sustainable choices. Buyers also claimed that it was difficult (11%) or moderate (61%) to identify healthy foods. Unsurprisingly, perhaps, since 48% of respondents have turned to overcrowded food packaging: some labels make sense while others are nothing more than marketing. (All natural, no matter who?) Indeed, powerful lobbies of food and agriculture continue to influence dietary guidelines and obscure science.

Through all of this, I think that the scientific community of nutrition has tacitly contributed to not collectively participating in public discourse. Nor have we adequately defended our discipline against the attacks of journalists, doctors or food writers.

Change the conversation

Powerful societal powers create a culture of nutritional confusion that not only hides the truth about the diet, but also undermines science as a whole. Three steps will help the eaters to navigate this rocky terrain.

Start by asking critical questions when digesting news from the diet. Does the author have a graduate degree in nutrition or does he have expertise in science journalism? Are there references to peer-reviewed studies or scientific organizations? Is the source credible? Are miracle cures or quick results promised? Are there expensive price tags for magic bullets? Does it sound like clickbait? Question what-what-where-why-how is important.

Secondly, remember that what flows in our news feeds often comes from algorithms that allow news to roam our echo chambers and obtain a factual confirmation bias or not. Offline too, we are more likely to share our beliefs with our friends and family, our tribe. It is necessary to become curious about what you eat and what matters outside your comfort zone: you may need to "unlearn what you have learned".

Finally, try this for size: Nutrition. Not so. Confusing. We all have cherished traditions and values. What we eat is not only scientific. (At least, I hope not.) But it's time to learn the basic facts about food and nutrition that will inspire you to harness the power of food to promote health, prevent disease and protect the planet. Change is possible – and the truth is there.