At this time’s weblog is a follow-up to Vitamin Details which can be Fallacious Half One from earlier this yr.

Dietary science is a dynamic area and we’re always studying extra and making discoveries.  As a dietitian, it’s my job to remain on high of the newest proof and apply primarily based on that. Over time, our understanding evolves and generally what we as soon as believed to be true, is not. 

Apart from analysis altering, there’s additionally the problem of influencers on social media spouting opinion as if it’s truth. Simply because somebody has loads of followers, or they are saying one thing with what appears like authority, doesn’t make what they’re saying true. Trace: podcasts are the newest vector for diet fantasy spreading.

‘FACT’: white rice is dangerous for us 

Rice is a cultural staple for individuals all around the world, but we’ve been informed for years to keep away from ‘white meals,’ together with white rice. Embarrassingly, I even informed individuals to keep away from white rice in my early years as a dietitian.

Whereas brown rice does have some slight dietary benefits over white rice (it’s a bit increased in fibre and a few minerals comparable to magnesium), loads of the adverse discuss white rice is deeply rooted in the truth that individuals have a tendency to make use of Western tradition’s thought of ‘wholesome meals’ because the gold-standard.  This has traditionally regarded like brown rice, blended greens and a bit of fish or rooster breast.

This will likely work for some individuals, however it isn’t consultant of the range of our inhabitants.

There are loads of methods to eat healthily, and our cultural meals ought to be part of that.

Meals, tradition, and identification are deeply rooted, and saying that cultural staples are ‘unhealthy’ is a approach of devaluing that tradition, which is mistaken on so many ranges. Folks ought to be capable to eat and benefit from the meals they grew up with, with out being made to really feel like these meals are ‘dangerous’ or ‘mistaken.’

From a sensible standpoint, white rice cooks a lot sooner than brown rice. Rice itself is the right car for greens and proteins, and it’s cheap and could be prepped upfront.

‘FACT’: we don’t want carbs to stay 

Carbohydrates have gotten a nasty fame for a very long time, however the considering that carbs are pointless is a typical diet fantasy principally perpetuated by followers of low carb and Carnivore diets, particularly on social media. Individuals who observe these diets typically declare that they’ve improved their well being, misplaced weight, improved their pores and skin, and gained extra vitality all by avoiding carbs. I’ve written in regards to the carnivore food regimen right here.

Though technically we can stay with out carbohydrate, that doesn’t imply that it’s a good suggestion. Ideally, we are attempting to optimize our well being versus simply attempting to outlive.

Our mind depends on glucose as its essential supply of vitality. Our our bodies could make glucose from different substrates in a course of known as gluconeogenesis, however that not as environment friendly a course of as simply utilizing carbs for glucose.

Once more: simply because we can, doesn’t imply we ought to.

There’s nothing mistaken with consuming a lower-carb food regimen, however fearing carbs and closely proscribing or avoiding them altogether isn’t well being selling, each bodily and emotionally. I’m going so as to add that fibre is a carb as nicely, and anybody who claims that fibre is pointless and even dangerous isn’t somebody who try to be getting your diet info from.

Fruit, greens, entire grains, beans, and legumes are all nutrient-rich sources of carbohydrates, together with fibre. That is vital for our gut-health, holding our levels of cholesterol wholesome, and may also help to stabilize blood sugar in individuals with diabetes. Analysis reveals us that the healthiest food regimen is one which comprises loads of crops.

Conversely, there isn’t a analysis that proves that avoiding crops – or that dramatically restricts carbs – promotes higher well being. There are at all times exceptions, however normally, the overwhelming majority of us profit from together with carbohydrates in our diets.

Carb high quality issues, too. Whereas there’s a function for refined carbohydrates in our diets, nearly all of our carb consumption ought to come from entire or minimally processed selections.

‘FACT’: saturated fats isn’t linked with coronary heart illness 

Pointers for the reason that 1970’s have been to cut back saturated fats consumption to lower cardiovascular threat, however with evolving science, we’re studying extra about how some meals wealthy in saturated fats might not have a adverse affect on coronary heart well being in spite of everything. Nonetheless, to say that saturated fats isn’t linked with coronary heart illness isn’t true. 

Saturated fats is present in many various meals. Most come from animal sources comparable to meat, poultry, and dairy merchandise, however tropical fat comparable to coconut and palm oils even have saturated fats. It’s vital to grasp that every one fat comprise a mixture of saturated and unsaturated fat in numerous quantities.

Learn my submit about seed oils right here.

Present tips recommend that not more than 10% of our energy per day ought to be from saturated fats. If there was proof to recommend that saturated fats was not linked coronary heart illness, these tips would have been adjusted by now.

Dairy merchandise have been a preferred meals group to analysis about saturated fats and coronary heart well being. Cheese has been discovered to have useful results on our blood fat in comparison with butter (which, FYI, is barely round 63% saturated fats).

In a latest systematic evaluation and meta-analysis, researchers discovered that in comparison with butter, dairy fats eaten within the type of cheese lowered fasting circulating complete ldl cholesterol, LDL and HDL. This is sensible provided that butter is a very completely different meals than cheese – cheese is a fermented meals and has protein, calcium and plenty of extra further vitamins that you just don’t discover in butter, which is basically pure fats.

Extra analysis is required to substantiate these findings, and there may additionally be variations between various kinds of cheese, comparable to exhausting and semi-soft cheeses.

One other more moderen space of analysis has been to have a look at the chain size of the fatty acids which could be grouped into brief, medium, and lengthy chains. Quick chain fatty acids are principally produced within the colon as a biproduct of fibre being fermented. Medium chain fatty acids are present in palm kernel, coconut oil and dairy merchandise. Lengthy chain fatty acids are present in dairy, beef, palm oil, and lard. 

In a systemic evaluation, it was discovered that lengthy chain fatty acids elevated the chance for coronary heart illness, whereas brief and medium chain fat had been extra impartial. Nonetheless, since most meals have various kinds of fatty acids, it turns into exhausting to make conclusions. 

When trying to cut back saturated fats to enhance coronary heart well being, what we substitute it with can be vital. It’s typically accepted that changing saturated fats with polyunsaturated fat is useful for our coronary heart well being. These fat are present in fatty fish comparable to salmon and sardines in addition to nuts and seeds, tofu and soy beans. Vegetable oils comparable to canola are additionally excessive in polyunsaturated fat. 

Analysis suggests that changing saturated fat with refined carbohydrates has a adverse impact on coronary heart well being. 

‘truth’: all of us want calcium dietary supplements for bone well being 

It could sound like a no brainer to complement a mineral you don’t get sufficient of out of your food regimen. However on the subject of the analysis, there are some issues to concentrate on on the subject of calcium in complement type.

There have been loads of research through the years taking a look at calcium dietary supplements and bone well being, however there isn’t loads of scientific consensus as a result of the research have blended outcomes. 

Most of those research have been accomplished with post-menopausal ladies, as this can be a time when age-related bone loss tends to speed up with lowering estrogen ranges. 

Data from the Ladies’s Well being Initiative (WHI) research recommend that calcium mixed with vitamin D is related to small enhancements in bone mineral density, however isn’t related to a threat for bone fracture in postmenopausal ladies.

The US Preventive Companies Job Power (USPSTF) had related findings, and each entities advocate towards day by day calcium supplementation for the prevention of fractures in postmenopausal ladies.

There are some dangers with calcium dietary supplements. This 2021 meta evaluation checked out associations between calcium dietary supplements and coronary heart well being. It discovered that calcium dietary supplements appeared to extend the chance for heart problems and coronary coronary heart illness, however not cerebrovascular illness. 

Age-related bone loss is a giant difficulty, particularly amongst ladies. I like to recommend a life-style strategy to help bone well being that features consuming calcium-rich meals, weight-bearing train comparable to strolling and resistance coaching, and quitting smoking. Get a baseline bone density scan, and observe up as really helpful.

‘truth’: everybody ought to be on a low sodium food regimen

Sodium is an important nutrient with roles that embody regulating fluid quantity and holding our muscle groups and nerves working correctly.

Blood strain tips and a few well being professionals have traditionally really helpful a low sodium food regimen (outlined as lower than 2300mg of sodium or about 1 tsp of salt) primarily based on the idea that this may cut back blood strain and in flip, cut back cardiovascular occasions.

Nonetheless, these suggestions have just lately been challenged attributable to lack of sturdy proof to advocate such a low consumption. Common sodium intakes world wide vary from 2.3-4.6g (1-2 tsp of salt) per day and a few researchers recommend that there isn’t a elevated threat of heart problems by having this quantity. The danger will increase when sodium consumption is over 5g per day. 

Additional, there isn’t a analysis to recommend that low sodium (within the vary at present really helpful) in comparison with the common consumption is related to a decrease threat of cardiovascular occasions and mortality. It could even be related to elevated threat. 

Graphic is from: Sodium and well being: one other problem to the present dogma | European Coronary heart Journal | Oxford Tutorial (oup.com) 

The PURE research, which adopted 102 000 people for 9 years discovered {that a} reasonable consumption (3–5 g/day) of sodium gave the impression to be optimum for well being, with decrease and better intakes being related to increased mortality and heart problems.

Isolating one single nutrient in a research is difficult. The results of sodium are additionally impacted by how a lot potassium somebody will get which provides to the problem. That’s okay – most wholesome individuals don’t have to fret about getting an excessive amount of sodium in the event that they deal with consuming quite a lot of entire meals and limiting ultra-processed meals. 

Vitamin analysis is evolving. In flip, we should always at all times problem our beliefs and be open to any progress . Be sure to get your info from credible sources.

There are lots of people couching their opinions as diet information. Be skeptical of something that appears excessive or too good to be true, as a result of it most likely is.