Nutrition fads and myths

Have you heard these myths about certain foods that grapefruit burns fat, garlic prevents heart disease, and carrots make your hair shine and increase your sex drive? These are just a few of the thousands of health claims made about what we eat.

Each day on the newsstand there is a new diet plan or life-saving "magic" food or nutrient. Where do we draw the line? How do we know the right thing to do? We all want to live longer and healthier lives, but how do we sort through all the inaccurate and untrue claims?

Evaluate food claims by asking the following questions:

• Is the product being sold to make a profit for the seller? Remember, some people will do almost anything to sell a product and you should be skeptical.
• Is the claim feasible? Can you really eat nothing but grapefruit for a week? Let's be realistic!
• Does the claim sound reasonable? If onions prevented cancer, wouldn't we all know about it? If they did, we would have a reason to celebrate!
• Is it restrictive? In other words, if you limit your diet to only a few foods, it is likely to result in nutrient deficiencies that would be unhealthy!
• Are the claims reliable? Who did the research and are they reputable health professionals from a reputable institution?

If the claim seems too good to be true, it likely is. Do not replace a healthy diet that includes a variety of nutritious foods with fad diets and supplements. Use your best judgment and accept the fact that there are no quick fixes. If you want to live a longer, healthier life you need to adapt appropriate lifestyle habits of healthy eating and exercise for you and your family, each and every day for a lifetime.

If you have questions about nutrition claims that you have heard, contact a registered dietitian.

Last Reviewed 2005

Disclaimer: This content is reviewed periodically and is subject to change as new health information becomes available. The information provided is intended to be informative and educational and is not a replacement for professional medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or treatment by a healthcare professional.

HIL File NUTR3305.rf2 VRS# 6956 Data Version 7.0 Copyright 1999 McKesson Health Solutions LLC. All rights reserved.