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Fighting nutrition misinformation
April 10, 2006
Media insights...and warnings from the ADA's newest position statement ITHACA, NY- This month the American Dietetics Association releases its newest updated position statement - Food and Nutrition Misinformation. And it has a lot to say about the media.
"In today's nutrition education world, the media is king," said Dr. Brian Wansink, Cornell University Professor and author of the position statement. The media that were cited as having the biggest impact were magazines, television, books, newspapers, and the Internet.
How does the media score on accuracy? "They get good marks," said Wansink, but there are four inaccuracies that can be easily avoided: 1) reporting a correlation as causation, 2) generalizing a study's results to a broader population not represented by the study, 3) exaggerating the size of an effect, and 4) using a single link in a chain of events to make predictions about events in the future.
Given media's critical role in nutrition education, the position statement offers advice for journalists who are reporting on nutrition studies:
- Was the research done by a credible institution and by qualified researchers?
- Is this a preliminary study? Have other studies reached similar conclusions?
- Was the research population large enough? Was the study long enough?
- Who paid for the study, and is the science valid despite the funding source?
- Was the report reviewed by peers?
- Does the report avoid absolutes, such as "proves" or "causes"?
- Does the report reflect appropriate context (e.g., how the research fits into a broader picture of scientific evidence and consumer lifestyles)?
- Do the results apply only to a certain group of people?
Cornell Food & Brand Lab
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Eat, Drink, and Be Healthy: The Harvard Medical School Guide to Healthy Eating
by M.D. Walter C. Willett (Author), P.J. Skerrett (Contributor)
As seen on the Today show! The National Bestseller Based on Harvard Medical School and Harvard School of Public Health Research...A Revolutionary Guide to Healthy Eating That Topples the USDA Food Pyramid In Eat, Drink, and Be Healthy, Dr. Walter Willett explains why the USDA guidelines -- the famous food pyramid -- are not only wrong but also dangerous. Debunking current dietary myths such as the evils of eggs and how high milk consumption does a body good, Dr. Willett sets an all-new nutritional standard. You'll discover: eye-opening new research on the healthiest carbohydrates, fats, and proteins why weight control is the single most important factor menu plans and recipes that make it easy to reinvent your daily diet
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American Dietetic Association Complete Food and Nutrition Guide
by Roberta Larson Duyff (Author), ADA (American Diabetes Association) (Author)
A lifetime of sound and easy advice on healthy eating from the world's foremost authority on food and nutrition The choices you make every day about food, nutrition, and health can have a major impact on your life. To find the most reliable nutrition information and positive advice for achieving optimal health, look no further--this comprehensive book from the American Dietetic Association explains everything you need to know about eating for health. It's packed with simple, practical tips and flexible guidelines to help you choose nutritious, flavorful, and convenient foods that suit your needs and lifestyle no matter what your age or stage of life. This brand-new edition of the bestselling American Dietetic Association Complete Food and...
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Nutrition: Concepts and Controversies
by Frances Sizer (Author), Ellie Whitney (Author)
With more than 1 million users, NUTRITION: CONCEPTS AND CONTROVERSIES remains the nutrition text of choice for majors and non-majors alike. Packed with practical applications and powerful resources, the exciting new eleventh edition equips you with a thorough understanding of important nutrition concepts and tools to make informed and responsible decisions about your own nutrition. Known for its clear explanations that show relevance to readers, the text helps students of all backgrounds learn the basics of nutrition--from being good consumers to understanding the science of nutrition. It is packed with practical applications that support quantitative learning skills, critical-thinking skills, and behavior change. The authors quickly draw you into the study of nutrition through a number...
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Nutrition For Dummies
by Carol Ann Rinzler (Author)
You've been hearing it since you were a little kid: "You are what you eat." But unlike most of the adages you’ve long since debunked, this wise saying is true! Good nutrition is the key to achieving and maintaining a healthy weight and lifelong good health—no matter how you slice it. This edition of Nutrition for Dummies has been updated with the latest revisions of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, new recommended daily allowances for all the nutrients a healthy body needs, plus the real low-down on all the conflicting opinions about vitamins and minerals, protein, fats, and carbs. You’ll discover how to: Interpret nutrition labels Prepare delicious, healthy meals Keep nutrients in food, even after cooking Eat smart when eating out ...
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Nancy Clark's Sports Nutrition Guidebook
by Nancy Clark (Author)
Boost your energy, manage stress, build muscle, lose fat, and improve your performance with the all-time best-selling sports nutrition guide! Nancy Clark's Sports Nutrition Guidebook will help you make the right food choices in grocery stores, restaurants, drive-throughs, and your own kitchen. Whether you're preparing for competition or simply eating on the go, let sport`s leading nutritionist show you how to get maximum benefit from the foods you choose and the meals you make. You'll learn how to eat before exercise and events as well as how to refuel afterward for optimal recovery. Updated and on the cutting edge, the fourth edition includes the latest sports nutrition research on hydration and fluid intake, vitamins, supplements, energy drinks, organic foods, and the...
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Contemporary Nutrition, Updated Sixth Edition
by Gordon M. Wardlaw (Author), Anne M Smith (Author)
Contemporary Nutrition Sixth Edition Update is designed for students with little or no background in college-level biology, chemistry or physiology. Updated to include the new 2005 Dietary Guidelines & MyPyramid information, Contemporary Nutrition will provide students who lack a strong science background the ideal balance of reliable nutrition information and practical consumer-oriented knowledge. With his friendly writing style, Gordon Wardlaw acts as the student's personal guide to dispelling common misconceptions and to gaining a solid foundation for making informed nutrition choices.
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Complete Idiot's Guide to Total Nutrition, Fourth Edition
by M.S., R.D., C.D.N., Joy Bauer (Author)
Good health starts with good nutrition. With all the constant debate over diet fads, proper nutrition is slipping through the cracks. This revised and updated guide places the emphasis on good health by informing families of everything they need to know to get the best nutrition—from daily vitamin and mineral intake and facts about fats and cholesterol, to advice on shopping for healthy foods, and much more. -Includes updates to the USDA’s Food Guide Pyramid -New numbers for blood pressure and sodium intake -A section on helping overweight children -New fiber recommendations for kids -A new section on macrobiotics and raw diets
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The Chemistry of Food and Nutrition (Dodo Press)
by A. W. Duncan (Author)
"Popular literature abounds in unsound statements on food. It is unfortunate that many ardent workers in the cause of health are lacking in scientific knowledge, especially of physiology and chemistry. By their immature and sweeping statements from the platform and press, they often bring discredit on a good cause. Matters of health must be primarily based on experience and we must bear in mind that each person can at the most have full knowledge of himself alone, and to a less degree of his family and intimates. The general rules of health are applicable to all alike, but not in their details. Owing to individual imperfections of constitution, difference of temperament and environment, there is danger when one man attempts to measure others by his own standard. "
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Nutrition: An Applied Approach (2nd Edition)
by Janice Thompson (Author), Melinda Manore (Author)
The Second Edition of Nutrition: An Applied Approach, presents introductory nutrition information to non-majors in an applied format that discourages memorization and promotes long-term understanding of the material. The authors capitalize on students’ natural interest in nutrition by demonstrating how it relates to their health and their everyday lives, and by addressing- and debunking- commonly held misconceptions students have. The applied nature of the book is also reflected in the functional organization of the micronutrient chapters. The Role of Nutrition in Our Health, Designing a Healthful Diet, The Human Body: Are We Really What We Eat?Carbohydrates: Plant-Derived Energy Nutrients, Alcohol, Fat: An Essential...
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The New Optimum Nutrition Bible
by Patrick Holford (Author)
Since it was first published in 1997, THE OPTIMUM NUTRITION BIBLE has revolutionized health by showing more than half a million readers how to achieve a profound sense of well-being by devising the best possible intake of nutrients for their unique biochemical makeup. THE NEW OPTIMUM NUTRITION BIBLE presents the latest research from Britain'¬?s top nutrition expert Patrick Holford, with new chapters on stimulants, water, eating right for your blood type, detox, homocysteine, and toxic minerals. You'¬?ll learn to analyze your symptoms, lifestyle, and eating habits in order to formulate a personal ideal diet and vitamin regimen. Once optimum nutrition is in place, you can look forward to a consistent high level of energy, emotional balance, alertness, physical fitness, resilience against...
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