Where are the objective experts in the nutrition world?

Adventure9
Adventure9 Posts: 58 Member
edited November 15 in Food and Nutrition
I've been interested and studied nutrition (as non-professional) for decades. Nutrition wisdom is a lot like political parties: IE: Low fat strategy, Vegetarian, Paleo, Blood sugar based etc. All parties make a great case for their way of thinking. I bought into the "Low Fat" thinking in the 80's, 90's and early 2000's espoused by authors such as Pritikin. During this time, I ate an overabundance of low-fat, whole grain, high carb foods for these 25 years or so. I'm now pre-diabetic and I think that my diet helped create that condition. Today I see the error in my ways. I created a constant high blood sugar environment and have challenged my metabolic systems that deal with glucose. So, over the past few years, I've been reading and trying to apply many of the ideas of a more Paleo type of program. But, I've come to realize is there is "hype" in most dietary programs.

Where are the objective experts is this nutrition world? Which authors seam to mirror the advice of professionals without so much hype and wrong info?

Thanks.

Replies

  • Need2Exerc1se
    Need2Exerc1se Posts: 13,575 Member
    Why not just read what the professionals in the field of nutrition have to say on medical, university and public health websites? It's free and you don't get the bias of an author trying to sell a book or blog.
  • RodaRose
    RodaRose Posts: 9,562 Member
    Marion Nestle, in her book "What to Eat" deals with some of that --- simple common sense guidelines that we know from the past still hold true today.
  • RavenScroft10
    RavenScroft10 Posts: 1 Member
    I feel ya, Adventure9. I've started researching prediabetes-friendly foods for a girlfriend who was just diagnosed, and even the professionals don't agree about what's right, or best. If you add in all of the personal opinions of people who have been successful (or not) from the pages of comments on their sites, it's easy to get frustrated and discouraged.
  • dave4d
    dave4d Posts: 1,155 Member
    I've noticed that some things work well for some people, for other, they don't. Low carb works great for a sedentary person, for a runner, it would hurt their performance and make them more susceptible to injury. What works well for an athlete, won't work so well for someone that is sedentary and pre-diabetic.

    Nutritionists need to target their advice to the individual, because we all have slightly different needs and lifestyles.
  • HeidiCooksSupper
    HeidiCooksSupper Posts: 3,839 Member
    I'm very fond of Harvard School of Public Health's "Nutritionsource." http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/
  • lthames0810
    lthames0810 Posts: 722 Member
    Rather than politics, I describe it as more like religion. And it's just as treacherous a topic for cocktail party conversation. The various so called experts have their disciples and holy texts. The believers come onto these forums and evangelize.

    It's very difficult to get unbiased answers that apply to a specific situation. Most of us aren't technically knowledgeable enough to go to the source scientific studies and evaluate them for ourselves. All we can really do is listen to doctors and read legitimate medical sources (not blogs) and then apply our critical thinking skills to what we hear.
  • yarwell
    yarwell Posts: 10,477 Member
    Adventure9 wrote: »
    Where are the objective experts is this nutrition world? Which authors seam to mirror the advice of professionals without so much hype and wrong info?

    Not sure about the question here, "professionals" don't have one opinion and are far from free of hype and wrong info.

  • jgnatca
    jgnatca Posts: 14,464 Member
    How about the experts who sit on committees to advise government on nutrition policy? They are obviously respected among their peers.

    For example in the UK,

    Dr Ann Prentice, Director at MRC Human Nutrition Research, Professor Peter Aggett, Professor of Child Health and Nutrition
    https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/scientific-advisory-committee-on-nutrition

  • snowflake954
    snowflake954 Posts: 8,399 Member
    I would suggest you look into the "mediterranean" diet, since it's been around for centuries and is protected by UNESCO. Studies of certain small towns in Italy, especially Sardenia, show people that live to be over 100, and have little heart disease or diabetes. It is essentially the idea that you eat a little of everything--no fads. I know there is alot of debate on what exactly it is, but that's because it's flexible. CICO still applies, and there are alot of fresh fruits and vegetables, as well as cooking from scratch. B)
  • Adventure9
    Adventure9 Posts: 58 Member
    Some good advice here about objective sources of info. Thank you.
  • _John_
    _John_ Posts: 8,646 Member
    "objective" nutrition advice is often so generic that it can be of little use. There's so much uncertainty (scientifically) in nutrition.

  • urloved33
    urloved33 Posts: 3,323 Member
    Stay on this site and post a "good or bad" calorie statement or questions...and every nutrition expert on mfp will come right to you. lol.
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