Where did you learn about diet and nutrition?

lillyblack1982
lillyblack1982 Posts: 63 Member
edited November 24 in Food and Nutrition
Hi all! I’m interested in finding out if anyone has some useful online sources of info for learning more about diet, nutrition, how our bodies use various nutrients, etc. As someone who has only a very basic, shallow knowledge of how it all works, I’m interested in learning a bit more— but wanting to stay away from info that promotes diet scams, which is where online searches usually end up taking me.

Replies

  • Momepro
    Momepro Posts: 1,509 Member
    All over. Internet, books forum, articles, science journals. Read alot, find what's supported, and devide what works best for you.
  • drealuvvsyhu
    drealuvvsyhu Posts: 10 Member
    I would say to go on YouTube and research people like:
    Jen heward
    Gaugegirltraining
    Sarasday
    Are great people tip refer to they are actually trainers and well versed in the fitness industry
  • AnvilHead
    AnvilHead Posts: 18,343 Member
    Mostly right here: https://bodyrecomposition.com/articles/

    There is a gold mine of free information on that site about nutrition, weight loss, training, etc. No scams and no BS.
  • amusedmonkey
    amusedmonkey Posts: 10,330 Member
    edited February 2018
    I learned the basics in school and it stuck, but I expanded my knowledge on these forums because every time someone asked or said something I never thought of I went on a searching spree. I was lucky enough to gravitate towards more reliable sources in my searches because the woo ones didn't align with what I learned in school (calories don't matter, some foods are magically better/worse for weight loss...etc). After some time I took a course on how to read research papers, and it sparked my curiosity to look into actual research. I really can't pinpoint one place where I got my info, but I agree with the link AnvilHead posted. That's one of the better sources.

    If at some point you decide to look at research too, here is a link for some research concentrated around weight management. A caution not take any single paper as fact despite how convincing it looks, because studies have shortcomings.
    http://sci-fit.net/2017/450-weight-loss-studies/

    ETA: here is an interesting read on the matter
    http://3dmusclejourney.com/confidence/?__s=pgpjqw7df3sehsoqgf6s

  • Machka9
    Machka9 Posts: 25,630 Member
    Where did you learn about diet and nutrition?

    From my mother, a nurse, while growing up.

    Also in school. Every year we had something on health and nutrition. Sometimes it was a whole class on it, other times, it was part of another class like science or physical education.


    Although I learned about diet and nutrition long before "online" existed, both my mother and my schools based much of their information on the Canada Food Guide, which is now accessible online:
    https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/canada-food-guides.html

    It's a decent place to start.
  • TavistockToad
    TavistockToad Posts: 35,719 Member
    Alatariel75 wrote: »
    Honestly? These forums. It took a while, and there's a lot of chaff amongst the wheat, but there are some seriously educated, successful people on here and when you work out who they are, and read what they post (and do follow up reading), it's very edifying.

    Pretty much this
  • snowflake954
    snowflake954 Posts: 8,399 Member
    I grew up on a farm and we had a garden in the summer so we had our own fresh produce. We had Home Ec in high school--much info there. Then I married an Italian and moved to Italy 32 yrs ago. In Italy cooking and food knowlege are an art form. I slowly absorbed and understood it. Then 5 yrs ago I joined MFP and as mentioned by others, the forums are full of info, both good and bad. The woo is usually suppressed pretty fast, so you can glean alot. It's a learning process.
  • Keto_Vampire
    Keto_Vampire Posts: 1,670 Member
    edited February 2018
    College biochem, health, & Endocrinology. Have a bit of experience working with registered nutritionists (more disease state emphasis rather than mainstream diets; good reference: ASPEN).

    A lifetime habit of reading food and drug labels. A bunch of good old fashion n=1 trial and error.

    I do rather enjoy reading some of Lyle McDonald's articles & frequently look up stuff using nutrition data dot com out of sheer boredom & fascination. It's okay to be skeptical; there is no one size fits all solution, just take things with a grain of salt
  • kommodevaran
    kommodevaran Posts: 17,890 Member
    edited February 2018
    At home, school, government pamphlets, here, books, articles, everywhere. I've been so thoroughly scammed before. Critical thinking really is essential.
  • dreamer12151
    dreamer12151 Posts: 1,031 Member
    My Mum is a nurse, so I grew up listening to a lot of it, plus we had health and home ec in school (back in the dark ages! haha) Plus I've also done my fair share of research, both in old fashioned books plus internet (have to weed out the good from the quacks), on here, YouTube (another plug for GaugeGirl Training!) as well as seeing a nutritionist for a few years.

    The best way though, is to combine all that into what suits yourself. There is NO "ONE" perfect way, unless it is your way.
  • lemurcat12
    lemurcat12 Posts: 30,886 Member
    edited February 2018
    Reading a variety of books and articles and such from credible sources (i.e., not diet books), plus general background from school, life, whatever.

    If you want internet sites, try:

    Good basic source (I don't think it's perfect): https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/healthy-eating-plate/

    https://www.choosemyplate.gov/MyPlate -- really not a bad start

    https://www.thenutritionwonk.com/ -- good fun source for the discussion of news and issues

    Marion Nestle's site and book What To Eat are decent sources for the general public -- here is a blog post at her site talking about her book: https://www.foodpolitics.com/what-to-eat-an-aisle-by-aisle-guide-to-savvy-food-choices-and-good-eating/

    Good basic article that gets beyond the diet wars: https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2014/03/science-compared-every-diet-and-the-winner-is-real-food/284595/
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    Honestly, deep down I think most of us know what we should be eating...I've always known that a well balanced and varied diet consisting of a lot of whole foods and moving was the way to go...I just didn't apply knowing that with actually doing that with any kind of consistency.

    When I first started out I was looking all over the place on-line and finding all kinds of conflicts and whatnot...I ultimately just said, "this is stupid...I know what I should be eating." I have gotten quite a bit of good information on-line, but you have to wade through a bunch of dumb *kitten* *kitten* and be able to identify that as well.

    I've also learned a lot from my trainer who has his masters in nutrition.
  • ksz1104
    ksz1104 Posts: 260 Member
    Google. No, seriously, have had to do alot of research on my own. Have to weed through the information though and figure out which is good info and which is BS (BS is usually easy to spot, but not always).
  • Falklang
    Falklang Posts: 220 Member
    YouTube. But I spent a while weeding out the crap and just generally doing thorough research. At the end of the day though after years of research and studying I can honestly tell you the one thing I've learnt that works is...CICO, calories in calories out.

    Plain and simple, yet hard to do and maintain. Once you sort out the calories, start lobbing in cardio, then strength training. Then start refining your food to make it healthier and bosh sorted lol.
  • toxikon
    toxikon Posts: 2,383 Member
    I like to read articles on https://www.examine.com. They have lots of good ones.
  • ahopefultree
    ahopefultree Posts: 12 Member
    edited February 2018
    I actually had a pretty decent overview in high school health class, which is where my basic knowledge comes from. Since then, I've built up my knowledge by reading and researching. These forums are a really good resource, but also remember to do your own research. There are so many myths and old wives' tales out there about weight loss and fitness, and on top of that, not everything works for everyone. You need to figure out fact from fiction, and figure out what works from you.
    I think the number one thing to remember is that there are no quick fixes or shortcuts. If some diet is promising that you can drop 50 by doing nothing and just taking this weird pill, it's too good to be true.
  • HoneyBadger302
    HoneyBadger302 Posts: 2,075 Member
    I don't have any great online resources handy, although I have found some over the years.

    My "education" started young when my mother had food allergy issues. She had to go through an elimination diet, and I also sat in on most of her meetings with her dietician/nutritionist. That process kicked off my education on food in general. Then there was my own education, my ex's education (he was going through a doctorate that had several nutrition related courses), and my own research over the years from books, magazines, online, and athletic coaches.
  • jgnatca
    jgnatca Posts: 14,464 Member
    1. The Canada Food Guide
    2. The Joy of Cooking
    3. A dozen diabetic classes
    4. Coaching from dietitians
    5. Another ten classes from a government sponsored weight loss program
    6. Logging my food
    7. Browsing nutritiondata
  • quiksylver296
    quiksylver296 Posts: 28,439 Member
    Mostly here on MFP, and a couple good podcasts lately.

    Sigma Nutrition
    Shredded by Science
  • apullum
    apullum Posts: 4,838 Member
    Right here.

    I got a biology degree, which taught me about things like anatomy and animal behavior (including humans...which is where my professional career wound up taking me...but that is another story), but it didn't include any nutrition classes. You would be surprised by how many degree programs that seem like they would teach you something about healthy eating...well, don't.

    I read a LOT of stuff when I was diagnosed with PCOS, got a LOT of (bad) advice from various doctors, and spent years feeling like weight loss was impossible. Who could possibly spend their entire lives without eating bread, sugar, fat, etc., etc.--all those things that we're told we can't eat if we want to lose weight? So I just decided I wasn't going to spend my life with all those miserable restrictions that wouldn't let me eat the things I wanted. Life's too short for that.

    Then I wound up here and realized you don't have to have all those restrictions, and you can lose weight just fine without doing any of those things.

    There are some really knowledgeable people here. Also a lot of woo...but mostly smart people :)
  • onward1
    onward1 Posts: 386 Member
    Alatariel75 wrote: »
    Honestly? These forums. It took a while, and there's a lot of chaff amongst the wheat, but there are some seriously educated, successful people on here and when you work out who they are, and read what they post (and do follow up reading), it's very edifying.

    ^This.
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