What should we eat to stay healthy? Why experts actually have no idea

blogs.reuters.com

5 points·testrun··4 comments

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I was under the impression that a consensus among dieticians and nutritionist has been reached: consume the right number of calories, eat less sugar and exercise regularly. The #1 nutrition-related health issue in the U.S. is obesity - a condition caused not so much by what you eat, but by how much you consume. (Bearing in mind that it's easier to overeat when consuming fatty, sugary, calorie-dense foods).

If we're talking about dietary recommendations like "eat an antioxidant-rich diet to reduce your chances of developing cancer by %15" - well, I've always considered those to be a little ridiculous. I should modify my otherwise healthy diet in order to slightly tip the odds in my favor for one specific disease? Nonsense.

A large part of the issue comes down to funding, and a lack of resources to do the kinds of studies that would help answer some of our most pressing questions. Our insistence on making recommendations — without having the proper research to back them up — has unintended, harmful effects.

This seems sort of crazy. Properly understanding what makes for a healthy diet would go a long way in reducing health issues.

I imagine that nutrition research just isn't as sexy as, say, mapping the human brain.

Less processed crap works for me.

I noticed as a student, that it was cheaper to cook my own stuff fresh, and miraculously I got less spots and fewer colds.

I've heard it summed up in one sentence: Eat less, mostly vegetables, and only lean meats.

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