This Week in Health.. Oh Gawsh… Is All the Research Wrong!?
Food Research is Flawed. What’s New?
So much to talk about.. but not enough time or space.. let’s tackle this swiftly..
Recent news broke that 1 in 7 research studies within food and nutrition were connected to the food industry… does that mean it’s falsified, lacks trust or credibility, or is just some giant conspiracy of another monopoly using propaganda…?
Hold your horses… let’s take a step back.
Photo by Pineapple Supply Co. on Unsplash
It’s true, most food research has ties to the food industry, typically a specific company or brand trying to fund research to promote a specific product to increase consumer awareness, trust, likability, and to inform medical professionals and nutritionists like myself. Why…?
Profits of course, why else? BUT WAIT.. that doesn’t mean it is inherently bad… let me explain…
IF I was super passionate and excited to share something AMAZING with you, don’t you think I would try to promote it all the time, like
“Hey! This is the next best thing since sliced bread!”
I might try to talk to you about it in person, get others to talk about it, and possibly even show you research to back up the claims! If I truly believe in the power of something to promote good health for a person, I’m going to do everything in my power to help that person with what I believe can help! Same goes for a lot of these companies and in every industry for the most part. I don’t think 99% of researchers, marketers, or journalists are evil, that’s for sure.
BUT, there may be some people working in their industries who are a bit illusioned so to speak… I don’t want to step on anyone’s toes.. but rather than argue with someone from the pesticide industry about the impacts of RoundUp (active ingredient glyphosate) on soil health, I’d likely just accept that someone probably had grown up in a culture, company and perspective to perceive them as safe and helpful… while I in fact hold the exact opposite viewpoint.
“Compared to a random sample of 196 studies without food industry involvement, those with industry ties were more than five times more likely to report results that favored food industry interests (55.6% vs. 9.7%),”
So are research ties to the industry inherently wrong or evil, not likely… but there may be some very interesting big players in the game to think about:
who funded the study?
who performed the research itself?
who benefits from the study?
who loses (if anyone) with this new information?
Food Research is always changing, rearranging (“eat this much protein,” “no more coconut oil!” “almonds are heart healthy?” etc.)
Our diet and lifestyles are always changing too. But, the overall best tips to consume an overall healthy diet and live a modestly healthy life remain the same.
We don’t need to make things more confusing.
It’s pretty simple actually. What’s the answer?
Well,
Eat
Move
Sleep
Stress
Rest
Connect
+ BONUS: Finding purpose and meaning
(more details below!)
If you can do all of these things well then you’re doing better than 95% of Americans… think I’m kidding.. think again.
Only 23% of people consistently get the exercise they need. Nearly 90% of Americans have problems with their metabolism (metabolically unhealthy), and around 8-12% of Americans consume their recommended amounts of fruits and vegetables.
Photo by Thomas Park on Unsplash
So, what can we do to improve every angle of our health and wellness?
Well, one topic that isn’t talked about enough today is the impact of fiber.. and no I’m not talking about those glorified candy bars boasting 5g fiber per serving.
I’m talking about real whole food fiber, from sources like avocados (a medium avocado provides an average of 12g fiber). The recommended amount of fiber each day spans anywhere from 25-38g for women and men respectively. And in a pandemic of highly processed food all around us, only 5% of Americans are meeting these goals of fiber intake each day.
Constipation or Diarrhea anyone?
Yea… that’s what I thought..
The interesting thing about avocados is that they boast a bunch of healthy fats, at least a quarter of your daily amount of fiber, and they can even help alleviate digestive issues for some people because they are so smooth, creamy and obviously delicious. In exchange of other more problematic sources of fat like fatty red meats or fried foods, avocados are probably not going to raise those sensitive cholesterol levels, blood pressure, or risk for heart disease or cancer. And another point to make about exchanging avocado for red meat…
MEAT offers little to no fiber… the avocado is rich in fiber as well as a whole host of other beneficial micronutrients and phytochemicals too! What more could you ask for..?
From Avocado Toast in San Francisco, California to an indulgent Chocolate Avocado Mousse dessert served in a hipster fine dining restaurant in New York City or sliced atop a buddha bowl, fresh salad of mixed greens and veggies, or sandwich… avocados can be used for every meal you can imagine. YES – I said chocolate avocado mousse… and YES it is amazingly delicious.
But wait, that’s not all avocados are good for.. they can provide all that beneficial fiber to help feed our good gut bugs, that’s right.. our microbiome too! That’s what this recent study at the University of Illinois found after 12 weeks of avocado consumption, the little gut bugs were better balanced, healthier, and metabolizing nutrients in the gut better for the humans who ate an extra avocado a day compared to the control group. Read the news briefing here – Avocado Consumption Helps Improve Gut Microbiome and Effects Weight Loss: Study
“what’s your purpose?” “what is your biggest, boldest, meaning in life”
What’s your MTP: “massively transformative purpose?
For more in the world of food and nutrition considerations, here’s a recent cover by HuffPost (fka HuffingtonPost) discussing the concerns for caffeine and coffee consumption – which is different for everyone. Actually, caffeine and coffee consumption is going to effect everyone differently due to different sensitivities in digestion and absorption, how your unique body metabolizes the caffeine. Consumption of caffeine and its effects also depend on how much you drink, what time of day you drink, what other foods and drinks you have consumed that day – or not.
Should you consume coffee during a meal or consume coffee on an empty stomach…?
You can read more about it and determine what makes the most sense for you by sipping on this article hot off the press. “Is It Bad To Drink Coffee On An Empty Stomach?” The author / journalist does a great job interviewing a couple notable dietitians who highlight any potential problems with irritable bowel symptoms, IBS, diarrhea, gas, bloating, cramps, and other issues like anxiety and blood sugar regulation. Don’t forget sleep – as a rule of thumb, skip the caffeine after noon, go for decaf or a warm non-caffeinated tea!
Photo by Nathan Dumlao on Unsplash
TIP THIS WEEK is to use our outline above to track how well you LIVE YOUR HEALTH this week.
Use a sheet of paper or a note folder on your phone. Track what steps you’ve taken to improve how well you do with each of these areas of your health and wellness this week!
Eat (fruits, veggies, beans, nuts, seeds, more colors, more whole foods than processed)
Move (regular activity)
Sleep (quantity and quality)
Stress (Management; de-stressing and coping techniques)
Rest (calm, relaxation, mediation, etc.)
Connect (spending time with others, smiles, laughter, love, making memories, calling an ond frined)
+ BONUS: Finding purpose and meaning
(What’s your MTP: “massively transformative purpose?)
If you can do all of these things well then you’re doing better than 95% of Americans… not kidding!