Lecture 11: Dietary Trends Flashcards
Why are dietary trends so confusing?
The media dramatises data - People are getting nutritional information from the media rather than qualified dieticians
What are the negative parts of nutrition books?
Used to be a common source of nutrition, Varying quality, promote weight loss with lots of conflicting information, written by people with little experiance
How is social media nutritional advice poor?
Engagement is higher for posts of lower quality, over half have inaccuracies, people are payed to promote rather than true belief in the method
What is a fad diet?
- ‘in fashion’
- promote quick weight loss
- restrictive
- lack scientific evidence
- persuasive
What influences food choices? (4)
Biological, economic, physical, social
What are detox diets?
May involve fasting or consuming a restricted diet for a short period of time - often involve supplements
What are the general claims of detox diet?
Eliminate toxins from the body, improve immunity, weight loss
What does the science say about detox diets?
- Very limited research
- Lungs, liver and kidneys naturally filter out toxins
- Weight loss is not sustainable
What is a carnivore diet?
High fat, low CHO, high red processed meat, low fibre
What does the science say about carnivore diets?
Multiple food groups missing, lack of essential minerals and vitamins, increased risk of colorectal cancer
What is the definition of diet?
The food and drink usually eaten or drunk by a person or group
What is the definition of trend?
A general development or change in a situation or in the way that people are behaving
What is ceoliac disease?
Autoimmune disease, villi are damaged and have a lower surface area, causes malnutrition as nutrients are not being absorbed
What is gluten?
Gluten is formed when two proteins (gliadin and glutenin), which are found in grains such as wheat, rye and barley, are mixed with water
What are the claims to going gluten free?
Boost energy, decrease bloating and other gut problems, lose weight
What does the science say about going gluten free?
No benefit if not needed, lower in fibre and some B vitamins
What are the claims to going sugar free?
Boost energy, lose weight, improved mental clarity
What does the science say about going sugar free?
- Can improve dental decay
- Removing added sugar can have benefits
- Whole food sources are unlikely to contribute to weight can and contain important nutrients
- Foods high in sugar are useful for athletes
What is intermittent fasting?
Time restricted eating
What does the science say about intermittent fasting?
- Can be easier to stick to and result in weight loss
- Not suitable for some medications
- Dizziness, low energy and mental function
- Calorie restriction does the same thing
What is a vegan diet?
Avoid all animal products
What are the benefits of a vegan diet?
- High intake of fruits and vegetables
- Lower BMI
- Lower risk of heart disease
- Lower environmental impact
What are the risks of a vegan diet?
- B12 deficiency
- Low iron status? (low stores but not necessarily deficient)
- Low calcium
What is a keto diet?
Very low CHO diet (<20-50g) that induces ketosis
- High fat approx. 70%
What are the aims of a keto diet?
- Originally used in children with epilepsy
- Change type of fuel the body uses
What are risks of a keto diet?
- High SAFA
- Nutrient deficiencies
- Kidney problems
- Low fibre
- Low cognitive function
Tools to evaluate a dietary trend?
- Look at trusted evidence
- Does it eliminate food groups?
- Sustainable?
- Concequences?
What are the best research designs?
Systematic reviews, meta-analyses, RCT, double blind studies
What is lactose intolerance/lactase persitance?
The lack of the enzyme lactase that breaks down lactose
Where is lactose intolerance significantly higher?
Europe
What is clean eating?
No recognised definition - unprocessed or whole foods
What must a safe weight loss diet include?
- contain all required nutrients
- be palatable
- be maintainable
- have medical assessment
