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First you hear you should be eating less fat and more carbohydrates, then
it's less carbs and more fat. Today, it's not unusual for articles in the
popular press that report on newly published nutrition studies to appear
to contradict previously reported findings on different studies. Is one
right and the other wrong? Are they both right, but differently? How do
you sort the "beef" from the "baloney"? Here are some tips on how to use
caution and common sense when reading and listening to nutrition news
reports.
Go beyond the headlines. An attention-grabbing headline may leave a
different impression than the full newspaper article or news brief. Read
or listen to the whole story. Often a response from experts or
"bottom-line" advice appears at the story's end.
Check the report. Are there other studies to support the evidence?
Recognize preliminary findings for what they are. The results of one study
are not enough to change your food choices.
Learn to be research-savvy. Read more about the study before applying its
conclusions to you. Who are the authors? A reputable nutrition author
usually is educated in the field of nutrition, medicine or a related
specialty with a degree from an accredited college or university. Did the
study use animals or humans? Results from animal studies are a good first
step in researching a hypothesis, but the results don't always apply to
humans. If it was a human study, ask yourself: Are the people studied like
you in age, gender, health status, ethnicity, geographic location and
lifestyle? Does the study or report tell how it relates to overall food
choices, lifestyle and other published research?
Check the source. Credible research comes from credible institutions and
scientists and is reported in peer-reviewed scientific and professional
journals. Before nutrition research is published in reputable journals, it
must meet well-established standards of nutrition research. Look for
referrals to journals such as the Journal of the American Dietetic
Association, New England Journal of Medicine or Journal of the American
Medical Association in nutrition news stories.
Seek a qualified opinion. Before making changes in your eating style,
consult a registered dietitian, research scientist in the field or your
doctor. Even promising research may not apply to you.
One research scientist often sought by the media to help sort through the
myriad of findings coming out each week is Dr. Robert Eckel, professor of
medicine with the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center in Denver.
Identified as a "top doctor" in America and highly regarded as a research
scientist, Eckel will speak at the Fort Collins Lincoln Center on March 25
at a scholarship dinner hosted by the Department of Food Science and Human
Nutrition at Colorado State University and Poudre Valley Hospital. The
title of Eckel's talk is "Current Nutrition Information: Sorting the Beef
from the Baloney." For information and tickets, contact Pam Blue at (970)
491-7345.
For more information, contact your local
Colorado State University Extension office.
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