Which diet advice is to be believed?

[TheDeadlyDonkey]

I've started reading John Briffa's Escape the Diet Trap. It makes for very interesting reading, but has made me question the usual run of the mill low fat type diet advice.
If Briffa is to be believed, low fat diets are unsustainable and can contribute to ongoing obesity issues and increasing the risk of diabetes.

I've also recently heard that if milk is to be drunk, full fat milk is better, as the majority of vitamins and minerals are in the fat.

I'm also hearing varying reports on cholesterol, and how it maybe isn't playing the dangerous role that many drs are telling us.

So, after DH's stroke (which wasn't in any way a lifestyle issue) he has been advised to be cautious and cut down on fat and use benecol spread and yoghurt drink (I have read that these aren't good for you, but can't remember where, could have been on here)

So when there is so much conflicting advice, who do you trust? What do you believe?

John Briffa's book is really convincing, quotes trials, uses scientific charts etc, and makes sense.
I myself have struggled with low fat diets, and failed more times than I care to admit.
I am in no way qualified to interpret scientific trial data (along with the majority of the population) and am growing more and more confused about the conflicting advice that is out there.

I'm not really sure what I'm expecting from this thread, but I'm interested to see what others think about this, and who you trust when it comes to diet advice?

Yes but they sell books

I hate to sound so simple but here goes. Burn off more than you eat. The trouble with diets is that you are on a diet. That means when you are at your target you are no longer on a diet and slip into old way. It's all about lifestyle.

That said, I would warn against an Apple a day. It didn't do this man any good eveningharold.com/2013/05/28/man-dies-after-eating-an-apple-a-day/

The reality is that we live in an obesegenic environment. Most of the food around us is no good for us. Skipping the odd meal / having the odd blow out does no harm. I am loving 5:2 for its simplicity. Just 1 meal a day twice a week, what could be easier and I struggle to see whose pockets I am lining TBH. I have lost 1st since Feb, with virtually no effort.

I don't see why buying the odd book or DVD or C.D. is so terrible everyone has to live. I don't like the huge money made from shit diet food though! Especially as it's not doing anyone any good.

Pp - if a way of eating has a name and somebody has written a book about ( have you seen how many blood group diet books that author has brought out - another set in the autumn too) then somebody is making money out of what most of us can do naturally given a common sense approach and the right frame of mind. The fact that Hay has been around for ages (although not that long in the history if eating and nutrition) doesn't mean it isn't a gimmick, just another low cal diet that works specifically because it is low cal, not because it is the answer we have all been missing the last 70 odd years. Anybody would lose weight on 1000 - 1200 cals a day.

And no I am not 'off' PMcK - i follow the rules but I don't listen to the CD for maximum effect and I am sure I could do better if I could stand to do it. Ultimately though, nothing is going to be that successful unless I get significantly more sleep which is by far my biggest problem.

Childof79 - you must find threads like this sooo frustrating.

This thread has certainly confirmed OP's point, that there is so much conflicting advice, you just don't know where to turn.
PLus, if the answer was really that simple, then as said, the diet industry wouldn't be worth millions.

Sorry to hear your DH had a stroke OP.
If his cholesterol is high, he might find great benefit in seeing a nutritionist, or dietitian.

I found the books by Patrick Holford very interesting, and especially the book, Food is better medicine then drugs.
Even if your DHs stroke was haemorragic, there is a lot you can do to strenthen the vessels.

I hope he's ok.

Fwiw the benecol etc is just soya derived and the benefit can be gained by having a drink of soya milk.

The zestforlife programme for weight loss has been very good for me. I've felt very healthy on it too.

child79 Yes, looks like you've wasted 5 yrs. perhaps get yourself a 'couple of books' & open your eyes to reality.

Nutritionists
Nutritionists work in different roles including public health, health improvement, health policy, local and national government, in the private sector, Non Government Organisations (NGOs) and in education and research.
Nutritionists are qualified to provide information about food and healthy eating.
Many employers of nutritionists in all sectors will only consider recruiting Registered Nutritionists – or Registered Dietitians.
Is their title protected by law?
No – anyone can call themselves a nutritionist, however only registrants with the UK Voluntary Register of Nutritionists (UKVRN) can call themselves a Registered Nutritionist (RNutrs). RNutrs are not permitted

As I said, no such thing as a State Registered Nutritionist

Don't drink soya milk or benacol...why is the public being duped ?

My mum rings me up, my cholesterol is high, is it the eggs ? Er no, it's the 2 choc ices you eat every night, the 3 x 3 course meals you eat each week. The 'low fat' yogurts that lull you eating into mo, because they are 'low in calories'.

People have lost touch with good quality clean food & are afraid to be hungry.

The answer is that simple. The diet industry makes millions because they know how to key in to people's insecurities and they know that most people who are overweight will do anything to lose it. I feel like I have seen it all before with friends and clients.

People desperately clutch at straws when they want to lose weight and they can't see where they are going wrong. Most people don't even know they overeat until they spend a few days thinking about it. If anyone is interested my suggestion would be keeping a food diary for a week and report it honestly (down to the last crisp) - weigh your food and then calculate your calories. You will be surprised at how much you are eating.

At the same time keep an activity diary - this will also be telling. An hour of physical activity a day, most days is the current recommendation.

This is purely for interest, do children really need snacks?

Mine are all older so it doesn't matter to me but I don't remember having regular snacks as a child, possibly a drink of milk and sometime one very plain biscuit but young children now seem to have a mini meal mid morning and mid afternoon.
I don't remember feeling weak and deprived although I remember being reasonably hungry when it came to meal times.

Willow You must have a lot of time on your hands to be reading up on this meticulously. I assumed most people wouldn't know the difference and wouldn't care but I am not about to out myself to prove you wrong.

BBB Yes it is frustrating - but actually it is fascinating.

Yes I have had a lot of time, over 20 years of experience in the work of dieting/dieticians/nutritionists.

So yes, please do bring on the links. I love to research & access their validity.

In fact I'm still reeling from my experience of being sent to an eating disorder clinic for asking why the state registered dietician was drinking artificial sugars. Oh & the BANT (British Addiciation of Nutrition Therapists) who advised me to eat carb snacks every 2 hours & literally sent me into a sugar coma.

childof79 - it would appear that you have wasted 5 years of you life, yes. Sorry.

There are people making a good living out of promoting paleo & primal diets, too.
Folk want their cake and to eat it too! So plenty of them are still trying to figure out how to do that.

I suspect preferred mode of transport is the main obesogenic factor.

Thanks to those who explained the whole spaghetti squash thing to me! I think so much of it is down to portion size and, as someone else upthread said, it's the acknowledgement that it's ok to feel hungry - we don't need to be in a constant state of feeling sated!

Oh, and the food diary is a really good idea too - I remember being really shocked at all the hidden extras I was consuming!

"literally sent me into a sugar coma"

You were literally sent into a sugar coma, willowisp???? Goodness, I hope you weren't in a coma for too long. What is a sugar coma exactly? Do you mean a diabetic coma? Are you diabetic? Did you sue this nutritionist for literally sending you into a diabetic coma?

Personally, I'd rather take the nutritional advice of someone who has had 7 years of training than someone whose qualifications appear to be based on a few books, documentaries and google..

Some of the Government's eating guidance is not very up to date and some plain wrong, but if you just stick to real foods and avoid drinking anything but water you tend not to go far wrong.

I've just started seeing a nutritionist as part of an eating disorder treatment. I was surprised after reading this to see low fat yoghurt on her list of suggested snacks.

However she is amazing and is very good as a coach at enabling me to make the changes I need to make in my life. So much of it is psychological -an eating plan often won't cure the 'real' reasons behind the eating issues.

I'm interested in whoever above that said wholefoods needn.t be expensive. I'm interested to hear more. It seems to be to me at the moment (but presumably worth it). I'd love to learn to eat enough of the right foods etc.

However fish fingers are cheaper than fish, pizza base is cheaper than chicken, a pack of biscuits is cheaper than fruit.

Real food and mainly water has to be the way forwards though.

Its interesting the eatwell plate doesn't seem to value protein as much. I was going to aim for protein as part of lunch and supper and small snacks if nec of fruit or nuts or oatcakes.

I'm still trying to wade throughthe ness of disordered eating. I'm starting with a food diary. .

kungfutea oh what fun, lots of ????

Are you doubting me ? Well, FYI, these were my actual MEDICAL drs words after doing an urgent appointment & a prick-your-finger-what's-your-blood-sugar levels. Now I don't credit Dr's with regard to good eating, but I'm as sure as hell they can read & understand blood tests.

Stopping the stupid snacking on high GI rice crackers resolved this as confirmed by another ACTUAL MEDICAL BLOOD test. Golly gosh !

A coma is GCS 3 , means you have no response in eyes, verbal or motor ie you are effectively dead unless successful intervention happens immediately. You would not have heard the doctors words if you were in a coma.

I just asked what a sugar coma is. I never heard of it. Are you sure you're not diabetic/prediabetic? Hypoglycemia (if that's what you had - I don't know if you had high or low blood sugar) is often a precursor of diabetes.

A "sugar coma" is a non-medical term referring to the sudden dip that can occur in blood sugar in a diabetic person. More commonly known as 'hypoglycaemia'.

High GI food can cause hypoglycaemia in a diabetic person, because they spike blood sugar high and fast and for a short period of time. That's why nutritionists who deal with diabetics advise low GI snacks, preferably with lots of protein.