WOMEN”S BODIES: FAD DIETS. QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT DIET
Food faddism is an unusual pattern of food behaviour enthusiastically adopted by its adherents. People have always held beliefs about the curative, protective and magic properties of food, and conversely that some foods are harmful. We now know that some of these beliefs were sound: for instance, in 1770 Captain Cook knew that fresh limes would prevent his crew from getting scurvy, though vitamin С wasn’t known at that time.
Food fads have changed over the years. Some of the fad diets in vogue at present aren’t based on sound nutritional principles, and some make claims that are false. Be wary of fad diets, especially for weight control or if they claim to treat or cure disease. If you want to try a fad diet, check with a nutritionist to make sure that any claims are sound and that it contains an adequate balance of nutrients.
Are vegetarian diets beneficial?
It depends what you mean by vegetarian. Some people say that they’re vegetarian if they don’t eat flesh – red meat, poultry or fish. A diet that contains dairy produce and eggs generally provides adequate nourishment.
The vegan diet contains no animal foods at all: no flesh, dairy products, eggs, honey or gelatin. It’s very difficult to get enough complete protein or some vitamins and minerals from such a diet. Vitamin В12, calcium and iron are particularly limited.
Is it true that humans can’t digest meat?
No. Our digestive systems produce all the enzymes needed to digest meat, which is one of the best sources of complete protein and iron.
Are raw foods better than cooked?
Starchy vegetables such as potatoes, com and dried legumes (beans and peas) – all valuable foods – need cooking to make them palatable and digestible. Some legumes can be toxic if eaten raw. There is a risk of infection from eating raw meat, poultry and fish.
Is it harmful to combine certain foods?
There are a lot of books around at present that tell you it’s harmful to eat different food elements at the same meal, claiming that our systems can’t digest the mixture. This advice defies all that’s known about nutrition. Most of our foods contain a mixture of proteins, carbohydrates and fats. If you excluded all the mixed foods you’d have to give up meats, eggs, cereals, milk and yoghurt, cheese, legumes and many other fruits and vegetables. There wouldn’t be much left to eat.
Can diet prevent cancer?
Recent research suggests that a diet that’s low in fat, high in cereals and with plenty of fruits and vegetables and little alcohol seems to protect against bowel cancer and may reduce the risk of cancers of the lung, breast, uterus, prostate and pancreas. It’s also been suggested that beta-carotene, a type of vitamin A that is found in yellow and orange vegetables, might prevent cells from becoming cancerous. The subject of diet and cancer is controversial and by no means resolved. Research continues.
Can anti-oxidants prevent cancer?
There’s a lot in the news about antioxidants and cancer. Recent studies suggest that anti-oxidant nutrients (such as vitamins A, E and C) may play a role in the prevention of cancer and heart disease. However, the results are far from conclusive and no recommendations can be made at this time. Many of these studies used food sources of the nutrients (rather than tablets) and it may be that the anti-oxidants are only effective in the food itself or that other unidentified substances in the food are responsible. The best advice I can give at this point is to obtain your anti-oxidants naturally by eating plenty of fruits and vegetables.
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