What Science Says about Eating Right

A nutritionist boils a mountain of conflicting diet advice down to a few simple principles

By THIS IS A PREVIEW.to access the full article.Already purchased this issue?

An overabundance of food choices confronts diners every day. While experts emphasize the benefits of fruits and vegetables, even those foods prompt debate. How important is it, for instance, to go organic?

As a nutrition professor, I am constantly asked why nutrition advice seems to change so much and why experts so often disagree. Whose information, people ask, can we trust? I'm tempted to say, “Mine, of course,” but I understand the problem. Yes, nutrition advice seems endlessly mired in scientific argument, the self-interest of food companies and compromises by government regulators. Nevertheless, basic dietary principles for our weight-conscious society are not in dispute: eat less; move more; eat fruits, vegetables and whole grains; and avoid too much junk food.

“Eat less” means consume fewer calories, which translates into eating smaller portions and steering clear of frequent between-meal snacks. “Move more” refers to the need to balance calorie intake with physical activity. Eating fruits, vegetables and whole grains provides nutrients unavailable from other foods. Avoiding junk food means to shun “foods of minimal nutritional value”—highly processed sweets and snacks laden with salt, sugars and artificial additives. Soft drinks are the prototypical junk food; they contain sweeteners but few or no nutrients.

THIS IS A PREVIEW.to access the full article.Already purchased this issue? Buy Digital Issue$9.99 You May Also Like

The Birth of the Great GMO Debate

Intoxicating: The Science of Alcohol

Scientific American Archive Single Issue

Eating to Live