Ditch Diet Misinformation: Healthy, Sustainable Diet Tips
Chapter 24. Step Up Your Food Game and Stay in the Know
Food and nutrition confusion is epidemic, a result of misinformation, disinformation, and science denialism; industry influence, political bias, and flawed research dissemination contribute to the diet infodemic. While there is strong scientific consensus on core diet principles and advice, social media anecdotes and sensationalist media headlines make it difficult for eaters to recognize evidence-based recommendations. It examines successful strategies for making dietary changes, including taste adaptation and the importance of pleasure, plus social support, nudges, moderation, indulgence, and mindful eating. (Healthy hedonism!) It focuses on food, mood, and mental health, highlighting adaptogens like herbs, spices, mushrooms, and polyphenols (phytonutrients). Both the fungus kingdom and intermittent fasting get a shout out, highlighting their roles in health, well-being, and longevity. It closes with how-to tips for identifying food and nutrition facts, urging readers to question sources, recognize hyped claims, and look to scientists and experts—and ignore disinformation-filled anti-science propaganda and quackery.
Core Topics This Chapter Addresses
Guiding Questions
⮞ If there’s so much consensus on how to create a healthy and sustainable diet, why are people still confused about what to eat?
⮞ Is changing what and how you eat possible—and what science-based strategies will help you make diet shifts that stick?
⮞ What is one of the single most important things you can do to reduce your diet’s carbon footprint (and save money)?
⮞ Can food fix your mood and mental health and improve well-being?
⮞ Does fasting foster health, well-being, and longevity?
⮞ Can mushrooms and the fungus kingdom help save the world—and you?
⮞ How can you ensure the diet advice you’re getting is evidence-based?
Keeping Nutrition in Focus
Encourage ongoing engagement with all things food and nutrition, whether as course capstones, continuing education, or calls for media to keep the nutrition conversation moving forward on popular topics at the core of healthy, sustainable diets.