I just ate a banana. Thanks to “Pop Nutrition” (not sure if that corollary phrase to “pop psychology” is in use or if I just invented it) I know that I just gave myself a nice serving of potassium. Like many people, when someone has a leg cramp, I suggest eating a banana. This is a result of reading some news story, or hearing an informative bit on the radio long ago. Much of our “knowledge” is like this. We nearly swim in a sea of information, gulping interesting facts now and then. Sometimes we hear of studies reversing previously held “facts”, or we put something in more full context; like Vitamin C not having that big an effect on colds. That athlete suffering from leg cramps would be helped by eating a banana, but a medium potato is higher in potassium and potassium is found in most other fruits and veggies. Thanks to a high sugar content, who will argue with eating a banana? Well…diabetics maybe. “Thanks for the potato coach!”
Nutrition Home Education
Nutrition is one of those subjects that have always interested me. My grandmother had some lifelong health issues and was always looking for solutions ranging from herbs and vitamins, exercise, acupuncture, magnets, copper jewelry, wacky chiropractic, diet and surgery. A corner cabinet was nearly filled with bottles of various vitamins and mineral supplements. When a new supplement was introduced you would overhear her telling friends about it’s benefits on the phone. I would listen and sometimes dip into her healthy stash according to what I had heard. Vitamin E for burns etc. I was guilty more than once of consuming a particular vitamin C tablet because it was a pretty good substitute for a sweet-tart candy.
Nutritions Evolving “Truths”
When Linus Pauling reported Vitamin C would increase longevity I thought they should just wrap them in foil sleeves and put them at the candy counter. As the years passed I learned that Pauling’s studies had been flawed. Yes Vitamin C is still very beneficial, but updates were needed to my current version of the truth. For a while oatmeal was touted as a way to fight colon cancer till a Harvard study found that someone consuming the equivalent of more than seven servings of oatmeal, had about the same risk of getting colorectal cancer as a person who ate less than half that amount.
Sorting it Out
This is my goal: To sort through my nutritional perceptions culled from the media, home and culture and continue to examine what I believe. To uncover bad reporting, false claims, snake oils and my own false assumptions. To find authentic nutritional improvements for my life and others.
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