A Wall Street Journal essay entitled, "We Actually Know What We Should Eat," suggests that while there is much debate and a plethora of theories and diets that often seemed designed to confused consumers about what to consumer, the facts are both simple and self-evident.
An excerpt:
"The now-constant barrage of headlines about nutrition science can make us feel like we’re doing everything wrong. Some people respond by tuning out and continuing to eat what’s familiar. Others jump on the bandwagon of each thrilling new diet that promises everything. Most of these deliver temporary results from severe restrictions that no one can maintain. Rapid weight loss is followed by rapid regain, creating a desperation that makes people eager for the next promise of magic.
"The truth is that all good diets feature one or another balanced assemblage of wholesome, real foods—mostly plants. Even now, with our instincts suppressed, we know what a good diet is. We picture chickpeas, not Doritos; pinto beans, not jelly beans; broccoli, not Bratwurst.
"Yet the way we eat is the leading cause of premature death in the U.S. today. Highly processed foods, especially meats, and added sugar and salt are all significant contributors to heart disease and other chronic killers. Even our comparatively high health care costs are partly due to the damaging effects of unhealthy eating and the pharmaceuticals to treat them."
The essay isn't just about personal health. It also is a pretty good marketing primer on how to talk to food shoppers about issues very much on their minds, but information that is simply confusing.
You can read it here.
