It’s not easy to choose what to eat and drink anymore.  We’re bombarded with information about foods, ingredients, farming methods, processing methods, and packaging materials that have been linked to cancer, obesity, allergies, inflammation, diabetes, stroke, heart disease….the list of possible consequences is endless.  And since navigating through all the information is tough to do, we often take shortcuts - relying on advertisements, a memory of a headline in the news that morning, or something a friend told us.

Nothing about that is wrong.  We live busy lives and need to use a few shortcuts now and then.  But just like any other choice we make when it comes to our health, it’s important to examine why we’re really making the choices we’re making.  It’s the only way we can be certain our choices are right for us as individuals - based on who we are, and how we live our lives.

When it comes to food choices, that’s unfortunately not an easy task.  A lot of the best resources out there, such as the USDA My Plate, aren’t the most “user friendly,” and most people unfortunately don’t have a relationship with a dietitian.  Nonetheless, it’s important to do a little research.

This article in the Atlantic today highlights why.  The author, Lindsay Abrams, discusses how people often react to “food scares” they’ve heard about in the media that turn out to be based on information that is unfounded or exaggerated.  

Don’t assume that everything you hear is the truth, or that the dietary choices a celebrity or book author suggests will work for you.  Do your own research, talk to your healthcare teams, and make decisions based on hard facts that fit your personal nutrition and lifestyle needs.  It’s not easy - but will be well worth your effort!