Junk Science and Diet and Nutrition Studies

mschwab
on 5/28/15 10:18 am
RNY on 11/21/14

This is a great article, if you haven't already seen it.  It is a great example of how we need to be skeptical of the diet and nutrition information that is fed to us (get it?  Fed to us?) on a regular basis via the media, and to read and understand the specifics of any research study.

http://io9.com/i-fooled-millions-into-thinking-chocolate-helps-weight-1707251800

 Height: 5'7".  HW: 299, Program starting weight: 290, SW: 238, CW 138 - 12 pounds under goal!  

     

SkinnyScientist
on 5/28/15 11:10 am

" Fed to us?) on a regular basis via the media"...

I will NEVER forget when I yelled so loud and so long in a WW meeting because they taught "DIET SODA IS HYDRATING"

 

Yep.

I almost crapped myself.  For years, nutritionists tell us it is dehydrating due to the salts, caffeine and artificial sweeteners.  

 

Then they came out with a food company and said "It contains water, therefore it is hydrating." 

I still kick myself for not quitting that day.

I was so stupid... I mean if they are wrong in promoting that...what else is wrongfully being promoted?

 

But nooooo...I just said "Ok. Whatever" and kept falling "the plan" and forking over my hard earned money.

 

Sometimes, I really have problems with respecting the past "me" and her previous decisions.

Live and learn.

RNY Surgery: 12/31/2013; 

Current weight (2/27/2015) 139lbs, ~14% body fat

Three pounds below Goal!!! Yay !  

Grim_Traveller
on 5/28/15 6:40 pm
RNY on 08/21/12

Of course it's hydrating. Why wouldn't it be hydrating? It used to be an oft-told myth that caffeine is dehydrating, but that's been proven wrong. There are artificial sweeteners in lots of other things. And the amount of salt in a diet soda isn't enough to make an impact.

I'm not saying diet soda is the best thing for you. But it certainly is hydrating.

6'3" tall, male.

Highest weight was 475. RNY on 08/21/12. Current weight: 198.

M1 -24; M2 -21; M3 -19; M4 -21; M5 -13; M6 -21; M7 -10; M8 -16; M9 -10; M10 -8; M11 -6; M12 -5.

Cicerogirl, The PhD
Version

on 5/29/15 1:36 am, edited 5/29/15 3:15 pm - OH

They are not wrong.  Whatever nutritionists (who frequently have no health degree of any kind, BTW) you were listening to are.

The vast majority of diet sodas have NO salt (Check the ingredients for yourself) or VERY little (as a preservative) and, as Grim already said, the idea that caffeine was a diuretic has been disproven.  It was based on a single, flawed study and has been contradicted by several more recent studies.

Lora

p.s. Diet 7-Up (I had half of one this evening) has 25mg of sodium (which is HALF the amount of sodium in a teaspoon of mustard or catsup).  So it isn't quite zero, but is insignificant.

14 years out; 190 pounds lost, 165 pound loss maintained

You don't drown by falling in the water. You drown by staying there.

Gwen M.
on 5/29/15 9:50 am
VSG on 03/13/14

I've got to ask, since I've been wondering for a while, are you actually a scientist?  What is your field of research?  

VSG with Dr. Salameh - 3/13/2014
Diagnosed with Binge Eating Disorder and started Vyvanse - 7/22/2016
Reconstructive Surgeries with Dr. Michaels - 6/5/2017 (LBL & brachioplasty), 8/14/2017 (UBL & mastopexy), 11/6/2017 (medial leg lift)

Age 42 Height 5'4" HW 319 (1/3/2014) SW 293 (3/13/2014) CW 149 (7/16/2017)
Next Goal 145 - normal BMI | Total Weight Lost 170

TrendWeight | Food Blog (sort of functional) | Journal (down for maintenance)

SkinnyScientist
on 5/29/15 12:43 pm

i really am.  I am a pharmacologist.  I specifically developed a phenotypic test to determine how rapidly on metabolizes their 5-FU chemotherapy.

RNY Surgery: 12/31/2013; 

Current weight (2/27/2015) 139lbs, ~14% body fat

Three pounds below Goal!!! Yay !  

H.A.L.A B.
on 5/29/15 3:25 am, edited 5/29/15 4:02 am

Fyi - salt is essential in keeping water in our body, 

I have to add salt to my food all the time. 

I drink diet tonic all the time. Really helps me staying hydrated. 

Hala. RNY 5/14/2008; Happy At Goal =HAG

"I can eat or do anything I want to - as long as I am willing to deal with the consequences"

"Failure is not falling down, It is not getting up once you fell... So pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and start all over again...."

NYMom222
on 5/29/15 7:49 pm
RNY on 07/23/14

Ohhhh... diet tonic, I forgot about that. Is it OK to add gin and lime to cut down on the carbonation?

Cynthia 5'11" RNY 7/23/2014

Goal reached 17 months. 220lb Weight Loss
Plastic Surgery Dr. Joseph Michaels - LBL and Hernia Repair 2/29/16, Arm Lift, BL, 5/2/16, Leg Lift 7/25/16

#lifeisanadventure #fightthegoodfight #noregrets

Save

Save

Grim_Traveller
on 5/29/15 9:07 pm
RNY on 08/21/12

6'3" tall, male.

Highest weight was 475. RNY on 08/21/12. Current weight: 198.

M1 -24; M2 -21; M3 -19; M4 -21; M5 -13; M6 -21; M7 -10; M8 -16; M9 -10; M10 -8; M11 -6; M12 -5.

H.A.L.A B.
on 5/30/15 6:34 am

Hell yea... Why not? 

Hala. RNY 5/14/2008; Happy At Goal =HAG

"I can eat or do anything I want to - as long as I am willing to deal with the consequences"

"Failure is not falling down, It is not getting up once you fell... So pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and start all over again...."

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