News

SIMCOE, MARCH 9, 2012 – Is multi-grain the same as whole grain? Is sea salt better for you than table salt? Should you stay away from carbs if you’re trying to lose weight? The Dietitians of Canada are using March, which is Nutrition Month, to answer these questions and bust other popular food and nutrition myths.

“Nutrition information has never been more accessible than right now, with millions of Canadians having easy access to information through the internet and other forms of social media,” said Michelle Saraiva, Public Health Dietitian with the Haldimand-Norfolk Health Unit. “Unfortunately, not all the information is credible.”

Canadians are faced with over a hundred food and beverage-related decisions every day, whether it be at the grocery store, coffee shop, restaurant or their own refrigerator. Often the decisions people reach are influenced by marketing and messages they have received from food companies, celebrities, the internet or tv, and friends and family.

It can be difficult to make the right food choices when the healthy choice is not always the most obvious or the most marketed option. A dietitian has the most current and accurate information to help people make healthy food choices.

“As a Dietitian, I get questions all the time about nutrition that has come from the internet and friends or family,” added Saraiva. “It’s great that this year’s Nutrition Month is focused on providing consumers with accurate and evidenced-based information that they know they can trust.”

Dietitians of Canada polled its members from coast to coast and selected the 39 most common myths they come across. Food and nutrition research was then collected to debunk each myth and arm dietitians with the evidence needed to talk to Canadians. Local residents are being encouraged to visit www.dietitians.ca and click on ‘Nutrition Month’ to find the truth about popular myths such as:

• Honey, brown sugar and agave syrup are better for you than white sugar.
• Certain foods like grapefruit, cabbage soup or celery, can burn fat and make you lose weight quickly.
• “Superfoods” like goji or acai berries will keep you super-healthy.
• Eating a lot of protein helps build muscle.
• A detox diet is a good way to clean out the toxins in your body.

“Make sure the information you are reading comes from a credible source,” noted Saraiva. “Often if it sounds too good to be true, it usually is. Common sense also goes a long way.”

Anyone with questions about nutrition or healthy eating is invited to speak one-on-one with a Registered Dietitian for free by calling 1-877-510-5102 or by e-mail via EatRight Ontario at www.eatrightontario.ca.

– 30 –

Media contact:
Michelle Saraiva
Public Health Dietitian
Haldimand-Norfolk Health Unit
Ext. 3237 at either 519.426.6170 or 905.318.6623
[email protected]