In a world of seemingly unlimited access to information, you can easily be misinformed even by those who are well-intentioned. There are also those who distribute deliberate misinformation, for whatever manipulative reasons, making it a modern-day chore to sift through the trashing of truth.
There has been a mountainous amount of unsupported health information unleashed for public consumption through fad diets, books, videos and nutritional gurus. Some of these are embraced by millions, often making millions of dollars for the “unleasher” (not a real word). However, many trends, fad diets and individuals come and go. To have longevity, it normally requires information that remains accurate. For example, eat a variety of fruit and vegetables to stay healthy.
One of the latest examples of popular misinformation is the potential toxicity of plant-based foods because they contain plant toxins that are harmful and cause health problems. There are compounds that naturally defend plants as they grow, providing protection against pests and other invasive attacks. However, these compounds usually provide therapeutic agents for those consuming plant-based foods.
Manipulative marketing terms have reduced the benefits of these compounds by calling them “anti-nutrients,” which scientifically refers to naturally occurring plant substances that interfere with nutrient absorption or function. For example, oxalate (oxalic acid) can bind with calcium, inhibiting absorption of this mineral and causing its buildup. People who are prone to kidney stones might want to limit oxalate-rich foods. But for most folks, cutting back on plant-based nutrition that includes cereal grains, green leafy vegetables and tea is not a healthy decision.
The oxalate truth is that along with dietary intake, the human body naturally produces oxalate as a waste product. Oxalate is an energy source for Oxalobacter formigenesa, a common bacteria in the human microbiota, so oxalate is good for the gut. There tends to be less of this good bacteria in people with recurring calcium oxalate stones. For most people, jumping on a low-oxalate diet that would eliminate a varied selection of plant-based foods would be a poor lifestyle choice flamed by fear-mongering that plants the seed of oxalate doubt.
Lectins, phytoestrogens and tannins are some of the other plant compounds considered to be “anti-nutrients” by the well-intentioned but misinformed, whereas these substances have been shown to provide various health benefits.
Of course, each person is an individual with physiological differences, so it behooves each of us to know ourselves and be aware of foods and drinks that can have a negative effect on our well-being. Researching in our “self-care” roles can reveal an amazing amount of accurate information about nutrition.
It’s very simple to do online searches in PubMed using a food or drink with the word “clinical.” This will take you to a selection of clinical trials about the nutritional item you want to know more about. This extremely helpful tip comes from Dr. William Li, author of Eat to Beat Disease. Dr. Li is a renowned physician whose research into cancer prevention and specific health benefits of foods and drinks shines a light on some of the healthiest nutritional information available, all backed by science. You owe it to yourself to be accurately informed.
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