Written by Nicole Meadow, MPN, RD

That’s right, it’s March and you know what that means!  Every year, since 1973, March has been designated as National Nutritional Month® (NNM).  It started as a week long event but due to an overwhelming public interest, it became a month long observance in 1980.  The theme for National Nutrition Month® 2008 is Nutrition: It’s A Matter Of Fact!

It’s tough to decipher the truth about nutrition, health and food these days especially with the influence of the media.  The goal of NNM 2008 is to help distinguish between nutrition fact and fiction.  Here are some common food myths (provided by the American Dietetic Association website).

Myth: Body weight is a reliable indicator of a healthful diet.
Fact: No two people have the same body composition. The measure of a person’s diet and your overall health is a combination of factors, including weight.

Myth: Eating carbohydrates causes weight gain.
Fact: Calories cause weight gain. Excess carbohydrates are no more fattening than calories from any other source.

Myth: Eating just before bedtime is fattening.
Fact: What you eat, not when, makes the difference; calories have the same effect on the body no matter when they are consumed. (Eating before bedtime is bad for digestion so try not to eat at least 1 ∏ hours before lying down.)  Evidence does suggest that eating regular meals, especially breakfast, helps promote weight loss by reducing fat intake and minimizing impulsive snacking.

Myth: Eating sugar causes diabetes.
Fact: Diabetes is caused by a lack of insulin in the body. Since foods that are high in sugar are often high in calories, overeating those foods can lead to weight gain. Research shows people who are overweight and obese are at increased risk for diabetes.

Myth: Occasionally following a fad diet is a safe way to quickly lose weight.
Fact: Many fad diets are developed by people with no science or health background.  Some fad diets can even be considered harmful to people with certain health problems. When trying to lose weight, consult a registered dietitian.