HEALTH SCARES THE TRUTH BEHIND THE HEADLINES

Barely a day goes by without a shock headline-making us question our dietary habits.

- MIRIAM HABTESELLASIE

Just when we’ve cleared the cupboard of one supposedly ‘bad’ food, it wings its way back up onto the ‘good’ list. We’ve sorted fact from fiction with the help of nutritionist Rob Hobson, author of The Detox Kitchen Bible and co-author of Cheats & Eats Lifestyle Programme, and David Wiener, Training and Nutrition Specialist at leading fitness app Freeletics.

SALT SHAKERS NEED TOBACCO-STYLE HEALTH WARNING

Most of us have been guilty of sprinkling salt liberally over everything from salads to pasta. However, it’s recommended that adults consume no more than 6g salt (2.4g sodium) a day – and two slices of bacon can account for around half this amount.

Rob says: ‘Salt is added to many of our everyday foods, from curry sauces to ready meals, so it can be hard to keep track of our total salt intake. Too much can increase the risk of heart attack or stroke, but we need to remember that the body needs a certain amount of sodium, as this essential nutrient helps the body to retain water, aids nerve function and much more. We should literally take this headline with a pinch of salt, and think of sensible ways to manage our salt intake.’

SCIENCE UNCLEAR ON INTERMITTENT FASTING

From the 5:2 and 6:1 diets to only eating within an eight-hour window, fasting has often being hailed as a fast-track to weight loss and all its associated health benefits. David says: ‘Intermittent fasting (IF) is thought to be beneficial for the digestive and immune systems, triggering a spring-cleaning process known as “autophagy”, where old cells are broken down and recycled by the body. Whilst initial research on the health benefits of IF is promising, more is needed to fully ascertain the long-term health consequences, and it may not be suitable for everyone.