How many people pay attention to science when trying to lead a healthy lifestyle? If not, why not?

Question

An awfu lot of people believe mythical things, or refuse to believe the results of recent research. Just for example, many won't believe red win in moderation is good for you, regardless of the results of studies all over the world...Many people refuse to follow scientifically designed diets, and instead follow every unscientific fad diet that gets publicity.

The examples are legion of course.

NotJustAnotherGuy · Accepted Answer

I do. But I don't think people have to. Using the most efficient results will get you results faster/greater.. but EFFORT is the biggest factor in health.

With that said, it is aggravating when someone feeds bad info across the internet and defends it relentlessly...

Let me list some of my pet peeve unproven myths (some are blatantly false, some are simply unproven).

Myth#1 6 mini meals is better than 3 meals a day

Myth#2 The afterburn effect makes HIIT burn more calories than Cardio

Myth#3 Fast food / Processed food / GMOs are bad for you

Myth#4 High cholesterol causes heart disease

Myth#5 Carbs are healthier than fats, or vice versa

Myth#6 High protein diets are bad for your kidneys.

Myth#7 "Supersize Me" proves McDonalds is bad for you (hint: it proves 7,000 calories a day and no exercise is bad for you-- and that Morgan Spurlock can't conduct a credible experiment)

Myth#8 Hundreds of crunches is an effective method of getting a six pack. (hint: neither builds bigger abdominal nor burns much calories)

The list goes on... but I stop short for now. Which myths annoy you the most? Aside from red wine.

Theguyoverthere · Accepted Answer

Honestly, one year margarine's good then one year butter's good. I don't pay too much attention to science other than something that would seem like common sense. I simply go by things like eat a lot of fatty foods and you'll get fat. Beat down a muscle and let it recover. I'm definitely healthier than a crapload of people around me and I get criticized a lot if the slightest "unhealthy" food touches my hands. People are so insecure.

I honestly don't feel that any studies are 100% unbiased. I feel like most studies are out to prove something so someone doesn't feel bad about what they're doing.

The thing is that I believe most people just look up a study with "good for you" in it to promote their behavior and feel it is justified. I'm guessing your study found is based on one glass of red wine... but we know people don't stop at one glass. So if someone were to make them concerned about it they'll just bring up that study and pour their 3rd glass of wine and keep going.

madiocre · Accepted Answer

I like  reading  up on the  science  of   health.  I   generally take  on board the  things  I want  to that fit  with  my  lifestyle  and  personal likes and  dislikes.    I must admit  though that I can be  a sucker  for fads but I'm  not  totally over the  top. for  example I was  monitoring  my  kj intakes  on  an  app and  noticed  I wasn't getting   much  protein.  I tried  readjusting  but found  it   difficult to  get   enough   protein  so now I use protein shakes  and  etc  every now and  then.

justlilly · Accepted Answer

I would say that a lot of people who claim to be trying to lead a healthy lifestyle definitely do not actually make science a factor. At least the people I know just believe everything they read and don't look fro credible sources. Also, they jump on every bandwagon that passes by without really doing any research about it.

lucky24 · Answer

I try to keep a balance in what I eat. People complicate things more than needed. I started because I was trying to gain healthy weight and now its just became a habit

my diet is approx 3000 calories due to my fast metabolism and working out

fresh fruits and vegetables (being a vegeterian helps on this end)

greek yogurt and other dairy foods

almonds,pistachio etc...

and some chocolate

iPood · Answer

I do. I count calories and track my macros. But I don't obsess over the latest superfood or whatever was "proven" to help you lose weight in the past week. I prefer to keep it simple. Personally if I'm trying to lose weight I go for a high protein, moderate fat, low carb diet. Has worked well for me in the past.

Prof_Don · Answer

Science is pretty much all I follow in terms of learning a healthy lifestyle.

The second most common thing I follow is my observations of what other moderately -to-very fit people do.

I must say that relying on science really does help someone navigate through the bullshit! :)

-----

Actual weight loss REALLY does boil down to a calories in (ingested cals) vs calories out (base metabolism + daily activity level).

What a lot of the simplistic people don't understand is that one's "calories out" is significantly affected by hormonal effects of our bodies on a given day as well as hormonal reactions to what we eat and drink (such as insulin's and cortisol's affect on how the body handles bodyfat ).

COCOCHANEL · Answer

i do. I make sure to eat tomatoes with avocados to absorb the lycopene with the help of the healthy lipids. I also think about ph balance.

Belgie · Answer

I do. I got my high cholesterol and high blood pressure under control using a ketogenic diet because I didn't fancy taking statins for the rest of my life.

scoobydoo13 · Answer

many peopel do weight watchers now adn have learned the fad diets don't work. If you are a weight watchers member there site tells you the scientific background.

ZenQueen · Answer

I believe fresh grape juice would be better than the fermented version.

How many people pay attention to science when trying to lead a healthy lifestyle? If not, why not?

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