By Beth Ann Knowles, BSc, P.T.S., N.W.S.Be a critic, be sceptical, and whatever you do, don’t believe everything you read! This advice applies to many facets of life but I am referring specifically to health, fitness, and nutrition ‘information’. Many of you have begun a New Year’s journey to attain better health and wellbeing and I wouldn’t want your goals to be hampered by products or programs full of false promises. In achieving your health and wellness goals it is extremely important to educate yourself; read magazines, journals, and books, watch shows, listen to radio broadcasts, and talk to professionals. Gain as much knowledge as possible so you can better understand products and services and how they may or may not help you.
Let’s look at a journal article claiming that ephedrine is a great aid to your workouts and your battle to shed pounds. The article was published in a respected and well-established journal. There were four authors who collaborated on the information. The information was presented clearly with supporting graphs and charts. As well, a long list of references and sources from other respected journals was provided. Sounds like a resource you can trust doesn’t it? But did you notice who provided funding for the article? It was a company that sells ephedrine as an ergogenic aid. Remember, companies want to sell their products. Research and articles they help fund may be slightly one-sided; embellishing the supporting evidence while conveniently leaving out information contradicting effectiveness or safety.
Magazines are one of the best resources for health and fitness advertising gimmicks. Some companies will purchase four and five page ads for their product and display the advertising in a way that leads the reader to believe it is an actual magazine article. The first page will show a before and after picture of a person; once slouching, frowning, and pale, this individual has now trimmed down, built muscle, and taken up tanning and smiling. In the following pages you will read how the person achieved their success. Their fitness program will be given as well as a few of their ‘body blasting’ exercises. Their ‘nutrition makeover menu’ will be described which will conveniently include a great tasting protein shake for lunch, a carbohydrate bar in the afternoon, and another shake before a workout. Again the person will be depicted, smiling and consuming whatever product is being pushed. Remember, expensive proteins or products don’t work on their own. The person in the advertisement adopted a healthy lifestyle and worked hard to achieve their results.
Magazines can be very contradictory and confusing as well. One will praise the antioxidant power of dark chocolate while the next issue will recommend avoiding chocolate at all costs. If you hear about a diet/lifestyle change that interests you, do more research. Find out if the diet adjustment will provide you with adequate amounts of the six essential nutrients: carbohydrates, proteins, water, vitamins, minerals, and yes, even fat. Talk to a Registered Dietician about how the infamous low carb, high protein diet will affect your body in the long run. Learn how fats can aid your training and results and which fats are good and which should be eaten in moderation. Find out which vitamins and minerals you might be lacking and visit your local health food store to find a nutrient supplement that is right for you. Make sure you don’t take the word of one author or ‘guru’; get a second or third opinion. Don’t start taking 10,000 mg of Vitamin C daily and begin power lifting just because your neighbour swears by it. Through educating yourself you will discover the lifestyle, fitness regime, and nutritional habits that work best for you.
Next time you’re sitting home on a rainy Saturday afternoon, take note of all the infomercials plaguing our television channels. Products vary from abdominal belts that shock you into a ‘flatter tummy’ to energy drinks ‘scientifically formulated’ to provide you with all the energy to fuel your workouts. First be wary of all the pretty words and phrases used to coerce consumers into buying the product. ‘Fat blasting’, ‘100% Pure Ion Exchange Protein Isolate’, ‘Revolutionary’, and ‘Body Shaping’ are phrases that are making nutrition and fitness companies rich. Infomercials will also portray an individual who has gone from ‘flab to fit’ miraculously in a short period of time, all thanks to the advertised product. Check the fine print at the bottom of the screen during the infomercial. Often it will say that individual results may vary or ‘this product, paired with a nutritious diet and exercise regime will help you see results’. Well, a nutritious diet and exercise regime will help you see results regardless if you eat the $10.00 protein bar twice a day.
Maybe you’d like to take a supplement to boost your energy and vitality. There are thousands out there that claim to do this but not all products do or contain what they say. You can learn a lot from reading labels. Supplements that are certified organic will display the logo from their organic certifying body (ie. the USDA Organic logo). If a product claiming to be certified organic does not have an organic logo, I would be wary purchasing it. As well, “[a]ll natural health products (NHPs) sold in Canada require a product license before being marketed. Obtaining a license requires submitting to Health Canada detailed information on the product, including:
§ medicinal ingredients
§ source
§ potency
§ non-medicinal ingredients, and
§ recommended use.
The issuance of a product license means that the product has been assessed by Health Canada and has been found to be safe, effective and of high quality under its recommended conditions of use. Stakeholders can identify licensed natural health products by looking for the eight-digit Natural Product Number (NPN) or Homeopathic Medicine Number (DIN-HM) designation on the label.” (www.hc-sc.gc.ca/dhp-mps/prodnatur/applications/licen-prod) Additionally, if a natural health product label does not show an NPN, there is a chance the product is currently under review. You can find up-to-date information on all natural health product applicants and applications on the Health Canada website, http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/.
So you see how important it is to be critical of everything you hear, read and see concerning nutrition, exercise, and health. Head to your favourite bookstore or library, choose some literature, and surf the Internet, but make sure you also talk to a Natural Health Practitioner, Registered Dietician, or Personal Trainer. Read labels and ask a Pharmacist. Don’t believe everything you come across… if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. And if you see a product that claims ‘fitness in a bottle,’ be wary that you’re not putting your ‘money down the toilet’. A nutritionally rich and balanced diet and exercise routine is something you adopt for life and requires effort and determination. Remember, fitness and health can’t be accomplished effortlessly but they can be accomplished.
About the Author:
Beth Ann has a degree in Sciences from Dalhousie University and is a Personal Trainer and Nutrition and Wellness Specialist. Additionally, Beth Ann has a personal interest in holistic wellness and sustainable environmental practices and enjoys being the Canadian Sales Manager for Naturally Nova Scotia Health Products.
