Submitted by
Kristyn Hall MSc, RD, Dietitians of Canada
Paleo, gluten free, detox diets
Dietetic descriptors that should make you curious
Paleo, gluten free, detox diets, cleanses – these are popular words in the media and used in daily conversations describing a way of eating, or what I call “dietetic descriptors” that often elicit a visceral reaction from dietitians. Sugar-free, low carb, vegetarian, natural, raw food, and I don’t eat X, Y or Z – and there are many others. When I hear people use these words, my ears perk up, as the meaning of these words to myself, as a dietitian, versus the person using them can be very different. These dietetic descriptors are often used to identify and distinguish between “food tribes”.
Food tribes are slightly different than cultural food habits. According to Shore (1) food tribes are “communities that are built when groups of people have shared identities based on the types of food they eat or avoid.” As can be expected, different tribes have a different perspective of what healthy eating is, and what foods should be avoided to achieve overall health. In his article, Shore outlines that people extrapolate small amounts of scientific knowledge to extremes in order to justify their behaviour. And, while this is weak research, this often results in media headlines, further fuelling “food tribalism.” (1).
The use of these dietetic descriptors can lead to the polarization of nutritional concepts - this way of eating is bad for your health, this way of eating is better – leading to consumer confusion and the questioning of basic nutrition principles or advice. As dietitians, we can use our body of scientific-based knowledge and critical thinking skills to examine the issue and offer professional insights about how a particular way of eating may impact health.
We can remain curious when we hear these dietetic descriptors being talked about in the media, in every day conversations and/or when being mentioned by our clients. Explore with people their definition and understanding of these words and how they have assimilated this information into their lives. As
Fenton said (2), the meaning of “cleanse” can range from eating fewer processed and refined foods, to fasting, to boxed “cleansing” products sold in health food stores. We can also use this collected information to determine how their understanding is impacting their nutritional status and moving them toward (or away) from their health goals. A person whom is “cleansing” by reducing their intake of processed foods and eating more vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and lean proteins (2), is actually working toward their health goal. They are merely using a dietetic descriptor to explain it, though it may not be the best descriptor. A dietitian should clarify before responding or providing guidance. Whether it is cleanse, gluten-free or detox, these dietetic descriptors elicit a value-laden response from a dietitian who “assumes” that it is an extreme approach, which, upon exploration, could be a very positive approach.
As Simmons states (3), belonging to a food tribe(s) is not by itself a bad thing. But it is important to understand the nutrition information promoted by a food tribe as it may be skewed to support a shared belief and value of that food tribe.
I would be interested in hearing about how you handle these dietetic descriptors in your practice. Email me at eNews@pennutrition.com References:
- Shore R. Food Tribes: Making up the rules as we go. The Vancouver Sun (Weekend Review). 2014 March 15 [cited 2014 Jul 9];Sect.D:1. http://blogs.vancouversun.com/2014/03/15/food-tribes-making-up-the-rules-as-we-go/
- Fenton T. Responding to misleading nutrition information in a lay publication via a letter to the editor, a case study. PEN® eNews. 2013 [cited 2014 Jul 9];3(2). Available from: http://www.pennutrition.com/enews.aspx?id=14#171
- Simmons D. Food Tribes are Us? April 29,2014 [cited 2014 Jul 9]. Available from: https://www.healthyfamiliesbc.ca/home/blog/food-tribes-are-us
Written by: Kristyn Hall MSc, RD
PEN® eNews Editor and Social Media Lead
eNews@pennutrition.com