Tuesday 11 October 2011

'Wonder diet'

On 23 June, the front page of the Express revealed the 'secret' to losing weight. It was: eat fruit and veg and cut down on crisps and sugar-sweetened drinks.

On 2 August it revealed the 'secret to a longer life' which was:

not smoking, regular exercise, not being overweight and eating a Mediterranean-style diet.

On 17 September, the front page explained the was a 'miracle diet' that could  'stop heart disease'. The 'miracle' was:

Taking more exercise, eating more fruit and vegetables, reducing alcohol intake and slashing the amount of saturated fat in our diet

On Wednesday, the front page says:


Yes, this latest health 'wonder' is that eating fruit and veg is good for you. Some 'wonder'. And while the research suggests fruit and veg can help reduce the risk of heart disease in people with 'specific genetic risk factors', that's not the same as a 'cure'.

But why would anyone have got the impression fruit and veg wasn't good for your health?


(Hat-tip to Nick Sutton for the 'dangers' front page)

(Post updated with NHS Behind the Headlines link)
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4 comments:

  1. Anonymous12 October 2011 at 12:08

    I'm sure I read a story the other day that if you are eating a balanced diet then vitamin supplements are actually harmful. And here they are giving them away on the front page.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Ndro12 October 2011 at 12:27

    With things like these and the daylight savings fiasco (where the English and Scottish editions published opposite headlines on the same day) I get the impression that the Express' editorial team either has memory problems or multiple personalities. It's bizarre how fast they seem to flip-flop on certain issues.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Anonymous13 October 2011 at 15:23

    MIRACLE CURE FOR MULTIPLE PERSONALITY DISORDER:

    Stop reading the...

    Yeah, had to be said.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Rich Johnson15 October 2011 at 17:21

    MIRACLE GAS IS SECRET OF HEALTHY LIFE.

    "Top scientists revealed in a report yesterday that a GAS is a simple step towards a long and active life - and it's freely available in the atmosphere!

    Boffins report that "oxygen" as they term the new wonder substance can aid breathing and radically improve quality of life."

    etc.

    ReplyDelete

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