Nutrition misinfo widespread
By Charles Blackburn
Dakc Uahr. Mwllcal Ceater
"Avoid excesses and enjoy
yourself," might be a good maxim
to follow where nutrition is con
cerned, according to Mary Bern
heim, professor emeritus of
biochemistry at Duke University
Medical Center. She was
moderator for a recent forum at
Duke dealing with nutrition and
health.
Joining her for the discussion
were Helen Guthrie, professor and
head of the nutrition program at
Pennsylvania State University, and
Henry Kamin, Duke professor of
biochemistry and chairman of the
National Academy of Science's
committee on dietary allowances.
Also on the panel were Dr. Sue
Kimm, Duke professor of
pediatrics and acting chief of the
nutrition section of the National
Heart, Lung and Blood Institute,
and Jacqueline Reynolds, Duke
professor of physiology and a
member of the National Academy
of Science's committee on nutri
tion in medical education.
The panelists lamented the
amount of misinformation the
public receives on nutrition. It was
noted that medical school
graduates are not always prepared
to answer their patients' questions
about nutrition, hence the need for
more formalized training.
Health Tips
"Human nutrition is an intense
ly difficult subject because of the
variables involved," Bernheim
said. "Genetic differences may
well be the most important con
sideration. But we do know that
we should eat everything in
moderation."
Kamin agreed, adding that there
appears to be virtue in variety
where diet is concerned. "The
greater variety, the better the
chances are that you'll get an ade
quate amount of the Recommend
ed Dietary Allowances as for
mulated by the Food and Nutrition
Board of the National Academy of
Sciences."
There are some notable excep
tions to the rule, he said. It is now
widely believed that Americans as
a whole do not get enough calcium
or iron in their diets. Kamin said
calcium deficiency has been linked
to osteoporosis, or loss of bone
mass, a problem that primarily af
fects women in later life.
In general, however, hypochon
dria is the main problem with
nutrition in America, he said.
"There seems to be a widely held
belief that a change in diet will
somehow change one's life,"
Kamin said. "As a consequence.
people come up with these odd
diets that have little solid nutri
tional foundation."
He blamed acceptance of dietary
misinformation on the public's
lack of a basic understanding of
the principles involved. As a short
course on nutrition, he recom
mended the ninth edition of the
Recommended Dietary Allow
ances, published in 1980.
Guthrie elaborated on some of
the odd dietary supplements in
vogue at health food stores. She
said the industry seems to be thriv
ing mainly because people have
come to believe they can't be ade
quately fed at the grocery store.
"People are ascribing magical
properties to foods," she said.
Kimm agreed that some people
have taken an almost pagan view
of food. "They seek some sort of
spiritual purity in their diet, but
what is so spiritual about a granola
bar?" she asked. "We've become
a nation obsessed with food. It has
many connotations. We don't eat
merely to live. We eat for pleasure,
socialization, religious and cultural
reasons.
"As long as there is widespread
interest in nutrition, the public will
be bombarded with misinforma
tion, and the parade of fallacies
will march on," Kimm said.
Start exercise at slow, gradual pace
With the return of mild spring
weather, many people who've been
inactive all winter suddenly get the
itch to exercise.
The North Carolina Medical
Society certainly agrees that exer
cise is good, but the Society notes
that it's not wise to burst into
vigorous exercise without adequate
conditioning.
Attempting to run, 10 miles
after an inactive winter can lead to
sore muscles, discouragement, or
worse. Whatever form of exercise
you like, it's important to resume
it gradually.
Run, bike, or swim shorter
distances at first.
Slowly lengthen the amount of
time you allow yourself for tennis
and other vigorous games. Don't
begin your spring exercise regime
with such zeal that soreness and
fatigue prompt you to drop it com
pletely.
Always pay attention to what
your body is telling you. If you feel
a great deal of discomfort, you are
trying to do too much. Ease up a
bit, or take a break and start again
at another time. Be alert to
unusual symptoms such as chest
pain, breathlessness, joint discom
fort, or muscle cramps.
Jogging is not for everyone, and
it may be dangerous for those who
have unsuspected heart disease.
Many older people enjoy exercise
such as walking, swimming, and
bicycle riding. Modified aerobic
dancing, calisthenics, and yoga are
other possibilities.
It's abundantly clear that
regular exercise had many health
benefits, but if you're generally in
active during the winter, don't
burst into exercise just because the
flowers burst into bloom.
Hard work
Kindergarten to third grade Hoke County teachers
and aides work on teaching skills during a
workshop held recently at the Hoke County
Library. The workshop was designed to give par
ticipants " hands-on " visual art activities using
materials found in the regular classroom. Shown
here from left are: Jane Johnson, Carmen Shaw,
Barbara Walters, Marie EUis, Brenda Edwards,
Linda Richards, and Cathy Morgan. Thirty-six
teachers and aides took part in the workshop.
Census Bureau conducting survey
The Bureau of the Census is con
ducting the Point of Purchase
Survey in Hoke County at the re
quest of the Bureau of Labor
Statistics to determine which stores
and establishments Americans use
most frequently to purchase cer
tain goods and services.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics
will use this information to update
the sample of establishments need
ed to price selected itmes for the
Consumer Price index.
The index is a monthly statistic
that provides a measure of price
changes for items purchased by
consumers.
Joann Plummer is heading up
the survey in the county.
Previously, the Bureau of Labor
Statistics revised the list of
establishments needed to price
items for the Consumer Price In
dex only once every 10 years,
resulting in an index update only
once during that time period.
In recent years, however, rapidly
changing consumer buying habits
and preferences have
demonstrated the need for more
frequent revisions to the index
than in the past.
In recent years, however, rapidly
changing consumer buying habits
and preferences have demon
strated the need for more frequent
revisions to the index than in the
past.
A Census Bureau interviewer,
who will show official identifica
tion, will visit residents soon to ask
questions about certain items you
may have purchased.
Because this is a scientifically
selected sample survey, answers
will represent not only one
household but hundreds of other
households.
For this reason, participation in
this voluntary survey is extremely
important to ensure the quality
and accuracy of the final results.
Although there are no penalties
for failure to answer any ques
tions, each unanswered question
reduces the quality of the final
data.
Washing clothes in cold water
takes only l"/o of the electrical
energy required for clothes washed
in hot water.
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