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Show Fitness fanatics have odd conceptions about nutrition For a nation of people obsessed with diet and fitness, we have some-odd some-odd conceptions about good nutrition. nutri-tion. , How many of the following statements do you take for granted as being true?: "milk is nature's most perfect food," "a day without orange juice is like a day without sunshine," "fast food is. junk food," "catsup is not a vegetable" and "stuffing is better - than potatoes." - According to Dr. Von T. Mendenhall, extension nutrition specialist in Utah State University's college of family life, we begin to hear some statements so often that we believe them without question. For instance: He says milk is a great food, but it doesn't exacdy cover the four food groups. At least not as well as foods such as pizza or tacos. They contain dairy products in the -.cheese grains in the shell or crust, vegetables in tomato sauce or taco topping and meat. These are close to being perfect foods. But aren't these fast foods? - Yes, Mendenhall says, but not all fast food is junk food. Conversely, not all "natural" food is health food. Orange juice is a natural food and high in vitamin C, but it is also relatively high in sugar. Some inconclusive in-conclusive research has linked , taking vitamin C to the-tune of 2,500 mg per day (the current recommended rec-ommended dietary allowance for adults is 60 mg per day) to preven-ting preven-ting colds. . What is conclusive though, is to get the amount of vitamin C called .' for to prevent colds you'd have to eat the equivalent of a half case of' 'CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE Fitness fanatics have odd conceptions about nutrition . CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PACE c oranges per day. If you are-inter-1 ested in vitanunX in a "natural" ' juice with fewer calories, you should consider tomato juice, he ;; says. , Speaking of tomatoes, Mendenhall said a certain member 1 of former President Reagan's ad-c ad-c ministration got in trouble for having the audacity to suggest that f- catsup be considered a vegetable in : the school lunch program. Catsupl Isn't that processed? . " Don't they use a lot of that at those - fast food places? The answers are "yes" and "yes," but does that make it bad? ! Actually he says a third-cup of r catsup (106) calories compares : favorably to a half-cup of corn or peas (also 106 calories) in nutrients Jerf alorie. So, when you see someone dumping catsup on their' french fries you might congratulate them for fortifying the french fries. Mendenhall . says "someone is . always trying to replace the humble, but boring, potato with something else. Rice could be a' replacement, but then you're substituting a grain group for a vegetable food group. Stuffing is the newest idea to replace potatoes but again you're changing food groups. You are also substituting a much higher calorie food."' Mendenhall says many of our misunderstandings about food come from our desire to label them as bad or good foods. It doesn't sell books, but eating a variety of foods is still the' most useful advice concerning diet and health. . |