Monday, February 10, 2014

Twisted Facts and the Media: How Trusting Media Articles Could be Dangerous to Your Health





http://www.businessinsider.com/foods-surprisingly-high-in-sugar-2014-2


The above article upset me because it is extremely misleading.  It was brought to my attention because our local radio station just did a segment on it.

The article pushes the reader to believe that eating a chocolate glazed donut is better for you than eating a bowl of applesauce, a bowl of tomato soup, or a carton of yogurt.

 If, like most people, you do not read the fine print, you think that you can eat donuts to your little heart's content because they are seemingly healthier for you than applesauce, OJ, and several other healthier food choices.

While the text does say there is a difference between natural and added sugars, not everyone will read that line. People that may have to severely limit added sugar intake, such as diabetics, could have severe health related issues if they take this report as whole truth.

 I am so tired of people twisting the facts and statistics in order to have more people read their articles. I am sure that most people will think, "It is no big deal, Annie. Just let it go." However, being the daughter of a nutritionist/dietitian, I know that it is a big deal. It could mean the difference between life and death to a person.

 Seriously, people. How about we just stick to reporting facts as facts. Not as some twisted glimmer of what the facts were supposed to be in order to increase readership?

~Annie