Three quarters of Britons admit they have “no idea” what to believe when it comes to health advice, a survey has found.
And almost a third do not know whether fruit is healthy or whether it contains too much sugar.
A survey of 2,000 Britons commissioned by Abbott’s Lingo health app found that 75 percent don’t know what to believe when it comes to health and wellbeing advice, and that they consult the internet six times a week.
Per topic, 29 percent were confused about whether fruit is a healthy choice or contains too much sugar.
Meanwhile, 28 percent had no idea how much water they should drink and a quarter did not know whether coffee or tea counted towards their daily fluid intake.
Nearly a third of Britons don’t know whether fruit is actually healthy or whether it contains too much sugar, a survey has found
Additionally, 26 percent of people were unsure whether diet sodas were safe to drink.
Nutritionist Sophie Bertrand of Lingo by Abbott said: ‘With the sheer amount of information available to us via the internet and social media, it’s easy to get confused. So always make sure you get your information from a reliable source.’
On fruit, she said, “The truth is that our bodies all respond differently to different foods. A low-sugar diet is generally key to controlling blood sugar, but you may respond differently to a piece of fruit than your coworker or friend.”
‘Eating low-sugar fruits, such as berries, along with nuts or nut butters can help prevent a spike in blood sugar.
‘Fruit is an extremely nutritious food, but it does contain sugar. Too much of anything is not necessarily good for us – but a variety of fruits should be part of a nutritious diet.’
The NHS advises people to eat a total of five portions (400g) of fruit and vegetables per day. An example of a portion would be one banana or seven strawberries.
As for water, the health service advises people to drink six to eight glasses of fluid per day, including tea and coffee.
Evidence on whether diet sodas are safe to consume is mixed. However, most experts agree that they are generally better than high-sugar alternatives.
Ms Bertrand said: ‘3. Diet soft drinks are generally not nutritious and may contain additives and sweeteners. As with everything, they should be consumed in moderation and as part of a varied, healthy diet.’
