Three in four Britons admit they have “no idea” what to believe when it comes to health advice, a survey suggests.
And almost a third don’t know whether fruit is really healthy or contains too much sugar.
The survey of 2,000 Britons, commissioned by health app Lingo by Abbot, found that 75 per cent don’t know what to believe when it comes to health and wellbeing advice, and resort to consulting the internet six times a week.
By topic, 29 percent were confused about whether fruit was a healthy choice or high in 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 really healthy or contains too much sugar, a survey suggests
Additionally, 26 percent of people were unsure whether it was okay to drink diet soda.
Nutritionist Sophie Bertrand from Lingo by Abbott said: “With so much information at our fingertips via the internet and social media, it’s easy to get confused, so always make sure you’re getting your information from a reliable and trustworthy source.”
On the subject of fruit, she said: ‘The truth is that all of our bodies react differently to different foods, and while a low-sugar diet is generally key to helping control blood sugar levels, you may react differently to a piece of fruit than your colleague or friend.’
‘Snacking on low-sugar fruits, such as berries, combined with nuts or nut butters, can help you avoid blood sugar spikes.
‘Fruit is an extremely nutrient-dense 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 nutrient-rich diet.’
The NHS recommends eating five portions (400g) of fruit and vegetables a day. An example of such a portion would be one banana or seven strawberries.
As far as water is concerned, the health service recommends drinking six to eight glasses of liquid a day, including tea and coffee.
The evidence on whether diet sodas are safe to drink is mixed. However, most experts agree that they are generally better than sugary alternatives.
Ms Bertrand said: “3. Diet soft drinks are generally not nutritious and may contain additives and sweeteners, so like everything, they should be consumed in moderation and as part of a varied and healthy diet.”