You probably already know Doctor Mike from Tiktok and Instagram. He’s a certified doctor who happens to be good at making educational (and often viral!) videos.
And now he’s partnered with MyFitnessPal to ask strangers on the street about their nutrition knowledge. You know, the basic stuff like how much protein, sugar, and calories are in your daily meals.
The result? Well, watch out:
Nutrition knowledge gaps
Doctor Mike’s video is not the only evidence that the general public lacks basic nutrition knowledge.
In a recent MyFitnessPal survey, we found that most respondents underestimated how many grams of fat are in foods like fish tacos, Caesar salad, and avocado. In fact, those foods contain almost twice as much fat as the surveyors estimated.
Even more surprising, 88% of respondents said they really have no idea how much protein, fiber, carbohydrates, sugar, and salt they consume each day.
“Whatever your health goals are, it’s important to at least have a general idea of how much you’re getting from the major nutrients,” says Katherine Basbaum, a registered dietitian with MyFitnessPal. “Even for the average healthy adult, having too many nutrients and not enough others can affect you reaching your goals.”
For example: if you’re trying to improve your gut health and microbiome, it’s important to know if you’re getting enough fiber to support the healthy bacteria in your gut. It is also good to know how much sugar you are eating. Excess sugar can quickly undermine your gut health.
Calorie confusion
If Doctor Mike’s video is any indication, people aren’t good at counting calories either. In the video, most people guessed the amount of calories in peanut butter. Their answers range from 100-800 calories (distraction: it’s 180 calories!).
“The amount of calories in foods can have a negative impact on your overall health for a number of reasons. Some foods contain lighter or healthier ingredients that in our minds may seem like they are low in calories, but in fact, sometimes some foods sound richer and “Calorie-dense foods actually have fewer calories than those that sound healthier,” says Basbaum. “For example, in a recent MyFitnessPal survey, many respondents estimated that a cheeseburger contains more calories than two fish tacos. In fact, a cheeseburger typically contains 380 calories, while two tacos contain fish add up to 490 calories.
This is why it is always good to check calories from reliable sources. While calorie counting may not be the way to track what you eat, too much underestimating calories can slow down or stop your goals.
“There is no general number of calories that everyone needs to maintain a healthy weight,” added Basbaum. “It varies from person to person and depends on a number of factors including age, gender, weight, height and activity level.”
You may also like
Why choosing the right calorie goal is important for weight loss
How to Improve Your Nutrition IQ
So, how do you know what your nutritional needs are? Where can you find information about what’s really in your food?
Don’t worry: it’s easier to brush up on your nutrition knowledge than you think. There are many ways to boost your nutritional IQ, and one way to do that is to simply check the label.
“The pictures and health claims on the front of the package give you very little information about the nutrition and quality of the food inside,” Basbaum said. “It’s a marketing tool to sell products.” If you really want to boost your nutritional IQ, read the nutrition facts label on the back of the package.
It’s not just packaged foods that have this nutritional information. “It’s the same with restaurant meals. If it’s a chain restaurant with more than 20 locations, they’re required to post their nutrition information on their website and their locations.”
If you want a database that includes these foods and more, use MyFitnessPal. “It can provide almost all the nutrition information in one convenient place, whether it’s on packaging and restaurant foods or fresh foods like meat and produce,” Basbaum said.
Our members second: according to our recent MyFitnessPal survey, 87% of respondents agreed that being able to accurately record the food they eat helps them keep track of their food/calorie intake.
Whatever you choose, learning about the nutrients in your diet can help you make better choices, reach your goals, and feel like a better version of yourself. And if Doctor Mike ever approaches you on the street to challenge your nutrition IQ, you’ll be ready.
The post Doctor Mike Tests Strangers’ Nutrition IQ New Video appeared first on MyFitnessPal Blog.