Popular Diet Trends: Diet Trend Runners-Up of 2021
By Toby Amidor, MS, RD, CDN, FAND
Today’s Dietitian
Explore some of the lesser-known eating patterns from
U.S. News & World Report’s annual ranking.
However RDs feel about diet trends, it’s important for them to keep abreast of what’s popular. According to the International Food Information Council’s 2020 Food and Health Survey, 43% of Americans claimed to follow a specific diet or eating pattern compared with 38% in 2019 and 36% in 2018.1 With so many clients engaged in these practices, it can be difficult to keep up.
To help the public and health professionals navigate all of these diets,
5 Myths About Alternative Sweeteners, According to a Registered Dietitian
5 Myths About Alternative Sweeteners, According to a Registered Dietitian
There s a lot of skepticism surrounding alternative sweeteners after several studies showed that sugar substitutes may cause a slew of health issues. But health experts say they re safe to use in moderation and even helpful for those who need to regulate their blood sugar levels.
Currently, eight alternative sweeteners are approved by the FDA, the most common of which include sucralose, saccharin, and aspartame. Alternative and artificial sweeteners are both terms used to describe sugar substitutes, according to Keri Gans, MS, RD, CDN, and Splenda nutrition consultant. These types of sweeteners are often low in calories or don t contain any calories at all, whereas traditional sweeteners like honey and table sugar are caloric.