ABSTRACT
The interest of the public in nutrition, health, and longevity is something you will encounter frequently in your primary care practice. Often, this information is presented as strong opinions and preconceived misconceptions. Much of the misinformation about nutrition in the public arena is found on the Internet, and your patients will bring this misinformation to your attention. In addition to information that makes no physiological sense, there is a great deal of information that your patients will find confusing or conflicting, such as the controversy around dietary fats and sugars. Official governmental and nongovernmental advisory groups, in an effort to reach a political consensus meeting the needs of various vested interests, often issue generalized guidelines that are of little practical value to you in responding to a patient’s specific questions.
