National Nutrition Month 2007: Be 100% fad free Published March 16, 2007 By Lt. Col. Patricia Petnicki 60th Diagnostics and Therapeutics Squadron TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Diet fads come and go, and some may help you lose weight - in the short term. For National Nutrition Month 2007, the David Grant USAF Medical Center's Nutritional Medicine Flight and the American Dietetic Association says the most effective long-term way to achieve a healthful lifestyle is to be 100 percent Fad Free. Anyone can lose weight on virtually any diet. Eat less and lose weight. The question is, can a healthy lifestyle be maintained over the long term? The real key to reaching long-term goals is to focus on overall health. This year, the key messages of the campaign are based on the 2005 dietary guidelines for Americans. Through National Nutrition Month, created in 1973, the American Dietetic Association promotes healthful eating by providing practical nutrition guidance and focusing attention on making informed food choices and developing sound physical activity habits. National Nutrition Month also reminds consumers that registered dietitians are their most valuable and credible source of timely, science-based information. It's important to maintain a fit and fighting force. Eating sensibly, according to the dietary guidelines for Americans, is cornerstone to the fitness of warriors. Nutrient-dense foods provide key ingredients in proper balance to fuel our systems for peak performance. Whether the goal is to improve a level of fitness or achieve overall health and wellness, National Nutrition Month is a perfect time to make positive changes in your diet and exercise. Small changes can make a big difference in overall health and quality of life. The Nutritional Medicine flight at DGMC encourages everyone to keep in mind these National Nutrition Month key messages to enjoy a 100 percent Fad Free lifestyle: -- Develop an eating plan for lifelong health. Too often, people adopt the latest food fad rather than focusing on overall health. Get back to basics and use the new Dietary Guidelines for Americans and MyPyramid as your guide to healthy eating. -- Choose foods sensibly by looking at the big picture. A single food or meal won't make or break a healthful diet. When consumed in moderation in appropriate portions, all foods can fit into a healthful diet. -- Learn how to spot a food fad. Unreasonable or exaggerated claims that eating (or not eating) specific foods, nutrient supplements or combinations of foods may cure disease or offer quick weight loss are key features of fad diets. -- Find a balance between food and physical activity. Regular physical activity is important for your overall health and fitness, plus it helps control body weight, promotes a feeling of well-being and reduces the risk of chronic diseases. -- Food and nutrition misinformation can have harmful effects on health and well-being, as well as the wallet. Registered dietitians are uniquely qualified to communicate current and emerging science-based nutrition information and are an instrumental part of developing a diet plan that meets your individual needs. The Department of Defense has a special National Nutrition Month resource packet available on the Internet that's also good for your brain cells: http://chppm-www.apgea.army.mil/NNM/Articles.aspx For more information, contact DGMC's Nutritional Medicine Flight at 423-2387.