Advertisement

6 controversial foods—and what to know about them

Is a gluten-free diet really healthier for? Can processed meat contribute to cancer?

Updated on June 9, 2022

coconut oil
1 / 7

If you follow nutrition news, it seems like there’s a new food trend blaring across headlines each week. To add to the confusion, sometimes the same superfood lands on the must-eat and must-avoid lists at the same time. You’d be forgiven for questioning the foods and ingredients in your own pantry and fridge.

Does soy really increase breast cancer risk? Is going gluten-Show More

soymilk
2 / 7
Soy

The claims: Eating soy products like soy milk, tofu, edamame, sprouts, and soy nuts might contribute to breast cancer.

The facts: Soy contains all-natural plant chemicals called isoflavones that regulate cell growth. In some studies in rats, a high amount of isoflavones resulted in anShow More

wheat bread, grains
3 / 7
Wheat Gluten

The claims: A gluten-free diet is healthy for everyone, whether you have a gluten intolerance or celiac disease, or not.

The facts: Gluten is a protein found in wheat, rye, and barley. It can have negative effects on people with an intolerance or those who have celiac disease, anShow More

red meat
4 / 7
Red and Processed Meat

The claims: Red and processed meats cause cancer.

The facts: According to the World Health Organization, eating processed meats like hot dogs and bacon and red meats like steak and ground beef may increase your risk of colorectal cancer, and potentially pancreatic, prostate, andShow More

artificial sweetener
5 / 7
Artificial Sweeteners

The claims: Substituting artificial sweeteners like aspartame, neotame, saccharin, and sucralose for sugar will help you lose weight.

The facts: While artificial sweeteners have been tested and approved for consumption, they may not always be the healthiest option.

It’s hard to sayShow More

msg, take out food
6 / 7
MSG

The claims: Monosodium glutamate (MSG)—a flavor enhancer sometimes added to Chinese food, canned vegetables, soups, and processed meats—causes headaches, dry mouth, and flushing. Some also believe MSG triggers asthma symptoms and can make migraines worse.  

The facts: The U.S.Show More

coconut oil
7 / 7
Coconut oil

The claims: Many people believe coconut oil can help digestion, boost the immune system, keep your skin healthy, help you lose weight, and may even keep your teeth and gums healthy.

The facts: Coconut oil is actually loaded with saturated fat (between 80 and 90 percent) and eating a lotShow More

Slideshow sources open slideshow sources

Stacy Simon. Soy and Cancer Risk: Our Expert’s Advice. American Cancer Society. April 29, 2019.
Wei Y, Lv J, Guo Y, et al. Soy intake and breast cancer risk: a prospective study of 300,000 Chinese women and a dose-response meta-analysis. Eur J Epidemiol. 2020 Jun;35(6):567-578.
Fan Y, Wang M, Li Z, et al. Intake of Soy, Soy Isoflavones and Soy Protein and Risk of Cancer Incidence and Mortality. Front Nutr. 2022 Mar 4;9:847421.
Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Straight Talk about Soy. Accessed May 27, 2022.
Diez-Sampedro A, Olenick M, Maltseva T, Flowers M. A Gluten-Free Diet, Not an Appropriate Choice without a Medical Diagnosis. J Nutr Metab. 2019;2019:2438934. Published 2019 Jul 1.
World Health Organization. Cancer: Carcinogenicity of the consumption of red meat and processed meat. 2015.
American Institute for Cancer Research. Limit Consumption of Red and Processed Meat. Accessed June 9, 2022.
Holly Strawbridge. Artificial sweeteners: sugar-free, but at what cost? Harvard Health Publishing. January 29, 2020.
Debras C, Chazelas E, Srour B, et al. Artificial sweeteners and cancer risk: Results from the NutriNet-Santé population-based cohort study. PLoS Med. 2022 Mar 24;19(3):e1003950.
Singh N, Singh Lubana S, Arora S, Sachmechi I. A Study of Artificial Sweeteners and Thyroid Cancer Risk. J Clin Med Res. 2020 Aug;12(8):492-498.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Questions and Answers on Monosodium glutamate (MSG). Content current as of: January 4, 2018.
Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Coconut Oil. Accessed June 9, 2022.
American Heart Association. Advisory: Replacing saturated fat with healthier fat could lower cardiovascular risks. Published: June 15, 2017.
American Dental Association. Mouth Healthy. Oil pulling. 2018.

More On

How can I reduce my carb cravings?

video

How can I reduce my carb cravings?
To reduce your cravings for bad carbs, you need to remove the "carbage" from your diet and focus on healthier, slower carbs, along with protein and go...
5 healthy foods that can help you lose weight

article

5 healthy foods that can help you lose weight
Eating these nutrient-packed foods may help curb your appetite.
4 sensational summer salads

slideshow

4 sensational summer salads
Dig into these delicious salad recipes for a perfect refreshing meal.
What are probiotics, and how can I introduce them into my diet?

video

What are probiotics, and how can I introduce them into my diet?
Probiotics help maintain good immune health and digestion
When would I need to get vitamin B12 shots?

video

When would I need to get vitamin B12 shots?
There are valid reasons for a person to get vitamin B12 shots. Preventive medicine specialist David Katz, MD, discusses the specifics.