Have you ever picked food off someone else’s plate because then ‘the calories are not real’? Those days may be numbered, as a new, simple test can snitch on you with accuracy and precision, according to scientists.
Experts believe the ‘lie diet-tector’ test developed by researchers at Aberystwyth University will be more than just a tool for dedicated slimmers. They claim it may be able to prevent chronic diseases and reduce obesity rates by informing doctors what patients have really been consuming on a daily basis, by taking a simple urine test.
A spokesman for Aberystwyth University said: “What we eat has a big impact on our health, but it’s very difficult to measure exactly what, and how much, people eat in everyday life, and people find it difficult to record honestly.
“Measuring what people eat can help prevent illness by showing definite links between particular kinds, and amounts, of foods and specific diseases. By testing urine for the chemical ‘fingerprints’ of different foods, the scientists’ research demonstrated that they could determine whether individuals are eating healthy diets or not.”
Human nature makes us prone to fabricating the truth when it comes to our daily intake, usually as an attempt to reflect what we think we should be eating, rather than what we actually are.
My final dissertation was written on ‘under-reporting’ of daily intake, based on a group of women attending a well-known slimming club. My results revealed that, significantly, 97% of the women were recording less food and beverages than they truly were (also known as under-reporting).
A number of reasons for this behaviour can be suggested, but what’s most important to acknowledge is that this makes it extremely difficult for professionals in the health industry, including dieticians and doctors, to make an accurate diagnosis when they are based on fabricated dietary intake.
What I find most interesting about this innovation is the potential it could hold for the food allergy and intolerance sector, including Crohn’s disease, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) including other not-so-easily-diagnosed diet-related ailments and gastrointestinal issues.
I should think the scientists are rubbing their hands at the thought of a new cure for the obesity epidemic, but I actually think this could be used more broadly. For example, those who severely under-eat, for those who drink too much, for pre-diabetic sufferers and many more food- and drink-related conditions.
It can prove to be incredibly time-consuming and inconclusive to pinpoint a particular food group or product which is causing dietary discomfort, or worse. This new test may be exciting in that respect.
Are you a self-confessed cheater, cheater compulsive eater? You may only have five years left.
Rebecca is editorial assistant of FoodBev.com. You can contact her here, or read her blog here.
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