Somehow I managed to have copies of 3 articles in the same pile in which “It’s Not a Fad” was either part of the headline or in the first paragraph.

Apparently, the concept of something being a fad or not being a fad can be applied to just about anything. Most of the time I read about fads and something taking place on the Internet or a new wireless gizmo. And then there’s always the latest diet for quick weight loss. And of course the latest get rich quick and easy scheme that’s a fad before we realize the only people getting wealthy are those selling the product.

So how do you know when a food or a diet or a medicine or a treatment is the real thing and not a fad? When does a fad become a trend?

You need to read the content that goes along with the headline and use your good judgment.

For instance in an article titled, “It’s not just a fad – organic food is better for you, say scientists” published 3 years ago in England, the author points out the evidence to demonstrate that organic food is better. “The reason why it’s such a grey area is because it’s extremely difficult to measure the health benefit in any food, but we can say that if you eat 400g of fruit and vegetables per day you would get 20 per cent more nutrients in organic food.” (Dr. Kristen Brandt of Newcastle University)

Now that argument makes sense to me and appears to have long term value. Another one with long term value was published in the Los Angeles Times 2 years ago: “Not a fad: Oats do help hearts”.

“Findings on food and health sometimes swing back and forth like a pendulum. But in the 10 years since that claim was allowed, continued research into the reported benefits of oats has verified the link and offered new insights into how oats help the heart.”

Most of the time it is content and you interpretation of the content that will help you decide whether this or that statement is a fad or something verifiable.  Sometimes, however, it is straight information that says if it’s a fad, it is a mighty powerful one.

For instance, it took radio 38 years to reach 50 million listeners. It took TV 13 years to reach 50 million viewers. It took the Internet 4 years to reach 50 million people on board.

It took FACEBOOK 9 months to have 50 million people register.

Now you know why so many of the health fads have their origins on social networking sites!

Am I way off in my conclusion?  What do you think?

To your success at healthy aging.

Ruthan Brodsky

It’s Not a Fad

Somehow I managed to have copies of 3 articles in the same pile in which “It’s Not a Fad” was either part of the headline or in the first paragraph.

Apparently, the concept of something being a fad or not being a fad can be applied to just about anything. Most of the time I read about fads and something taking place on the Internet or a new wireless gizmo. And then there’s always the latest diet for quick weight loss. And of course the latest get rich quick and easy scheme that’s a fad before we realize the only people getting wealthy are those selling the product.

So how do you know when a food or a diet or a medicine or a treatment is the real thing and not a fad? When does a fad become a trend?

You need to read the content that goes along with the headline and use your good judgment.

For instance in an article titled, “It’s not just a fad – organic food is better for you, say scientists” published 3 years ago in England, the author points out the evidence to demonstrate that organic food is better. “The reason why it’s such a grey area is because it’s extremely difficult to measure the health benefit in any food, but we can say that if you eat 400g of fruit and vegetables per day you would get 20 per cent more nutrients in organic food.”  (Dr. Kristen Brandt of Newcastle University)

Now that argument makes sense to me and appears to have long term value. Another one with long term value was published in the Los Angeles Times 2 years ago: “Not a fad: Oats do help hearts”.

“Findings on food and health sometimes swing back and forth like a pendulum. But in the 10 years since that claim was allowed, continued research into the reported benefits of oats has verified the link and offered new insights into how oats help the heart.”

Most of the time it is content and you interpretation of the content that will help you decide whether this or that statement is a fad or something verifiable.  Sometimes, however, it is straight information that says if it’s a fad, it is a mighty powerful one.

For instance, it took radio 38 years to reach 50 million listeners.

It took TV 13 years to reach 50 million viewers.

It took the Internet 4 years to reach 50 million people on board.

It took FACEBOOK 9 months to have 50 million people register.

Now you know why so many of the health fads have their origins on social networking sites!

Am I way off in my conclusion?  What do you think?

To your success at healthy aging.

Ruthan Brodsky

It’s Not a Fad

Somehow I managed to have copies of 3 articles in the same pile in which “It’s Not a Fad” was either part of the headline or in the first paragraph.

Apparently, the concept of something being a fad or not being a fad can be applied to just about anything. Most of the time I read about fads and something taking place on the Internet or a new wireless gizmo. And then there’s always the latest diet for quick weight loss. And of course the latest get rich quick and easy scheme that’s a fad before we realize the only people getting wealthy are those selling the product.

So how do you know when a food or a diet or a medicine or a treatment is the real thing and not a fad? When does a fad become a trend?

You need to read the content that goes along with the headline and use your good judgment.

For instance in an article titled, “It’s not just a fad – organic food is better for you, say scientists” published 3 years ago in England, the author points out the evidence to demonstrate that organic food is better. “The reason why it’s such a grey area is because it’s extremely difficult to measure the health benefit in any food, but we can say that if you eat 400g of fruit and vegetables per day you would get 20 per cent more nutrients in organic food.”  (Dr. Kristen Brandt of Newcastle University)

Now that argument makes sense to me and appears to have long term value. Another one with long term value was published in the Los Angeles Times 2 years ago: “Not a fad: Oats do help hearts”.

“Findings on food and health sometimes swing back and forth like a pendulum. But in the 10 years since that claim was allowed, continued research into the reported benefits of oats has verified the link and offered new insights into how oats help the heart.”

Most of the time it is content and you interpretation of the content that will help you decide whether this or that statement is a fad or something verifiable.  Sometimes, however, it is straight information that says if it’s a fad, it is a mighty powerful one.

For instance, it took radio 38 years to reach 50 million listeners.

It took TV 13 years to reach 50 million viewers.

It took the Internet 4 years to reach 50 million people on board.

It took FACEBOOK 9 months to have 50 million people register.

Now you know why so many of the health fads have their origins on social networking sites!

Am I way off in my conclusion?  What do you think?

To your success at healthy aging.

Ruthan Brodsky

Tagged with: • •

Filed under: Aging Gracefully

Like this post? Subscribe to my RSS feed and get loads more!