YOUNG people could be putting their health at risk by following dieting fads such as going dairy free, experts have warned.
A survey by the National Osteoporosis Society found a fifth of under-25s are cutting out or reducing dairy in their diet, which can be dangerous if they do not get enough calcium from other sources.
The charity said that many young people take their dietary advice from bloggers and while some of it is sound, it is not always based on science and may not be right for everyone.
Shutterstock
Here, Sun nutritionist AMANDA URSELL sorts fact from fiction and answers eight of the most common questions about our diets.
Getty Images
THE grapefruit diet was created in the 1920s and has been praised by celebs such as Kylie Minogue.
But scientists at Oxford University found no difference in weight between groups taking grapefruit or a placebo.
When eaten as the whole fruit, pink grapefruits are one of your five a day.
Check with your doctor before eating if you are taking cholesterol-lowering medication, as super-nutrients can interfere with them.
Getty Images
CHOCOLATE is low on the glycaemic index, which measures how quickly carbohydrates are digested and how quickly they raise the level of blood sugar.
Chocolate squeaks into the low-GI bracket because digestion of the 24g of sugar in a 50g bar is slowed down by the 15g of fat it also provides.
But it will never be the same as a bowl of strawberries, so keep it as a treat.
Getty Images
FULL-fat, semi-skimmed and skimmed milk all contain roughly the same amount of calcium, as the bone-building mineral is found in the watery part of milk not the fatty part.
So when fat is removed for semi-skimmed and skimmed milk, none of this vital mineral is lost.
A 200ml glass of skimmed milk contains around 250mg of calcium, compared to 240mg in the same amount of full-fat milk.
Getty Images
There is little scientific evidence either way for this claim. But given that a stick of celery provides just two calories, the numbers really arent worth worrying about.
If you enjoy it, eat it. If you dont, choose another vegetable you like.
Alamy
NOT always. Wholemeal bread and pasta, natural yoghurt, porridge and frozen vegetables all undergo processing and these foods are not considered bad for us.
In fact, some processed foods, such as red kidney beans, are better for you than before they are treated.
On the other hand, overly refined processed foods, such as cakes, pies and biscuits, should be limited.
Getty Images
GOOD news there is no strong conclusive evidence that chocolate or dairy products cause acne. Dark chocolate provides antioxidants that may actually help to protect the skin.
For healthy skin you should drink plenty of water and eat a balanced diet.
Foods with vitamins A, C and E, zinc, riboflavin, niacin, pyridoxine and selenium will also help.
Alamy
DRIED fruits, beans and seeds do contain calcium.
But they also have substances known as oxalates and phytates that grab on to the calcium they contain and reduce how much you can absorb.
The British Dietetic Association advises that they should not be used as your main source of calcium.
Milk, yoghurt, almond milk and fortified oat, rice and soya milk are much better sources.
Getty Images
WE should have at least two portions of fish a week, including one serving (about 140g) of oily types such as salmon and mackerel. Oily fish is full of omega-3 essential fats, which are good for our hearts and the nervous systems of babies and children.
But some oily fish contain low levels of pollutants that build up, so pregnant or breastfeeding women are advised to stick to a maximum of two servings per week.
