http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle ... s-is-wrong

Can't say I'd be surprised, though part of the problem is that the information is often presented badly and then the media distorts it further. And that's when companies aren't finding friendly doctors and groups to help with promotion.

Indeed. There are far too many vested interests weighing into the 'healthy food' debate for the public at large to gain anything from it at all.

The various fad diets don't help either. The message gets lost in all the calories, points, carbs and super-foods.

My doctor said it's really simple, keep your saturated fat levels really low, do more exercise and steer clear of refined foods. When I actually follow his advice I feel better, have more energy and lose weight, my blood pressure and naughty cholesterol lower and I start to think I might survive this life after all!

I just had a medical - my blood pressure and cholesterol were both normal. I don't eat much in the way of junk food, I eat plenty of fresh fruit and veg and we don't buy a lot of processed food or ready-made stuff. I am fat though, which just means I'm a greedy bas with an eye for decent food.

Personally, I don't go much on advice.

I'm a big believer in judicious use of common sense and experimentation. If my body doesn't agree with something, it'll soon let me know if I pay attention. We've all become so accustomed to just getting somebody else to tell us what to do (in a variety of areas) that we've forgotten how to just try things and find what works best for us as individuals...

Everything in moderation. If you eat a kilo of red meat every day, it will be bad for you, eat it once or twice a week and it probably won't have any negative effects. The same for eggs, milk, wine etc.

I had a check last week. Gout is under control, so only half a tablet from now on. Cholesterol is a bit high, must reduce fats - less cheese and snacks; I don't eat any red meat, or the other common things that cause high cholesterol.

What's interesting is that people from countries where the diet tends to basically fish/rice/vegetables have low levels of heart attacks but as soon as they move to the UK, the rates go up. I've essentially stopped eating bread and cakes, rarely go for biscuits and try to snack on fruit rather than cereal bars and the like. I now hold the belief that basically all food has the potential to be bad for you but the quantity and processing is what turns it from potential into real.

My boyfriend is now on an Asian food kick and we're eating a lot of rice and noodles. I don't mind as I like them and he reckons he's lost a stone. That could be due to the fact we're now back from our travels and not eating out every meal

I'm sure he'll put it back on when we spend 3 weeks in the states lol.

I haven't weighed myself recently but maybe I should as I'm now back to exercising 3 times week with a mixture of swimming, aqua fit and yoga.

Right then, doner kebabs it is then.

It's got salad in it after all .