Medical education not covering basics of nutrition

In the hospital the other day, the doc wanted me to take some medicine, but he said I should eat something first. So I went to the canteen. I couldn't believe it! Coke! Diet Coke! In fact a wide selection of fizzy sugar water. Anemic looking white bread sandwiches. Cakes with sugar icing. The only vegetables in sight had been stewed to within an inch of their lives. And the TV blaring out rubbish about what particular snake oil stops those "aches and pains" because it contains, wait for it, "vitamins!"

The patients are being duped because they know nothing about nutrition either. And this should be a vital part of any school curriculum for boys or girls. The girl at the counter at the shop in the hospital thought I was some kind of loony and saw nothing wrong with sugary sodas and starchy snacks. There has to be a whole education programme, not just for medical people but for all, from children to adults. Food quality gets worse and worse.

Of course, it's the industry's interest that the mass keeps eating crap. Patients develop life long conditions that are roughly manageable. Jackpot ! That makes them visit doctors often and get prescribed huge amounts of drugs.

Devries advised. “And if they can’t help,

It's not if. It's the case. The article is right. They don't know more about exercising or psychology.

request a referral to a skilled professional who can.”

As if they knew those pros. Let's hope they can help with the flu or give a referral for cancer screening.

I don't know much about discussing diets with Japanese doctors, but I once spoke to a nutritionist in Japan about the lack of proper food labeling in Japan (lots of stuff doesn't seem to adequately mention the exact amounts of sugar). She basically told me that "if something tastes sweet, then there's probably sugar in there". Her answer baffled me and I began to wonder about the state of Japan's general knowledge of nutrition. I must admit they've done a surprisingly good job with keeping their people generally healthy so far with their eating habits.