# When should I opine on what people want to eat? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 3, 2025, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-should-i-opine-on-what-people-want-to-eat/1020422 "2025-07-03T01:36:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2025, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-should-i-opine-on-what-people-want-to-eat/1020422/21 "2025-07-03T02:37:47Z")
> [@wguy123](#): > > many of these foods are known to be the cause of the fattening of US and the increase in diabetes, heart disease, etc. They are? ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2025, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-should-i-opine-on-what-people-want-to-eat/1020422/22 "2025-07-03T02:41:15Z")
Yep, I get it. As I said above. My position has changed since my OP. Thanks all. If you want to continue to discuss, feel free. I will not be piping up in the threads I brought up which was the point of this. > [@crowmanyclouds](#): > > They are? Most def. > **[Are Ultraprocessed Foods Bad for Your Health?](https://www.yalemedicine.org/news/ultraprocessed-foods-bad-for-you)** > > A Yale Medicine specialist talks about a review article that links ultraprocessed foods to 32 health conditions. ---
**Author:** ![Zoobi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/13edae/32.png) [@Zoobi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoobi)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2025, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-should-i-opine-on-what-people-want-to-eat/1020422/23 "2025-07-03T02:43:16Z")
I think if you feel compelled to opine then you should. That way people can make their own decision about whether you are a person they should continue interacting with or not. ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2025, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-should-i-opine-on-what-people-want-to-eat/1020422/24 "2025-07-03T02:43:51Z")
So, if I never eat “ultraprocessed foods” I will not be at any risk for diabetes or heart disease? ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2025, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-should-i-opine-on-what-people-want-to-eat/1020422/25 "2025-07-03T02:45:27Z")
> [@Zoobi](#): > > I think if you feel compelled to opine then you should. That way people can make their own decision about whether you are a person they should continue interacting with or not. Hell no. I learned my lesson here. > [@crowmanyclouds](#): > > So, if I never eat “ultraprocessed foods” I will not be at any risk for diabetes or heart disease? I misspoke. I shouldn’t have said “the” cause, but “a” cause. Mea culpa. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2025, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-should-i-opine-on-what-people-want-to-eat/1020422/26 "2025-07-03T02:45:38Z")
I just love the people who tell me how to eat. Surely apple cider vinegar can cure my T-1 diabetes. There’s an ad out for this supplement that can _Reverse diabetes_. A lady told me today I should get some. Ummm…don’t think that would work for me. ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2025, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-should-i-opine-on-what-people-want-to-eat/1020422/27 "2025-07-03T02:48:38Z")
And this from your cite, > Dr. Imaeda says she isn’t surprised by the review findings, but notes that the incidence rates of the related health conditions are small. “One issue with the studies they looked at is that the relative risks are not very high. They are 1.1-fold to 1.5-fold increases. However, if you are talking about a serious health problem, such as a heart attack, a 1.5-fold increase is still a lot,” she says. “Many of these studies are also not of the highest quality, which is, in part, because those are difficult to do. There are studies where they surveyed patients, everything from asking them to report what they consumed the previous day to asking them how often they eat certain foods, as opposed to a randomized clinical trial, where the diet is controlled by researchers.” > > Another problem is that most of the foods people eat are ultraprocessed, Dr. Imaeda says. In fact, UPFs make up 67% of calories consumed by children and teenagers in the U.S., according to the review. > > “If everyone is eating lots of ultraprocessed foods, researchers don’t have a baseline group of people who don’t eat them to compare them to,” she says. “Plus, how many UPFs have a direct risk of these medical conditions versus how many of them are related to obesity? We know that obesity raises your risk of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and various cancers.” ---
**Author:** ![DaveUnknown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/94ad74/32.png) [@DaveUnknown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DaveUnknown)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2025, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-should-i-opine-on-what-people-want-to-eat/1020422/28 "2025-07-03T02:51:26Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > There’s an ad out for this supplement that can _Reverse diabetes_. Can they legally make that claim? ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2025, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-should-i-opine-on-what-people-want-to-eat/1020422/29 "2025-07-03T02:51:30Z")
I think it’s different if you have an OP which legitimately asks for ideas and guidance on how to eat healthier, and what to avoid, as @ThelmaLou noted. There, they are actually seeking advice about healthy eating choices. But, otherwise, people don’t generally want or appreciate unsolicited advice on their eating habits (or, frankly, any of their habits) from random people, even if the person giving advice is well-intentioned. ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2025, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-should-i-opine-on-what-people-want-to-eat/1020422/30 "2025-07-03T02:54:17Z")
I’ve learned my lesson. I will not discuss this in threads that ask about these foods. I promise, I’ve learned my lesson. Should I self-flagellate at this point? Eat what you want to eat. I don’t give a fuck at this point. Drink what you want to drink. Smoke what you want to smoke. Gamble yourself into bankruptcy. Invest all your savings into Trump crypto. I will ride motos and cycle at high rates of speeds increasing my own risk of serious injury or death. Now, should I wear a helmet? 🙂 Wait - to who I am responding to: Have I eaten enough crow yet??? BTW, it tastes like shit. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2025, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-should-i-opine-on-what-people-want-to-eat/1020422/31 "2025-07-03T02:54:29Z")
> [@DaveUnknown](#): > > Can they legally make that claim? No. But you can say it will get you reverse cowgirl with a reverse mermaid. ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2025, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-should-i-opine-on-what-people-want-to-eat/1020422/32 "2025-07-03T03:01:17Z")
> [@wguy123](#): > > I’ve learned my lesson. I will not discuss this in threads that ask about these foods. That’s nice, but the lesson I think you should learn is that you don’t really understand the science you’re basing your opinion on. ---
**Author:** ![scabpicker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scabpicker/32/8268_2.png) [@scabpicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scabpicker)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2025, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-should-i-opine-on-what-people-want-to-eat/1020422/33 "2025-07-03T03:08:45Z")
> [@wguy123](#): > > Should I self-flagellate at this point? That’s going to be a personal choice. I don’t advise it. > [@wguy123](#): > > Now, should I wear a helmet? 🙂 While self-flagellating? Nah, I’m pretty sure it won’t help. While riding a motorcycle? Oh yeah, surely. Now, as soon as I quit smoking, I’m probably going to immediately attend a MSF class and start shopping motorcycles in earnest. My sweetie says I gotta give up one high risk behavior before I can pick up another one. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2025, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-should-i-opine-on-what-people-want-to-eat/1020422/34 "2025-07-03T03:16:50Z")
And unhealthy. ---
**Author:** ![SenorBeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senorbeef/32/2220_2.png) [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2025, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-should-i-opine-on-what-people-want-to-eat/1020422/35 "2025-07-03T03:21:15Z")
> [@wguy123](#): > > If someone came in here asking if they should start smoking Not a good analogy. It’s more like going to a thread about people asking your preferred cigarette brand or where the best place to find cheap cigarettes is and telling them that smoking is bad. They’re not asking for your opinion on that issue. Conversely, if someone started a thread that said “should I eat more fried foods?” and they were asking for opinions on issues like health, then it would be appropriate for you to give your opinion. So I realize you’ve backed away from your original position, and that’s great, but I still wanted to write this in the hopes that it might help you understand better where most people would disagree with you. If someone asked for the best route for a motorcycle road trip through the Rockies, would you tell them they shouldn’t go and how dangerous riding motorcycles is? Why or why not? People know smoking is bad. People know what foods are very unhealthy and what the consequences of eating them are. Unless they are inviting you to give your opinion on the health of it, there’s no reason for you to say anything about it. To do so isn’t being informative, it’s being judgmental. And to introspect a little bit, do you apply your concern for other people’s health and well-being equally? Are you equally likely to tell people to wear a bike helmet than to tell them donuts will make them fat? Or does your desire to tell people things for their own good happen to line up with your personal biases and issues on which you feel righteous about being judgemental? ---
**Author:** ![echoreply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/echoreply/32/3641_2.png) [@echoreply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/echoreply)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2025, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-should-i-opine-on-what-people-want-to-eat/1020422/36 "2025-07-03T03:25:42Z")
> [@wguy123](#): > > Eat what you want to eat. I don’t give a fuck at this point. If I ever post something like, “I’m feeding my family only the most healthy of processed meat from the Costco food court,” you have my permission to call me out on it. I totally understand the place your question came from. Sometimes it is really hard to hold your tongue (or keyboard). > [@DaveUnknown](#): > > Can they legally make that claim I don’t know if it is legal, but it can probably get them a cabinet position. ---
**Author:** ![SenorBeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senorbeef/32/2220_2.png) [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2025, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-should-i-opine-on-what-people-want-to-eat/1020422/37 "2025-07-03T03:30:05Z")
It’s definitely not legal to say that your supplement treats or cures a specific disease. That’s what the FDA would consider a “structure or function” claim. Those require actual scientific evidence with FDA approval. So someone saying a supplement reverses diabetes would absolutely be in violation of the law. Which is why supplement sellers use vague non-specific claims that don’t really mean anything like “supports the immune system” or “boosts health” ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2025, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-should-i-opine-on-what-people-want-to-eat/1020422/38 "2025-07-03T03:31:49Z")
Yeah..who am I gonna report it to? ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2025, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-should-i-opine-on-what-people-want-to-eat/1020422/39 "2025-07-03T03:32:10Z")
I 100% think people that don’t wear a cycling or moto helmet are idiots (I live in a state where neither are required so I think that often). Does that help? I rarely don’t wear either and that is typically when I’m “riding around the block” to test something. Same as when I occasionally eat fast food or ultraprocessed food. I again 100% acknowledge that is judgmental and why I posted this very thread. I will try to never judge people for making what I think are bad decisions: Food, drink, smoke, gambling, debt, etc. Edit to add: Judge in my SDMB posts. We all judge stuff in our head. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2025, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-should-i-opine-on-what-people-want-to-eat/1020422/40 "2025-07-03T03:33:00Z")
We should all be so wise. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-should-i-opine-on-what-people-want-to-eat/1020422.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-should-i-opine-on-what-people-want-to-eat/1020422.md?page=3)