Experts are warning about the risks of extremely picky(挑剔的)eating after a teenager living on a diet of chips and crisps developed lasting sight loss. Eye doctors in Bristol cared for the 17-year-old after his sight had gone to the point of blindness. Tests showed he had serious vitamin deficiency(缺乏). Dr. Denize Atan, who treated him at the hospital, said, “His diet was basically a portion of chips from the local fish and chip shop every day. He also used to snack on crisps and sometimes white bread and ham, and not really any fruit and vegetables.”

The teenager saw his doctor at the age of 14 because he had been feeling tired and unwell. At that time he suffered from vitamin B12 deficiency, but he did not stick with the treatment or improve his poor diet. Three years later, he was taken to the Bristol Eye Hospital because of progressive sight loss.

He was not overweight or underweight, but he had lost minerals from his bones, which was really quite shocking for a boy of his age. In terms of his sight loss, he met the standards of being blind. “He had blind spots right in the middle of his sight,” said Dr Denize Atan, “That means he can’t drive and would find it really arduous to read, watch TV or recognize faces.”

Dr Denize Atan said that parents should learn about the harm that can be caused by picky eating, and turn to experts for help. For those who are concerned , she advised, “It’s best not to be anxious about picky eating , and instead calmly introduce one or two new foods with every meal.” She said multivitamin tablets can supplement(补充) a diet, but cannot take the place of eating healthily. “It’s much better to take in vitamins through a varied and balanced diet,” she said, adding that too many certain vitamins , including vitamin A, can be harmful ,“so you don’t want to overdo it.”

Bloating (胀气) is often caused by eating certain foods, in particular, those high in fibre. But fibre shouldn't be the enemy when it comes to bloating, according to nutritionist Cassandra Barns. 【小题1】

Don't cut out fibre

Fibre plays an important role in one's health, and the shortage of it will lead to healthy problems. 【小题2】 Cassandra explained: “A lack of fibre can contribute to constipation (便秘). ”

【小题3】

While eating as much fibre as possible may seem a healthy option, eating too much can also play havoc (灾害) with your digestive system.

Cassandra said: “Too much fibre may not be helpful for those with bloating, flatulence or abdominal pain, especially insoluble fibre such as that found in wheat bran, seeds and nuts and there tough parts of vegetables and fruits such as their skins.”

Which grains to choose

If you're partial to eating grains as your source of fibre, there are certain ones considered better than others at reducing bloating. Cassandra said: “If you eat grains, choose the ‘gentler’ ones such as brown rice and oats.”

How to prepare vegetables and fruits

When it comes to fruits and vegetables, Cassandra advises putting in a bit of time to prepare them. She said: “【小题4】”

Nuts and seeds

【小题5】 Cassandra explained: “Soaking nuts and seeds in water for 8 to 12 hours can help them to be more easily digested.” One nut in particular could be causing your bloating as well as stomach cramps.

The Tulane University School of Medicine in New Orleans has added an unconventional course to its curriculum. Medical students can now take cooking classes in addition to their usual training. This is intended to improve doctors’ nutritional knowledge and encourage them to use food to prevent or cure illnesses.

According to a survey，most medical students in the U.S. receive on average 20 hours of nutritional education throughout their entire education. This is an extremely low number，especially when one considers that diet is at the core(核心 )of many modern Western diseases. From Type 2 diabetes，heart disease，reflux to obesity，allergies，depression and arthritis，eating the right foods can go a long way towards recovery，while significantly reducing dependency on medicinal drugs.

A big part of the problem is that nutritional guidelines in North America are vague，impractical，and difficult to apply. Everyone，from doctors to schoolchildren，learns about specific nutrients and percentages of recommended daily intakes，but that doesn’t translate easily to the grocery store.

Training doctors to cook，however，takes nutritional education to a whole new level. Not only will doctors be able to explain which foods are best to eat，but they will also understand how to prepare them. Tulane medical students prepare for teaching future patients by offering free cooking classes to New Orleans residents—a mutually beneficial arrangement for everyone who shares that food.

Fortunately，the model seems to be catching on. Already two other medical schools have licensed the curriculum and are adding it to their courses. Tulane also offers nutritional training for health-focused chefs from a nearby cooking school，which makes a lot of sense. After all，with the frequency with which North Americans eat out，we could all benefit from chefs who know how to balance nutrition with great taste.