What's With All The Flip Flopping On What Is Healthy And What Is Not?

Is it just me, or does it seem like every month we see a major change in what is considered healthy food?

For example:

• Grains - for years we were told to eat healthy whole grains, now we hear that they cause health issues and we're supposed to be low-carb and gluten-free 
• Fat - we were told for years to avoid it, now we're told that saturated fat is healthy and good for us
• Salt - avoid salt or not?  Once demonized, we now hear that salt is necessary and beneficial in moderation
• Butter - was shunned as full of fat and cholesterol, we embraced margarine, now we are back to thinking butter is better
• Dairy Products - once wholesome and good for us, now we're told that we need to be lactose-free
• The Food Pyramid - the government's guidelines for healthy eating were ingrained in our minds growing up, now we're told it was all wrong
• Soy - healthy?  Or devil spawn?
• Organic Food - we are told that all of our produce and meat have harmful pesticides and hormones and we should only eat free-range, grass-feed and pesticide-free
• Artificial Sweeteners - once touted as a healthy alternative to sugar, we're now told that it is almost worse than sugar
• Fruit - once was healthy, now we need to avoid it due to its high glycemic nature
• Low Calorie Processed Foods - full of artificial ingredients and sweeteners, once considered healthy are now considered franken-foods
• Eggs - once were healthy, then were full of unhealthy cholesterol, now are once again embraced as nutritious

It is definitely confusing to the point that we ask - Does science really know anything about our bodies and nutrition?  

Fortunately, there are some tried and true principles of good nutrition that haven't changed, although some will even take some exception to these. We need to eat REAL FOOD.

REAL FOOD is defined as…

• Whole foods that typically only have 1-ingredient like “brown rice” or no ingredient label at all like fruits and vegetables!
• Packaged foods generally made with no more than 5 unrefined ingredients.
• Organic dairy products like whole milk, unsweetened yogurt, eggs, and cheese.
• Breads and crackers that are 100% whole-grain.
• Wild caught seafood.
• Locally and humanely raised meat like chicken, pork, beef, and lamb.
• Dried fruits, nuts, and seeds.
• Naturally made sweeteners including honey and maple syrup.
• Foods that are more a product of nature “than a product of industry”

REAL FOOD is not…

• Labeled as “low fat” or “low carb” or “low calorie” (in most cases).
• Made with refined or artificial sweeteners like sugar or aspartame.
• Deep fried in refined oils like canola oil.
• 100-calorie packs or any foods made from refined grains like white flour, which is often labeled as “wheat flour” without the word “whole” in front of it.
• In packages with loads of ingredients, some of which you cannot pronounce or would not cook with in your own kitchen.
• Highly processed foods that are labeled as organic (like organic cheddar crackers, organic cookies, or organic candy).
• From a drive through window or gas station.

(source: In Defense of Food by Michael Pollan)

As for the rest I mentioned above, I would suggest doing your own research. As long as you are active and eating real foods, other foods can be eaten in moderation.