Remember factsheets and self-addressed envelopes?

Accessing information

One of the things I mourn the loss of is factsheets.  At the end of every Very Interesting Television Programme, the BBC continuity announcer would encourage viewers who wanted more information to obtain a factsheet by sending a self-addressed envelop to a PO Box in BBC Television Centre.  You knew you'd watched a worthy, educational programme if there was a factsheet on offer.

These days we've got the web, and more information is just a click away.  But trying to navigate your way through the morass of information is like walking through a minefield.  Especially so when the subject you're researching is something like FODMAPs.

Before leaving the hospital, my dietitian gave me a factsheet.  I didn't even have to give her a self-addressed envelop.  It's a good factsheet in fairness.  The good people at NHS Wales, funded by the lovely people in the Welsh Government have pumped more money into this whole field, meaning patients like me have access to reliable and understandable information.

The problem for us FODMAPers is that this whole field is new.  In fact, there's massive uncharted territory.  It's like the Pilgrim Fathers landing on the Northeastern coast of America and only mapping a few hundred square miles.. There's a vast frontier of information out there that dietitians and other professionals haven't yet charted. And like the people who claimed the earth is flat, the internet plays host to a vast array of armchair "experts" who feel no fear in filling forums, blogs, and social media with less than accurate information.  And it's not always out of malaise.  A lot of this stuff is just not known.  Some food stuff for example has shifted from "Suitable" or "To Be Avoided" to "Eat in moderation".  And vice versa.

I would say take all information you get on the web with a pinch of salt.  But, if like me, you need to limit the amount of sodium you have, well...

I have a list of hyperlinks from NHS Wales which I'm working my way through, and I'll post links and a mini-review as and when I snuffle around each one.  There's a group of plucky dietitians in Melbourne who've been doing a lot of the legwork in this field, so it looks like all roads lead down under.  They've produced a cook book too, which I'll dig out...

But for now, before the Great FODMAP Adventure begins, I'm off out to have my final pint of Peroni.

And sip.