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Readers praised our Jan. 23 articles on nutrition as "informative" and "interesting." One said that the answer to a healthy diet was not about dieting, but learning to "change how [we] think about food."

How to Eat Healthy As a future medical student I thought your Jan. 23 article "The Nature of Nutrients" was really informative. You revealed so many hidden aspects of the human metabolism and also answered many questions that until now seemed to be a conundrum to many people. My parents also appreciated the article, and knowing the importance and effects of these vitamins and minerals was really enriching. There is always an underlying fear of not knowing what we eat. We all consistently need clarification about our daily diet.

Anoop Sharma Pem

via internet

As a longtime cognitive-behavioral therapist treating compulsive/emotional eaters, I applaud your article on how people should eat more healthily to lose weight. However, dieting isn't the answer, because 98 percent of people who diet and lose weight gain it back, and 90 percent regain more than they originally lost. For many, the problem is in their heads, not their stomachs. People need to change how they think about food--using it for comfort when they're bored, for companionship when they're lonely or for distraction when they don't want to do something. Only when they learn to reconnect to body signals of hunger, craving, satisfaction and fullness will they be able to succeed in making lasting change.

Karen R. Koenig