Busted! Food And Nutrition Myths
1. MYTH: Anything you eat after 10pm turns to fat.
2. MYTH: As long as a food package says “all natural” on it, it’s healthy to eat.
3. MYTH: The more you cut calories, the more weight you’ll lose.
4. MYTH: Desserts with fruit are healthy.
5. MYTH: Carbs make you fat. Photo by: stu_spivack
By January 4
There are lots of rumors floating around about food (like the myth that some foods have negative calories and that all fats are bad for you). So, what’s the truth behind some of these wacky theories? We turned to a few of our favorite health and nutrition blogs to get the facts.
Healthy Village says: Late night snacking has a deservedly bad reputation because usually what we’re eating isn’t contributing to our health or weight loss goals. Let’s face it – how many times do you eat salad or steamed vegetables while watching “Survivor”? Eating late at night can interfere with restful sleep, so try not to make it a habit. Eat a healthy dinner, brush your teeth, and resist the ice cream and chips later on.
PBS Kids says: Even if something is labeled “all natural,” it can still contain tons of sugar, unsaturated fats, or other things that can be bad for you. Some snacks labeled “all natural” can contain just as much fat as a candy bar! It’s important to read the BACK of the package, where the Nutrition Facts label and ingredients list will spell it all out for you.
Health.com says: That can actually hurt you. Cut your calories too far—below 1,200 a day—and you’ll end up with a double whammy that quickly decreases your metabolism and muscle mass. To get the most out of the calories you do eat, choose whole foods such as produce, fresh meat and fish, and whole grains that are as close to their natural state as possible. They have a higher “nutrient density” than refined foods, because they pack more vitamins and minerals into fewer calories.
Healthy Village says: How many times have you justified apple pie or peach cobler or strawberry cake as healthy because they contain fruit? Sorry – the fat and sugar will more than cancel out any benefit from the fruit.
PBS Kids says: You may know someone who’s on a “low-carb” diet…after all, it’s the biggest weight-loss trend out there. These diets try to make people believe that carbs are just plain bad, but the truth is this: carbs, just like sugar and fat, will make you gain weight if you eat too much of them. If you eat them in average, balanced amounts, they’re the best source of energy your body can find.
