Common Myths About
Food
How “bad” is chocolate, really?
We’ve all been there, whether you’ve been trying
to lose weight, or simply wanted to eat better for your health, one Google
search later and suddenly you’re more confused about what you should or should
not be eating. Many websites claim to have the secret to exactly what you
should be eating, and how much of it, to lose weight or be healthier. With most
websites claiming to have the answer, this usually includes having long lists
of “bad” foods that you cannot ever eat if you want to get slimmer or be your
healthiest. These suggestions are typically based on myths, so let’s take a
closer look at 7 common food myths, and just how much truth there is to them.
Myth 1: Carbs are bad for you
Truth: Carbohydrates are essential to a healthy
diet because they provide energy for your body. It is best, however, to get
your carbs from minimally processed foods like vegetables, beans, nuts and
whole grains, whilst limiting refined grains and sugars, which are not as good
for you.
Myth 2: Eggs are bad for you
Truth: Eggs are low in saturated fat, and
although they do contain cholesterol, which was the reason for this myth in the
first place, they are in fact very healthy for you. Most people can have eggs
every day and will not have any problems with their cholesterol levels. They
also include useful nutrients like Folate and other B vitamins and minerals.
Myth 3: It’s important to fast to cleanse toxins
from your body
Truth: Your body already has its own system for
removing toxins, namely your liver, kidney and spleen. There is no evidence
that not eating, or consuming only juice, or worse, neither eating nor drinking
makes them work more efficiently.
Myth 4: Fat-free and low-fat foods are healthier
than full-fat foods
Truth: When it comes to some foods, such as meat,
less fat is indeed better. But that’s not always the case with other foods,
such as salad dressings without olive oil, or yoghurts that are low fat, which
really just means that their sugar content is far higher than their fuller fat
counterparts.
Myth 5: Raw fruits and vegetables are healthier
for you than cooked ones
Truth: Raw food advocates claim that the cooking
process destroys enzymes in foods, which usually make them more digestible.
This is in fact only half true. The plant enzymes do get broken down by the
cooking process, however, those enzymes were only essential for the survival of
the plant; for human health, they are indeed not essential. Further, our
stomach acids break down those enzymes immediately, having no real impact on
digestion.
Myth 6: Frozen fruits and vegetables are less
nutritious than fresh ones
Truth: Fresh fruits and vegetables are more
nutritious than frozen ones, at the moment they are picked. However, the foods
you find in the supermarket have often travelled quite far, which means that
they start to lose their nutrients. By contrast, food processors quick-freeze
freshly picked produce, which preserves most of its vitamin and mineral
content.
Myth 7: Chocolate is a “bad” food
Truth: Whilst chocolate does have lots of fat and
sugar in it, there are some health benefits to this food. Dark chocolate, in
particular, has flavanols, which are antioxidants that help with cardiovascular
health. Recently, researchers found that eating a small amount of chocolate
everyday reduces stress hormones in highly stressed people, just be sure not to
eat too much!
Written by
Alicia, ADAVIC Volunteer