MORE NUTRITION MYTHS YOU NEED TO STOP BELIEVING

MORE NUTRITION MYTHS YOU NEED TO STOP BELIEVING

Nutritional advice is everywhere you look. But that doesn’t mean its good advice.

If you read articles on this site very often I’m sure you are aware of my skepticism of the food industry. But in fairness, food manufacturers aren’t the only culprits.

The scientific community is not perfect either and the media has created some major myths by simply sensationalizing information and only telling you half the story.

Here are a few more myths you need to ignore:

Egg Yolks are Bad for You.

This one has been around for so long that it’s impossible to tell if it was bad science or a bad interpretation of the science. But the recent science has determined that Dietary Cholesterol, for most people, has little effect on blood cholesterol.

Cholesterol is necessary for hormone production and digestion. But your liver can produce all the cholesterol your body needs. If you have high blood cholesterol it is largely determined by your genetics, not your dietary cholesterol intake.

Focus on eliminating saturated and trans-fats from your diet instead.

Coffee is Dehydrating

Coffee is a diuretic. But it’s an extremely mild one. Two or three cups per day will not dehydrate you.

Natural Sugar is Better than Added Sugar

Sugar is sugar. The sugar in that pound of grapes you just ate is the same as the sugar in a candy bar. Your body will react differently when combined with other nutrients like fiber or protein (so yes, the grapes are better for you) but just being “natural” makes no difference.

Organic Food is Automatically Healthy

Organic junk food is still junk food.  Organic candy bars are no better for you than non-organic candy bars. They contain the same amount of sugar, fat and empty calories.

Margarine is better for you than Butter

Most margarine contains trans-fats that are much worse for you than the saturated fat in butter.

Low-Fat Versions are Better than the Originals

Since fat makes foods tastier and more filling (9 calories per gram) you’ll likely eat more of the low-fat variety. Even more detrimental is the “halo effect” of anything labeled low-fat.” It’s low-fat so I can eat more of it, right?”

When fat is removed from foods it is usually replaced with sugar and/or salt to improve the flavor. Low fat brands often contain more calories than the regular kind.

Everyone will Benefit from Giving up Gluten

Unless you have Celiac Disease or a gluten intolerance, giving up gluten will not make you healthier.