Dieting Myths.
When it comes to myths, food and sex
are the
ones that have the most. I think this is because these are two things
that we
have to do in life. We have to have sex or we don't reproduce. We have
to eat
or we will die.
There isn't much choice when it comes to food.
Here we will
discuss more of the food myths. Bookmark this article, because you are
bound to
learn something new. Our food supply isn't as safe as it used to be.
All you
need to do is pick up a newspaper and see that for yourself.
Myth: You’ll be OK with a high
protein/low carb
diet.
Fact: This type of
diet aims to secure
most of the daily required amount of calories from protein foods, such
as meat,
dairy products and eggs, with a very small part taken from foods
containing a
lot of carbs (bread, pasta, potatoes and fruits).
The biggest problem with
this diet is that many
common and popular foods are forbidden, which makes it easy for the
user to get
bored or frustrated. When boredom and frustration set in, quitting time
is never
far off.
Another
problem is the lack of nutrients that are usually brought in
by carbohydrate foods, while allowing the user to eat bacon and cheese that
raise cholesterol levels.
The
bottom line is that high protein/low carb
diets result in fast
weight loss in some users, but it’s not
just fat that goes
away. People also lose some of their lean muscle mass and a lot of
water as the
kidneys work harder to rid the body of excess waste
from protein and fat.
The added stress to your kidneys is not
healthy
at all and, in the long run, will lead to dehydration, headaches,
feelings of
nausea and dizziness. Before engaging in a long-term diet, you would do
well to
discuss it with your physician. And if you are really keen on dieting,
try a
balanced diet first, because it will help you lose weight without
hurting your
system.
Myth: Permanent
weight loss can be achieved
with fad diets.
Fact:
This is yet another common myth among
the
weight loss crowd. Like any other diet that tells you to cut this or
that food
from your daily meals, fad diets are not healthy for you. The
cornerstone of
any diet is supplying the body with all the calories, proteins and
minerals it
needs. Diets that cut out foods without regard for the needs of your
body
cannot be healthy for you. Fad diets fail to deliver on the promise of
permanent weight loss because people will always crave the forbidden
foods and
will always end up breaking the rules and ditching the diet.
The key to making weight loss permanent
is more
exercise and
to avoid eating food that makes you fat without nourishing your
body. Our extensive studies confirmed the importance of exercising and
of a
well-balanced diet.
Myth:
Low-fat or no fat food is always a good
choice.
Fact: The
only low fat foods that are
also low in calories are fruits. The rest of the huge low-fat or
non-fat group
are not a safe choice if you are dieting. These products may have added
sugar,
starch or flour to make them taste better, which means extra calories
that do
not belong into your diet. So make sure you check the list of
ingredients on
packages whenever you decide to buy low-fat.
Myth: Switching to vegetarian
food will help
you lose weight and stay healthy.
Fact: I
know this is a hard pill to
swallow, but no food plan will work for you unless you take charge of
your
eating and make sure that everything that goes past your lips is the
right kind
of food. The key here is to be absolutely sure that the vegetarian diet
will
give your body all the nutrients and calories it needs. Eating heaps of
foods
that do nothing for you from the nutritional point of view, outside
maybe of
filling your stomach, can bring you a lot of trouble in the future.
Since plants tend to have a lower
concentration
of nutrients than meat, you will have to eat more food than before to
make up
for this difference. Not to mention that a strictly vegetarian diet
will not
get you enough vitamin B12, vitamin D, iron, calcium and zinc.
Myth: Dairy products
cause heart problems and
make you fat.
Fact: Well,
thanks to modern medicine
everybody knows that eating a lot of dairy products is a surefire path
to high
blood pressure and stroke, although a large group of people from France
refuse to die despite the large quantities of cheese and wine they
consume.
Dairy products are the main source of
calcium
that keeps your bones strong and healthy. It is absolutely essential
for
children and can be in no way overlooked by adults. Dairy products also
contain
vitamin D, which is crucial to maintaining the normal levels of calcium
and
phosphorus in your bloodstream.
If you don’t want to gain weight from
dairy
products, then choose low-fat or non-fat brands. There are enough of
those
around. If you are lactose-intolerant, drink soy or rice milk. It does
not
taste exactly the same as true milk, but it’s still good and
nutritious.
YES – NO!!!
Cutting fat from your diet
will
ensure weight-loss.
NO.
It’s
true that eating nutritious foods such as vegetables, fruits, whole
grains, and
skim milk may provide more fill with less calories, but low in fat does
not
necessarily mean low in calories. Many desserts such as non-fat ice
cream and
other low in fat desserts contain great quantities of calories. Also,
foods
that are high in carbohydrates such as bread and pasta can also
attribute to
weight-gain when eaten in large amounts. It is important to consider
portion
size as well as calorie content when attempting to lose weight.
Extra protein will promote
muscle
growth.
NO.
Although
proteins are important in the building and maintaining of muscles,
excess
amounts of proteins are stored as fat, just as excess carbohydrates or
fats
are. Basically, any calorie-containing nutrient will be stored as fatty
deposits if too much is eaten. In order to build muscles, strength
training and
sufficient amounts of calories and proteins are the best method.
Walking is a great way to lose
weight.
YES.
Like
any
other physical activity, walking burns calories and can help weight
loss. The
best way is to take a brisk walk (rather than a stroll), and the longer
the
walk, the more calories you lose. Every mile of walking burns
approximately 100
calories. About 5 miles
of walking every day will amount to the loss of one pound in a week.
Diet drugs are effective for
weight-loss.
NO.
Certain diet
drugs that have been approved by
the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) for those who are medically
significantly obese, which is defined as those who are over 30% over a
healthy
weight or those who have obesity-related diseases such as high blood
pressure or
diabetes. These drugs often work by affecting the brain chemicals which
control
appetite, or block fat from being absorbed by the body. Diet drugs
should only
be used in conjunction with an attempt to change eating and lifestyle
behaviors.
You can eat eggs without
getting
fat.
YES.
Research
proves that the major dietary culprit is high saturated-fat intake.
Since eggs
are low in saturated fat
as well as in calories (approximately 75 calories if
hard-boiled) they are not as unhealthy as some may think. They also
contain
many various essential nutrients. The American Heart Association
recommend one
egg per day. However, the key to a good diet is to eat a variety of
healthy
foods and to use light oil rather than butter or margarine when cooking
eggs.
Can coffee cure a hang over?
NO.
Caffeine
can't cure a hang over. You get hung over because you are lacking
water. The
alcohol took a big chunk of the water from your system. Caffeine
actually makes
you urinate. So really it has the opposite effect.
Is it okay to eat fast?
The less that you chew your food, that means
the more your stomach will have to work to digest your food. You have
teeth
with many different uses. Some are for cutting and some are for
grinding. You
should make the most out of them. This is why it is important that you
take
good care of your teeth.
Do beans cause gas?
YES.
They are
high in fiber. A lot of things that are high in fiber actually cause
gas. Also,
things like corn and peppers also cause gas. Soaking beans before you
cook them
can take away some of the gas, but it won't take all of it.
Do carrots improve your eye
sight?
NO.
Do
however, make your eyes healthy. That may sound like it contradicts its
self,
but it doesn't. They don't improve your eyesight, but they do help you
maintain
your current ability to see.
Can swallowing gum cause
stomach problems?
It can cause gas, abdominal pain, and diarrhea.
If you are chewing gum that has sorbitol, that could be causing
problems too.
Oddly enough, this is also found in semen.
Do cherries relieve pain?
YES.
People
who eat at least 20 tart cherries a day
have a reduction in pain from arthritis.
Does parsley take away bad breath?
YES.
So does
other green leafy veggies that contain chlorophyll.
Does an apple a day keep the doctor
away?
YES.
There
are many good things about apples. They help reduce the risk of cancer.
They
also help lower cholesterol. Who says that old sayings aren't
true?
Adopting a healthy lifestyle is an important
first step in dieting. Keep in mind the following tips, and
you’ll be on the
right track to healthy and effective weight loss.
Quit
smoking, gambling, binge drinking, and any
other addictive behavior. Then start following a meal plan for the
whole week
and stick to it. And most importantly, drink plenty of water each day.
As
will all things, take myths with a grain of
salt. If you are curious about a myth, do some research on it. You will
be
surprised at how much information you will learn.
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