Food Myths And Misconceptions

Nutrition & Weight LossOctober 5, 2017

There are a lot of myths concerning food that we all know about, like the famous “it takes 7 years to digest gum.” We heard it from our friends and family when we were little kids, maybe it was told to us in order to make us eat healthy food. We believed them when we were kids, and some maybe believe them now, so in order for people to learn the truth, we will be debunking some common food myths.

“Fat-Free Food Will Make You Lose Weight”

Fat-Free Doesn’t Equal Weight Loss.

There are tons of products with the label “fat-free” or “low-fat” sold at the grocery store. They are usually associated with weight loss, which is why a lot of people believe that if you eat “low fat” food then you will be able to lose weight, but there is actually a study that proves that it isn’t exactly the truth. Yes, low-fat food is a healthier choice than the regular version, but because of this people will tend to think that it is okay to eat a bigger portion since it is “low-fat.” Food with less fat or no fat at all tend to be bland or flavorless, that’s why manufacturers will add more sugar and chemicals which makes the food unhealthier.

“You Need A lot of Protein to Become Muscular”

They say that if you want to gain a lot of muscle then you would need to ingest a lot of protein. This isn’t exactly a myth since it is partly true. In order to gain muscle, you do need to ingest protein which promotes muscle growth but only around 10% – 35% should be protein, and any more than that will not help promote muscle growth. This amount of protein can be achieved with just eating regular food, and you wouldn’t need to take protein supplements. If you’re not getting enough protein from your regular diet then this is the time to drink those nasty tasting protein shakes.

“Salad From Fast Food is The Healthier Choice”

Fast Food Salad or Fat Food Salad?

All of the most famous fast food chains have salads in their menus, and people will think that this is the healthier option instead of eating the oily and greasy food. Well, there is a study that shows that the salad from the biggest fast food chains such as McDonald’s, Burger King, KFC and Pizza Hut, have an extremely high salt content and calorie content. The salad is advertised as the “healthier option” but a Big Mac has 540 calories and 1,040 mg of salt while a Premium Southwest Salad with Crispy Chicken and Dressing from McDonald’s has 530 calories and 1,260 mg of salt.

“High Salt Intake Can Increase Blood Pressure”

This is just partly true. If you already have high blood pressure then you should reduce your salt intake, but if you have normal blood pressure then you don’t have to reduce your salt intake. The important thing here is the balance between potassium and salt intake so if you have high blood pressure then it is advised that your increase your potassium intake, which is more important than reducing your salt intake.

“Eat More Small Portioned Meals Rather Than Three Large Meals If You Want To Lose Weight”

Calorie Intake Is What’s Important

We all know that we should eat three meals a day, but some dietary experts and nutritionists have advised that it is better to eat 6 small portioned meals a day, rather than 3 big meals if you are trying to lose weight. But it is really difficult to control portion sizes when eating. If you are trying to lose weight, what’s important is the calorie intake per day is less than the calories you burn per day. People usually go with 3 regular-sized meals a day since it is a lot easier and less hassle to prepare and eat 3 times a day. Also, the study has shown that eating at night has no connection to weight gain, so eating throughout the night won’t make you fatter and you can feel free to have that late-night snack.