We are surrounded by new, fashionable diets, tips and "innovative" secrets to miraculously normalize the results of analyzes and culinary myths with tradition, so it is sometimes difficult to discern the truth from old stories. That's why we decided to put together 10 common food myths, which you have probably heard over time and which we demolish in the article and infographic below.
1. Children should drink cow's milk to have strong bones.
Parents who are sure that without cow's milk in their diet will not have strong bones and will not develop properly. On the one hand, milk contains protein, calcium and Vitamin D, but children can take these nutrients from other sources (kale, soy, beans, figs, broccoli, oranges, nuts, eggs, sardines). On the other hand, whole milk has a high level of saturated fat, and a child who drinks milk all day will be full and will not eat other foods he needs (especially if he is fussy at the table).
2. Fruit / vegetable juice is extremely healthy.
Although they are obtained from fruits and vegetables, natural juices are not the best choice: they lack the fibers contained in the whole product, becoming - practically - a portion of sugars and calories ingested and assimilated almost instantly. A glass of juice will not fill your stomach like a portion of vegetables or fruits and will make you eat more later, to feel full. A weight loss diet focused only on natural juices, squeezed by you at home, will deprive you of the balance of nutrients and calories needed daily by your body, and commercial juices can be full of added sugar, so you better hydrate with water and eat a apple / carrot!
3. Fish is full only of good fats for health.
Fish actually contains up to 30% Omega-3 fats (which prevent blood clots and reduce inflammation) and 70% a mixture of saturated fats (which tend to raise cholesterol) and other types of fats (which are practically , empty calories). These percentages differ depending on the fish.
4. Walnuts are just as harmful as candy.
Walnuts (classic, cashew, macadamia, Brazilian, pecan, pistachio, almond, hazelnut and earth) contain enough kcal, but if you eat only a handful at a time, it's not a problem: besides the caloric intake, walnuts are a Excellent source of protein, fiber, healthy fats, vitamins and minerals.
5. "Athletes need a lot of protein"
Most Western diets provide the daily protein requirement even for athletes. The real secret that helps athletes have energy is calories, intense training and snacks that contain carbohydrates and protein.
6. "Too much sugar causes diabetes"
If you do not have diabetes, eating sugar will not cause you this disease. Instead, what can affect you is obesity and inactivity.
7. "Carbohydrates make us fat"
Stop falling prey to this myth, not all carbohydrates are harmful to the body.
But why do people on low-carb diets manage to lose weight? Well, most of these diets also include a calorie restriction. Thus, in reality, the caloric restriction in such a diet is what helps us lose extra pounds.
So, at the end, be informed and take care of your health, in a correct way.
