Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Diet Myths

Eating at Night Makes You Fat
Myth – There is no conclusive evidence that late-night snacking can cause you to put on weight.  The truth is that too many calories cause weight gain, and in many cases, high-calorie foods tend to be consumed late at night.  Try to stick to regular, earlier mealtimes to avoid the nighttime binge.

Not all Sugars are Alike
True - Added sugars such as high-fructose corn syrup, honey, and table sugar which are added to products such as soda, candy, and other sweets, have a lot of calories.  Natural sugar, on the other hand, does not contain any artificial ingredients or chemicals.  Instead of scouring the ingredients on every box, remember that fresh produce will contain natural sugar whereas your processed foods will contain added sugars.

Coffee Isn't Good for You
Myth – Serving up 2 to 3 cups of coffee a day is part of a healthy diet. Research has shown that drinking coffee in moderation (such as 2 to 3 cups/day) may help reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes, gallstones, Parkinson's disease, even some cancers.  What can make coffee unhealthy is all the added fixings such as cream, sugar, and flavored syrups. (Refer to #2 above)

The Less Fat You Eat, the Better
Myth - Your body needs protein, carbohydrates, and fats to survive.  So fuel your body.  The key to remember is that there are good fats and bad fats.  Nuts, seeds, and low-fat dairy contain high-protein and healthy fats (unsaturated fats).  Fats to avoid are saturated and trans fats found in high-fat dairy such as butter, red meat, and many processed foods.

Drink Water – Lose Weight
Myth – There is no arguing that water is good for your body, however, will it really help you to lose weight?  Not specifically.  If you tend to drink high-calorie drinks throughout the day, replacing them with water will help keep those unnecessary calories away and help you to lose weight.  Simply adding water into your diet along with those high-calorie drinks will not aid in any number drops on the scale.

0 comments:

Post a Comment