Myths About Healthy Eating
By Sara Butler
Pieces of nutrition advice are a dime a dozen, but just because it’s there doesn’t mean it’s right. Nutrition research can be pretty confusing, and when you throw in the fact that it’s constantly changing it can make things even more so. Here are a few myths about healthy eating that need to go away because they’re not true and aren’t helping you to live healthier!
Myth No. 1: Egg Yolks are Bad
Dietary cholesterol went through a rough patch and was blamed for bad health for years, but it’s now become clear the real culprit of poor health is trans fat and saturated fat, not the kind of fat you find in an egg. In fact, an egg is practically a perfect food and delivers a punch of good fat, vitamins and minerals to your body that are hard to find in any other small, low-calorie package. So, feel free to eat the whole egg from now on.
Myth No. 2: Coffee Will Dehydrate You
OK, so coffee does make you have to use the restroom a lot, but it’s not as much of a urine-promoting beverage as people may think. Plus, coffee contains a lot of water so drinking a cup or two of joe in the morning can be counted in your daily fluid intake. If you’re being dehydrated by coffee, then you’re consuming more than is healthy in a day. Try to limit yourself to two or three cups a day and you’ll be just fine.
Myth No. 3: Natural Sugar is Better Than Added Sugar
Sugar is just that: Sugar. When you break it down to molecules, the sugar molecules in an apple are the same sugar molecules as in that venti mocha you just guzzled. Sure, there’s a difference in the way your body breaks down the sugar when it’s combined with other nutrients such as protein and fiber, but it’s all still sugar.
Even the healthiest diets in the world contain sugar, but just think about the sources of your sugar and remember that honey is not better than table sugar – it’s all essentially sugar.
Myth No. 4: Salads Are Always Healthy
When you’re eating out it can be tempting to go for the salad because, hey, it’s a salad! The trouble isn’t the salad itself but all the things added on top of those leafy greens. Many salads in restaurants have the same, if not more, calories, fat and sugar counts as that double burger with fries. If you want to ensure your salad is healthy, then look for one that has a non-fried lean protein and an oil-based dressing on the side.
