Food is one of the most talked about topics on the internet, and therefore, it should come as no surprise that there is a lot of misinformation out there about food.
Food and diet are two issues that are closely linked to misinformation. There are many people who talk about food as if they are professionals, but they are not and therefore, many false statements go viral on social networks. It’s something that tires experts a lot and so, a group of pros have come together to talk about the food myths they’d like to see disappear. Here we are telling you about some of them so that you can know some facts about food and its nutrients in a better way.
1. Fresh fruits and vegetables are always healthier than frozen, dried or canned.
Despite the belief that “the fresher the better,” there are many studies that have shown that fruits that come in a box or that are not fresh contain the same nutrients as they are. Dr. Sarah Bleich of the Harvard Chan School of Public Health assures that in addition to having similar nutritional properties, they are also the perfect way to save money and always have fruits and vegetables at home.
2. All Fats Are Bad
The popular belief that fat is bad has led many people to swap calories from fat with calories from refined carbohydrates like white flour or added sugar. Dr. Vijaya Surampudi of the University of California, Los Angeles says that they are actually not all bad. One of them is monounsaturated fat, which can be found in foods like avocados.
3. “Calories In, Calories Out” Is The Most Important Factor For Long-Term Weight Gain
It is true that if you consume more calories than you burn, you are likely to gain weight in the shortest possible time and vice versa. However, the research does not claim that overeating leads to sustained weight gain resulting in overweight or obesity. What may be the long-term drivers of these results are, rather, the food we eat. Dr. Dariush Mozaffarian of Tufts University says that to maintain a healthy weight, you need to go beyond calorie counting to overall healthy eating, prioritizing quality over quantity.
4. People with type 2 diabetes should not eat fruits
This myth stems from the fact that fruit juice can raise blood sugar levels due to its high sugar content and low fiber content. However, there is research that claims this is not the case. To disprove this myth, Dr. Linda Shue, director of culinary medicine at a center in San Francisco, states that people with this type of diabetes can benefit from other nutrients that are in fruits, such as fiber or Antioxidants.
5. Plant milk is healthier than whole milk
Professor Kathleen Merrigan of Arizona State University claims that this is a myth that is not true. To disprove this, he assures that the key is in the proteins. A cup of cow’s milk has about eight grams of protein, while almond milk has one or two grams of protein. In addition, many vegetable milks have added ingredients, such as sodium or sugar, that do not contribute to health.
6: Potatoes Are Bad For You
Potatoes are often blackballed in the nutrition community because of their high glycemic index, which means they contain fast-digesting carbohydrates. A type of carbohydrate that can raise blood sugar. However, we must not forget that they are also rich in vitamin C, potassium, fiber and other nutrients, especially when eaten with the skin on. The ideal is to find a way to prepare them in a healthier way, such as baking them or using an air fryer.
7. You should never give peanut-based foods to your babies in their first years of life.
For years, many experts have claimed that the best way to prevent children from developing food allergies is to avoid feeding them specific allergenic foods, such as peanuts or eggs. However, now there are many experts who confirm the opposite. If your baby doesn’t have a known allergy, you can introduce peanut products to him as soon as he’s ready to eat solids. Of course, always consult a doctor first.
8. Protein in a vegetarian diet
One of the most common questions vegetarians have is “Where do you get your protein?”. All foods of plant origin contain 20 amino acids and 9 of them are essential. The only difference is that the ratio of these amino acids is not as ideal as in foods of animal origin. So, to get an appropriate mix, simply eat a variety of plant foods throughout the day, such as beans, grains, and nuts.
9. Eating soy-based foods may increase the risk of breast cancer
High doses of plant estrogens in soy, called isoflavones, have been found in animal studies to stimulate the growth of breast tumors. However, Dr. Frank B. Hu of the Harvard Chan School of Public Health assures that this is a relationship that has not been proven in human studies.
10. Basic Nutrition Information Is Constantly Changing
According to New York University professor Marion Nestle, he is sure that the general lines of nutrition have not changed since the 50s. In this way, science changes and evolves, but the general knowledge about it remains.
