Mother’s Day is over. Sigh. I had a nice day. Kids and husband treated me well yesterday. The weather was absolutely beautiful. And I ate whatever my little heart desired. Then I ate even more. So once again, I am promising myself that I’ll eat like a good girl for the rest of the week.
In that spirit (and to kick start myself out of my Mother’s Day food coma), I felt the need to post about something related to nutrition.
So here it is… common food myths, debunked:
Myth: To lose weight, you need to cut out the carbs.
Fact: Your body needs carbs for energy. Studies show that consuming complex carbs actually aids in weight loss efforts. Complex carbs are digested slowly, which means your cells will use what they need, leaving little behind to be converted to fat. And because they’re low in calories and high in fiber and nutrients, complex carbs will keep you feeling fuller for longer so you won’t feel the need to eat as often.
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Myth: The darker the food, the healthier it is.
Fact: Sure, dark leafy veggies ROCK in terms of the nutrients they supply to your body. But a whole bunch of the lighter ones are pretty awesome, too. Cauliflower, for example is loaded with dietary fiber, folate, water, and vitamin C. Potatoes are packed with vitamin C and B complex, potassium, magnesium, phosphorous and zinc. Mushrooms are rich in fiber, potassium, riboflavin, niacin and selenium. The list goes on. Onions, garlic, parsnips and white cabbage are also great for you.
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Myth: Your food cravings mean that your body is missing particular nutrients.
Fact: Cravings have more to do with your feelings and less to do with your body’s nutritional needs. Studies show that the areas of the brain responsible for memory and pleasure sensing are actually to blame for your strong desire to reach for that Milky Way.
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Myth: Eggs are bad for your heart
Fact: Studies have shown no correlation between egg consumption and heart disease.
While eggs are in fact high in cholesterol, experts believe that only a small amount of the cholesterol found in food passes into the blood. Saturated and trans fats are thought to have much bigger effects on blood cholesterol levels. In fact, eggs offer numerous powerful health benefits.
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Myth: Consuming fat free foods is the way to weight loss
Fact: Fat free doesn’t mean calorie free. When the fat goes bye-bye, so does the flavor. Enter the sugar. What many fat free foods lack in fat, they make up for in sugars. Sugar = calories. Excess calories = weight gain.
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Myth: Always rinse your pasta after straining
Fact: When pasta is cooked, its starches release and cling to the outside of the noodle. It is those starches that help the sauce adhere to the pasta. By washing it, you remove all the starches, which your sauce will not appreciate. Plus, it is the hot noodle that lets flavors absorb into the pasta. When you rinse the pasta, you are also cooling it. This will take away from the overall flavor of the dish.
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- Want to see more like this? See other Posts on nutrition.
Looking for ideas on how to eat better? See How to Eat Healthy Without Noticing: A Non-Dieter’s Guide to Eating Better.
You can also check me out on Britely.
Thanks for the tip about eggs. I’ve been sticking strictly to egg beaters. It’s nice to know I don’t have to worry so much about the real deal.
I was doing the same thing, until I realized this. I’ve been struggling with my cholesterol for years. And even though I completely improved my diet, my cholesterol levels actually went up! My doctor (and all the research I’ve done), now think that cutting out the high cholesterol foods don’t make a difference to your cholesterol. In many cases, it’s just genetic. That said, Egg Beaters are less fattening than regular eggs.