Below we have listed the 4 most common myths about food and eating habits which in our strive to be healthy and fit many of us blindly believe. Check them our yourself and see if you have ever made these mistakes in your path to healthy living.
1.The myth about staying hungry and eating less
Telling an obese person that in order to lose weight they must eat less and move more is like telling a homeless person to make more money and spend less. Choosing to eat less to get slim is a close-minded option that will not lead you to your goal weight as there are many more factor to consider when trying to lose those extra pounds. For example, there is the Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR) which is the daily amount of energy (calories) your body requires in order to successfully support all the processes taking place in your organism. If you intake less energy than your body needs, then your body starves and triggers a complex of biochemical, physiological and psychological reactions. When keeping your body in starvation it craves for food and any you intake gets stored and transformed into fat. All this results in you being hungry, fatter and unsatisfied with your diet.
2.The myth about the calories
Calories represent just a fraction of the process of transforming nutrients into energy. It is not about the amount of calories you intake rather than what kind of calories you intake. For example, in laboratory conditions a glass of soda and a glass of milk contain about the same amount of calories and deliver the same amount of energy to your organism. However, as they enter your body, their calories get absorbed in a completely different ways depending on whether the drink contains more carbs, fats or proteins. So remember, it is not about how many calories there are in the food and drinks you consume, but rather the amount of carbs, proteins and fats they contain. If you wish to maintain a healthy diet, read labels carefully and choose foods rich in healthy fats and proteins and containing fewer carbs.
3. The myth about Fats
Fats are the most misunderstood nutrient. We all have been told how bad excess fat is for your diet and healthy look and the positive effects of it are seldomly brought up. In fact, fat has many functions people overlook. Without enough fat in your diet, you would not be able to support good health. Fats or scientifically known as Lipids, have almost twice as many calories as carbs and proteins making them a great energy source. However, most people tend to believe that in order to lose weights they must avoid fat. But in reality, fat is no the enemy. Although fat-laden products might contain a lot of calories, a modest amount of fat consumed daily will help you feel fuller for longer (so you eat less overall). Fats also help absorb certain vitamins and phytonutrients. Best thing you can do for your body is eat fat but not go overboard. Choose monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats found in coconut oil, nuts, fish, avocado, dairy, olives and eggs. These good fats do not raise your blood pressure and may reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.
4.Diet foods make you diet and help you lose weight
In theory, low-fat, low-carb, sugar-free and artificially sweetened foods make losing those few extra pounds painless. However, reality is different as low-fat and low-carb doesn’t necessarily mean low on calories and if you are trying to lose weight, stocking up on these foods could undermine your efforts. When you are tempted by certain snack or food that’s labelled “light,” “low-fat,”, etc. , make sure to check the nutrition label. Look at how many calories are in a serving and compare with the same food which is not making a label claim on their package and then maybe consider having just a small amount of the real thing.