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Introduction

There’s no denying the significance of health – both mental and physical – for human beings. When your body gets all the minerals and vitamins it requires for proper functioning; it’s called good nutrition. Good nutrition energizes a person and helps him/her recover quickly from any disease. It also brings down your body’s cholesterol level and blood pressure, thereby maintaining your physical well-being. Sadly, around one-third of American children and teenagers are suffering from obesity. Processed food and excess sugar in our diet aren’t the only factors responsible for the country’s alarming health situation. But the blame also falls on the following assumptions regarding nutrition that are utterly false:

Debunking 10 myths about food and nutrition

1. Myth: Salt is dangerous: –

Too much of everything is dangerous, indeed! Consuming an excess amount of salt makes you vulnerable to high blood pressure. Since your heart can’t tolerate too much sodium, it doesn’t mean that you should abstain from eating salt at all. Our body requires NaCl for proper functioning. For example, our muscle fibers (like those in our heart) need sodium to contract and relax.

2. Myth: Go gluten-free: –

Nobody lampooned the trend of adopting a gluten-free diet better than South Park. Gluten is just a form of protein. Slight traces of gluten are everywhere. Contrary to what some believe, gluten isn’t healthy/unhealthy. It’s dangerous, though, if you have celiac disease or if your child is sensitive to this protein. But there aren’t any nutrients in gluten, so there’s no claim in favor of consuming it either.

3.Myth: Breakfast is the most important meal: –

Is breakfast important? Yes, it will be best if you replenish the energy lost through the night. But is it more important than other meals of the day? Experts don’t think so. Skipping breakfast isn’t healthy for children, but adults can observe intermittent fasting to maintain a healthy lifestyle. You should consult a virtual nutrition platform – such as https://www.nutriving.com/ – to achieve your dietary goals. These services empower you to control your health planning and start thriving.

4.Myth: Drink lemon water every morning: –

It’s a pretty common misconception that drinking lemon water every morning makes you healthier and fresher. This trend lacks any scientific evidence, and some benefits of this fashionable diet got exaggerated. What’s interesting is that you can drink plain water, and there’s no need to squeeze some lemon in it. Also, it doesn’t improve your IQ nor helps you fight cancer!

5.Myth: Only girls acquire eating disorders: –

Some eating disorders are prevalent among women. Anorexia (an intense obsession with being slim) is ten times more likely to affect women than men. But men aren’t immune from such mental diseases. Statistics show that 9% of Americans will have an eating disorder in their lifetime.

6.Myth: Carbs are unhealthy: –

You might’ve heard people exclaim that carbs are fattening when this isn’t true about complex carbohydrates. Simple carbs – found in soda, candy, and chips – aren’t nutritious. But complex carbs – such as nuts, beans, fruits, and veggies – should be an essential portion of your daily food consumption. Experts believe that this myth originated because your carbs intake makes your body release insulin. That’s why consuming too many carbohydrates is – definitely – unhealthy.

7.Myth: Probiotics are for everyone: –

Probiotics are supplements containing live bacteria and yeast cells. These friendly microorganisms are suitable for your digestive system. However, this stuff isn’t well-recommended for everyone. Adults and children with a weak immune system shouldn’t try out these pills. Experts have also explained the risks of taking probiotics, so it isn’t a one-size-fits-all remedy since probiotics don’t benefit everyone.

8.Myth: Cholesterol is evil: –

There are two types of cholesterol, essentially, i.e., LDL and HDL. The former or low-density lipoprotein affects your health negatively. But the latter or the high-density lipoprotein prevents fat (plague) buildup in your body. So, there’s nothing wrong with consuming this healthy cholesterol. Also, cholesterol-rich meals such as eggs, shellfish, and full-fat yogurt are good for your well-being.

9.Myth: Eat after eight, you gain weight: –

Some studies conducted on animals showed that animals gained weight when they violated the circadian rhythm. The circadian rhythm states that nights are for resting, not for food consumption. But similar results haven’t been observed among human beings. A study of UK children found that eating past 8 PM didn’t contribute to weight gain. Therefore, humans gain weight when overeating food, and obesity has nothing to do with eating after sunset.

10.Myth: Beans are poisonous: –

Raw beans contain a protein called lectin. Lectins render your body unable to absorb nutrients. But that doesn’t mean you should abstain from consuming beans at all. Beans are harmful only when they get eaten raw/undercooked. But cooked (or even canned) beans are fine since cooking destroys most of these toxic lectins inside them. Beans can make a fabulous addition to your daily dietary routine. Eating more beans has experimentally led to reduced weight and improved dementia.

Conclusion

Updated statistics show that around 678,000 people die in this country every year due to nutrition-related diseases. These deaths are due to the sedentary lifestyle adopted by nearly 30% of the United States residents. But – contrary to yet another myth – mere 10 minutes’ worth of exercise can save you all this health-related trouble. People tend to try some weight-loss techniques (such as dieting) that got experimentally proven ineffective. That’s why nutritionists recommend only scientific methodologies to maintain a healthy lifestyle. So, stop believing in misconceptions about nutrition that are entirely inaccurate and consult experts to achieve your dietary objectives.