The 4 biggest lies you’ve been told about food
With so much (mis)information out there about nutrition and food it can be difficult to separate fact from fiction. Here are four outdated myths about nutrition that have been debunked.
1. Saturated fats are bad for your heart
For decades, saturated fats were the enemy to health. Found in dairy, meat, butter, cheese, as well as the more commonly known cakes and deep-fried food, we were told that saturated fats would lead to heart disease. But numerous studies have questioned this fact, finding no evidence of a link between saturated fats and heart disease. Don’t take it as a green light to load up on saturated fats. There’s a difference between saturated fats from animal-based sources (dairy foods, meat) and the many manufactured and packaged foods (like cakes, biscuits, pastries, deep fried foods and so on). You can probably guess which group you still shouldn’t binge on.
2.Carbs are harmful in any amount
The reputation of carbs has taken a beating in the past few years with many fad diets claiming unequivocally they’re harmful and fattening. While overindulging in “bad carbs” all the time – those refined-carbohydrate rich foods such as white bread, pasta and donuts – can increase risk of developing health problems like heart disease and diabetes, there is nothing inherently fattening or harmful about carbs. In fact, you should be eating “good carb” foods such as whole grains, beans, fruits and veggies, which are an important source of fuel for body as well as providing vital nutrients and fibre.
Related link: Is going gluten-free a healthy choice?
3. There’s a cholesterol risk when eating eggs (especially the yolks)
How did the simple egg get so demonised? Well, the yolk of egg is high in cholesterol and high blood cholesterol can lead to an increased risk of heart and cardiovascular disease. However, there is no scientific evidence that the dietary cholesterol in eggs translates to high blood cholesterol. In fact, eggs are one of the most nutrient-dense foods around, a great source of protein, fats and other nutrients.
4. Organic produce is more nutritious than non-organic kinds
Although there are many reasons to buy organic, there is no clear scientific evidence that organic product has a nutritional advantage over conventional grown counterparts. And while conventional growers used pesticides that many who buy organic want to avoid, no studies have definitively proven that the amount of chemicals ingested from the food causes any harm. The previous research linking pesticides with disease studied farmers who had exposed to large quantities rather than regular consumers.
Related links:
5 ways to eat healthier without counting calories
Making sense of the diet mumbo jumbo
4 easy ways to avoid food temptations