Thread: 10 myths about nutrition and weight loss

The scientists proved: well-known views on a healthy way of life are actually a set of ordinary statements that do not match reality from the medical point of view.

The daily diet of the person should contain strict quantity of calories, fiber, fats, vitamins, minerals, biologically active and other components. Refusal of any components and products can negatively affect our health.

Myth 1. We get fat from carbohydrates
The opinion that we get fat from carbohydrates is incorrect, as stated by experts. Carbohydrates draw water; therefore, if we reduce carbohydrates in our diet, we are really possible to lose weight. However, such reduction will deprive an organism of energy.

Myth 2. Fresh fruits and veggies are more healthy than frozen ones
Frozen fruit and vegetables if they were not exposed to additional processing and were stored according to rules, do not almost yield to fresh ones in quality. Moreover, researchers consider that in winter fresh vegetables by appearance, which make a long way before to getting on a counter, do not almost contain vitamins and minerals. The frozen vegetables, on the contrary, are exposed to processing usually in several hours after being collected, and their nutritional value is kept.

Myth 3. We should completely exclude bread from our diet
Bread is one of the most popular food, and it's hardly possible and not necessary to replace it. But we should remember that bread is empty calories which we actually don't need. From this point of view we should not get hard on bread. Most part of bread in a daily diet should be presented by black sorts or the bread baked of a mix of grain with bran, etc.

Myth 4. The late dinner leads to excess weight
Dieticians consider that the late dinner does not affect our figure, provided that we don't overeat, not exceed our daily norm of calories and if the late dinner is not the only meals during the day. What exactly we eat before night is important also. Sometimes people leave most tasty meals for the evening, considering that after the working day they have deserved some special entertainment.


Myth 5. The less we sleep, the more actively we lose weight
Sounds quite logically. In fact while we are asleep, our metabolism is slowed down, so as calorie expenditure. That means less sleeping - fat will disappear more quickly. It's all vice versa. The scientists consider that good sleeping is necessary part of weight loss program. While we sleep, the level of a hormone which signals a brain about hunger decreases. Researchers have come to conclusion that sleeping even an hour less than necessary may lead to a hormonal disbalance.

Myth 6. Chocolate can be harmful for our health
The researches proved hat cacao beans contain special substances which can significantly improve work of heart and blood vessels. Due to the action of these substances blood pressure and blood coagulation and also inflammatory processes decrease. The effect reminds action of aspirin. So refusing chocolate is not recommended by scientists. Drinking bitter chocolate or to eating a small tile once a day will be enough.

Myth 7. Running in the early morning is healthy for everybody
Running in the morning is considered the most popular and genius in availability way of improvement of organism. Running is actually a physical activity that should be apported correctly. Before starting to run, it is necessary to consult an expert, otherwise you may possibly be overzealous and "reach a heart attack", as the experts say. Advantages for one person may turn dangers for others.

Myth 8. Protein supplements promote muscle growth
Some adherents of healthy life style prove that food reach in protein helps to increase muscular weight. But it is more likely a trick of the companies making food supplements: actually additional protein does not make an impact on person's muscles if the person is not engaged in weight training. Organism gets the necessary quantity of protein from food, and some additional protein can become superfluous load.

Myth 9. Alcohol in any quantities is dangerous
Adherents of a healthy way of life call to refuse alcohol completely. However, scientists all over the world have come to conclusion on the advantage, for example, of red wine - it has components that make salutary effect on cardiovascular system. In moderate quantities wine and beer are useful for our organism. On doctors' opinion, it is not necessary to exclude alcohol from a diet - it is just necessary not to abuse it.

Myth 10. Cholesterol is the cause of heart diseases
The opinion that cholesterol is the main reason for developing heart diseases is absolutely incorrect. The level of cholesterol in blood is important, but it is impossible to predict whether there is a possibility of heart attack based on the cholesterol levels in blood. Superiority belongs to a hypertension in this sense. Under the blood pressure there can be formed apertures in arteries. The organism liquidates these damages using cholesterol. If cholesterol is "good", apertures are corked smoothly. However, in case of "bad" cholesterol, the vessels themselves are corked eventually. It leads to a heart attack. The optimum pressure makes 115 on 75, if it above 140 on 90 you already are in a zone of risk.

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Unique Hoodia

Good post seepia. I also want to add these myths:

Low fat foods are healthy - this is not necessarily true. Foods less in far doesn't mean they are less in calories. Low fat version foods have added ingredients to improve the flavor. Most of the time, low fat foods have more calories that the regular versions.

Don't eat after 6pm - It doesn't matter what time you eat at night, as long as you don't go to bed right after. You don't burn much calories and fats while sleeping so to give your body enough time to digest the food, eat at least 3-4 hours before you sleep.

Thanks for sharing seepia, mikaela. This clarifies most of the diet/nutrition myths. It's good to know that most of the myths are not true.

Good one guys. I also have something to add:

Cholesterol are bad - There are good cholesterol and bad cholesterol. Good cholesterol (HDL) helps create new cells in our body and they can be derived from unsaturated fats like nuts and seeds. Bad cholesterol (LDL) are the ones you need to stay away from. They come from saturated fats like meat and butter.

Fats are bad - Just like cholesterol, there are also good fats and bad fats. Good fats (unsaturated fats) helps build membranes and cushion organs. Bad fats (saturated fats) are the ones that leads to serious health problems.

Thanks seepia, mikaela and viktoria. All your posts are really helpful.

eat after 6 pm is definitely the most arguing myth...

it just because in night, you don't have enough "burning" calorie or in other way, you dont do any "heavy" activities in order to burn your calorie..

so we suggest, you not eat after 6 pm... :

It's true that our body is not very active at night that's why it's advice to eat light dinner and eat your dinner 3-4 hours before you sleep to give your body enough time to digest it. But I wouldn't agree on the after 6pm part. I believe that as long as you don't sleep after you eat, it should be fine. It doesn't matter what time you eat, as long as it's 3-4 hours before you go to bed.

I agree with mikaela. I believe that the "Don't eat after 6pm" is a myth. Also, thanks to viktoria for sharing the info on the good and bad cholesterol and fat.