Learn a Few Nutritional Myths
Have you ever heard of the phrase, “repeat a lie a thousand times and it becomes the truth?” That’s exactly what happens with nutritional myths. We receive a large amount of information from a multitude of sources, but unfortunately, some things aren’t always true. Part of this data comes from people who lack knowledge.
All this causes us to encounter contradictory information that creates doubt. Moreover, there are many people who have misconceptions about nutrition and they can influence us to end up believing these myths.
To prevent this from happening, it’s vital to be aware of everything. Up next, we’ll explain some of the myths that surround the world of nutrition. Also, to clear all your doubts, we’ll rationalize clearly and concisely the reasons why these phrases that we’ve heard many times aren’t true.
Nutritional myths that we often hear
1. Drinking water during meal time makes you gain weight
Surely on more than one occasion, you’ve heard about the most appropriate time when you should drink water? Some people ingest water in greater quantities before eating a meal to feel satiated beforehand and thus, eat less.
Others drink water during lunch or dinner. However, there are also many people who don’t consume water throughout a meal. They base this on the belief that they will gain less fat this way.
We must bear in mind that water is a liquid that has no caloric content, so it won’t make us gain weight regardless of the time that we ingest it. In fact, limiting water intake this way isn’t advisable at all since it’s essential to stay hydrated and nourish ourselves with its minerals.
2. Whole grain products have few calories
Contrary to what most people think, whole grain products have a similar caloric content as the same product with a different grain. The difference between the two isn’t in the number of calories each one has, but the properties of the grain. Whole products have that characteristic brown toasted color because their elaboration includes the whole grain.
Hence, the difference is that the whole grain option contains a much larger amount of fiber. That’s why these types of products are especially recommended for people who suffer from constipation.
3. Eating chocolate causes acne
Perhaps this is one of the most widespread myths. Many people tend to think that high chocolate consumption causes acne. This belief lacks a scientific basis since no food by itself can cause the appearance of this problem.
The reality is that acne is a consequence of hormonal changes. This is why it appears throughout adolescence and during menstruation. These alterations in hormone levels cause the skin to secrete an excess of oil.
4. Eating fat is harmful to one’s health
Fats have become the enemies of healthy eating. We look for the products that contain a lesser amount of this nutrient, we eliminate excess fat from meat and fish, and opt for light or low-calorie options.
These customs are a serious mistake since fat is a fundamental nutrient for the proper functioning of the human body. That’s why we have to ingest it the same as we do with proteins, vitamins, minerals, or carbohydrates.
The only thing about fat consumption that we must take into consideration is that out of the total amount of calories we ingest during a day, 25 percent of fat is enough. This way, we maintain a healthy balance for our bodies. Additionally, it’s always preferable to opt for the healthiest sources to obtain them.
Now that you know the truth about these myths, it’s time to stop believing in them. The best recommendation is that whenever you have doubts about the information you receive, compare it with reliable sources that offer accurate data. This is the only way to avoid falling into these false beliefs.