Myths About Diets

There are so many diet myths that are passed from generation to generation as mantras without any scientific support. In this article, we discuss some common myths surrounding dieting
Myths About Diets

Last update: 26 December, 2018

If you have recently started a diet and have searched for resources, it’s likely you have found a lot of contradictory information. Diets are surrounded by myths, claims of miraculous results, and unhealthy routines. To lose weight safely and effectively, we’ll explore some common myths about diets.

1. Drink lots of water!

Dieters often go hungry. To prevent this sensation many people choose to increase their daily intake of water. In this way, they are satiated without increasing the number of calories they consume. Another common belief is that drinking more water cleanses the body and therefore promotes weight loss.

Girl on a diet and drinking a lot of water.

Water is essential to maintain the hydration of the body, but we must stop thinking that it’s a miraculous liquid that helps you lose weight. Here we explain how much water you need to drink per day, whether you are dieting or not.

2. Fats are harmful to the body!

The first thing you normally do when you start a diet is to eliminate all fatty foods. This is because fats are considered an unhealthy food and therefore we tend to stop eating them.

We must stop thinking that all fats are harmful to the body because it’s not totally true. Fats are nutrients, just like any other, and are as necessary as vitamins, proteins or carbohydrates.

The only thing you have to take into account is that certain fats are healthier than others. In this post, we explain what the most recommended fats are, for those who want to lose weight.

3. You can eat as many fruits as you want!

Fruits are one of the healthiest foods. When it comes to dieting, there are many foods that we limit consumption of. That’s why many people increase their consumption of fruits, thinking that they can eat as much as they want.

The first thing to be clear is that whatever the food is, you must always eat it in appropriate amounts. In the case of fruit, you must know how to differentiate between healthier and less healthy fruits.

Girl on an apple diet.

Some fruits contain large amounts of sugar, so they aren’t recommended. Moreover, you must not forget that fruits do provide vitamins and strengthen the immune system.

4. If you don’t eat you will lose weight faster!

We’ve all heard of this phrase! It’s also common to think that skipping a meal promotes weight loss. This practice is usually carried out with the belief that calories that are eaten during dinner, are not burned because the body is no longer in motion.

Actually, not having dinner in the evening only causes a state of anxiety and increased appetite in the morning. In other words, not having dinner increases the chances of failing your diet or having some type of binge the next day.

Don’t forget to eat five meals a day. All of these are important and fundamental for regulating the appetite. It’s the only way to avoid binge eating, not to go hungry to ensure a healthy and effective weight loss.

Girl eating bread as part of a diet.

5. You have to count calories!

The number of calories you consume is the basis of any diet. Many people who want to lose weight spend the day counting the calories they consume so as not to exceed a certain amount. Did you know that this habitual practice is another myth about diets?

The reality is that not all calories are the same, so counting them is not as important as you think. It’s wrong to assume that consuming 100 calories from precooked food is the same as consuming 100 calories from fruits or vegetables.

This is because the body doesn’t absorb all of the nutrients equally. Therefore you can not compare the calories of different foods. If you want to know the reasons why you should stop counting calories, read more about this here.

Now that you know several of the false myths surrounding diets, you can start losing weight in a healthy way. Remember that exercise and healthy eating are the only way to achieve a healthy weight.


This text is provided for informational purposes only and does not replace consultation with a professional. If in doubt, consult your specialist.