If there’s one thing in life that’s truly predictable, it’s that most of us spend a lot of time worrying about what we eat. There is so much out there for us to worry about but the fact of the matter is that half of it isn’t even true, or even if it is on some level, we might not be getting the correct information. Therefore, to save you some time and worry we have gathered just a few truths behind some of the most popular food myths…
1. “Frozen foods are less ‘good for you’ than fresh.”
A hugely inaccurate yet common assumption is that frozen foods are not as good for you as fresh, which makes no sense at all considering that most frozen foods are put in the freezer as soon as they’re picked whereas the fresh ones still have some way to travel to the stores.
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2. “Carbs are bad for you.”
With the countless number of ‘carb free’ diets out there, it is easy to see why people now think they’re the enemy. But what these diets aren’t making clear is that some carbohydrates, found in vegetables, nuts and wholegrains, are actually good for us and we need them to generate essential energy.
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3. “Gluten Free foods are healthier.”
Another fad to hit the world in a big way is the ‘gluten free diet’, which is one thing if you actually have coeliac disease (meaning your body is unable to absorb gluten and henceforth makes you very unwell) but another thing entirely if you are doing it out of choice. What most people don’t think about is that what GF foods lack in gluten is normally made up for by adding extra amounts of sugar, effectively rendering it a completely useless method for weight loss.
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4. “Cheese gives you nightmares.”
There is actually no scientific evidence to show that cheese gives us nightmares as the old wives’ tales would have us believe. However, what is actually a fact is that it can unsettle our digestive system and consequently give us a very unsettled night’s sleep.
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5. “Eating later in the day will make you gain weight.”
Despite endless studies, there is still no definite proof that eating late can make you gain weight. According to scientists the way food absorbs in to your system is exactly the same at night as eating in the day, as long as you are leading an active lifestyle. The only changeable factor to consider is that it is easier to overdo it at night when you are sitting down and relaxing rather than out and about.
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6. “Fasting helps your body.”
Another dangerous mindset that many people have fallen in to since the ‘5:2 Diet’ came in to fruition in 2013 is that fasting is good for your body. Whilst this might be an effective weight loss method for some people it can have dangerous repercussions, especially for women hoping to conceive a child. Many women aren’t aware that a lower intake of calories can stunt the reproductive organs.
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7. “You cannot reheat rice.”
This is not strictly true seeing as the chances of contracting food poisoning are considerably higher if you reheat rice that has been standing at room temperature (where it can develop and grow bacteria). Therefore, if you put rice straight in the fridge and do not leave it any longer than 24 hours, experts advise that it should still be ok to reheat.
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8. “Butter is bad for you.”
For years and years we all believed that butter was the devil and that eating a lot of it would lead to heart disease. However, this has been completely proven wrong now that scientists know that it contains healthy saturated fats that can balance out cholesterol and even lead to increased fat burning if you are getting the right amount of exercise.
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9. “Artificial Sweeteners are better for you than sugar.”
It seems like a no-brainer to opt for the Stevia over the table sugar but what we haven’t been thinking about are all the chemicals that artificial sweeteners contain that can actually have a detrimental effect on our immune and digestive systems. That isn’t to say that refined sugar is good for you either but it helps to have all of the information so that you can make an informed choice.
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10. “Mixing different types of alcohol makes you more drunk.”
This certainly isn’t true as alcohol units all add up to the same no matter which form they come in. However, what is worth making a note of is that mixing lots of different types of alcohol will certainly make you feel much worse the next day, contributing to the chances of sickness.
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