Everyone is so obsessed with their diet these days:
Keto, Paleo, Vegan, Dukan, Zone and what not. Every piece of information is
available on our fingertips these days but most of the information provided
online is not reliable. So, it has become difficult to decide what to follow
and what to not. Let’s dive in to see which of the popular diet trends are just mere myths.
1.
Carbs will make you gain
weight – People used to avoid fats previously
but now avoiding carbs has become the new norm. Not all carbohydrates are bad;
complex-carbs have lots of good nutrients. They are the main source of our
body’s energy. What matters is the calorie intake; the more calories you eat
the more weight you will gain.
2.
Eating late at night will
make you fat – Eating at
least 3 hours before going to bed is generally recommended to prevent
indigestion. But it doesn’t really matter if you are eating at 6 or 11, you
will be consuming the same amount of calories. High calorie and unhealthy food
should be avoided at night.
3.
Fasting will help you
cleanse the body – Eating food
rich in fiber will help you eliminate toxins from your body. Our livers and
kidneys are there too for cleansing purposes. Fasting extremely can be
dangerous and one should consult a dietitian before trying it out. It will make
you feel hungry and weak and you are most likely to splurge on high calorie
treats later.
4.
Restricting yourself from
certain foods – Changing our
diet drastically might help us lose weight but it is not going to be a
long-term thing. Eating your favourite food once in a while is alright. Eating
the same set of food every day and depriving yourself of your favourite items
will be boring and will tempt you to let go of all your healthy habits.
5.
Targeting just a certain
area of a body to lose weight from – When we
lose/gain weight, we lose/gain from almost throughout the body. We can’t select just
a single body part to lose weight from. Targeting just one area will certainly
help it get more toned but it will not shed the extra fat from that area.
6.
Fats should be avoided –
Fats are essential for the body. Low-fat doesn’t necessarily mean that it is
healthy. Quantity, calorie and sugar content should also be taken into account.
Consuming healthy fats can help prevent cardiovascular diseases and keeps skin
healthy.
7.
Obese people are unhealthy
– Obesity increases your risk of getting many diseases
but some of the obese people have a healthy metabolism whereas many thin people
don’t. Even thin people can be unhealthy.
8.
Potatoes are unhealthy – People
who are looking forward to lose weight, generally avoid potatoes. Potatoes
are highly nutritious and contains potassium, fiber and vitamin C. They will
keep you full for a longer time. Quantity should be taken into account as
eating too much of anything will make you gain weight.
9.
Supplements are necessary –
If you are having a high quality of diet, supplements aren’t necessary. Some
studies show that calcium supplements don’t really work and increases your
risks of cardiovascular diseases. Some supplements might be helpful but it
should not be replaced with the actual food.
10.
High cholesterol foods are
unhealthy – Our body needs cholesterol to build healthy
cells. If you consume high amount of cholesterol, your body will produce less
of cholesterol and if you eat low amount of cholesterol, your body will produce more of cholesterol. Studies suggest that dietary cholesterol does not have a link with heart
diseases. Egg is a high source of dietary cholesterol and it is absolutely safe
to add it to your diet.
Diet myths are everywhere. Many of them aren’t even
proven but are still so popular. Your health is important so you shouldn’t
blindly follow these fad diets. What goes inside your body really does matter.
It is better to consult a dietitian before starting with all these.
