Keeping a healthy diet seems to be a real challenge nowadays. It’s not the quality of food that is disputable but the fact that we no longer know what to eat and what to avoid, as we are constantly being deceived by various myths about food.
What used to be regarded as unhealthy has, all of a sudden, become healthy, and vice versa. Therefore, it’s necessary to debunk certain weird myths about food and determine, once and for all, how good or bad our food is.
Here are some of the strangest myths concerning food that you have always believed. They may have even shaped your eating habits, so you should definitely check out the reasons why these bizarre myths are simply not true.
8Are Fried Foods That Bad for Your Heart?
It has been long believed that excessive consumption of fried foods may lead to some health and heart issues such as obesity, high blood pressure, and increased cholesterol.
But, a study which included almost 50,000 adult participants and lasted over a decade has shown that consuming food which was prepared in oil, particularly sunflower oil or olive oil, does not expose you to heart issues.
7All Carbohydrates Are Unhealthy
Generally, carbohydrates are classified into two groups – simple carbohydrates, such as candies, fried food and soft drinks, and complex carbs, such as various sorts of fruit, beans, and whole grains.
Complex carbohydrates are crucial for our health as they are among the main sources of fiber which are, in turn, important for our stomach, brain, and energy. But in the case of simple carbohydrates, they have very little nutrients and can only increase the sugar level in our blood and result in weight gain.
6The Truth about the Chocolate
According to research, dark chocolate is extremely nutritious and beneficial, as it may help regulate blood pressure. It increases the level of the “happiness” hormone, i.e., serotonin, thus improving your mood.
Dark chocolate is also rich in cocoa, which contains antioxidants and prevents our cells from being damaged. So, eating it in moderation leads to a better overall health state.
5How Much Water Should You Actually Drink?
This common myth states that we should drink approximately 85 oz. of water daily, which is equal to eight glasses, in order to enable our body to work properly. But, this is not completely true. Namely, drinking too much of it is equally dangerous as not getting enough water. Namely, when you drink more water than your body can process, it can lead to a condition known as water intoxication.
4Digesting Chewing Gum
When you were a child, you were certainly told that if you swallowed some chewing gum, your stomach wouldn’t be able to get rid of it for seven years.
However, this is completely incorrect. Since the stomach cannot digest chewing gum like it digests other sorts of food, it will find a way to get rid of it“ through excretion.
3Meat and Wooden Chopping Boards
Despite what everyone says, it does not really matter what material your chopping board is made of, as long as you keep it clean and wash it accordingly when you finish using it. Also, any broken or damaged boards should be replaced with new ones as soon as possible.
What you should definitely avoid doing is cutting different sorts of food, such as meat, vegetables or bread, on the same board, with the same knife in a hot room. This will enable potentially dangerous bacteria to develop much faster.
2Energy Drinks
Energy drinks might indeed provide you with more energy, as they contain great amounts of sugar and caffeine, but only for a short while. Once your body processes the sugar from the drink, your energy level will decrease again. In addition, an energy drink may cause you to feel extremely sleepy the very next day after drinking it.
1The Greatest Milk Myth
The link between the strength and health of your bones and milk consumption is perhaps among the oldest and most trusted food myths. According to a study conducted by Harvard University, which examined over 70,000 female participants over twenty years, there is no proof that a regular intake of milk or related products can protect your bones.
Increased milk consumption doesn’t lower your chances of getting osteoporosis or bone fractures. What’s more, another experiment reached a conclusion that men who drank more milk in their teenage years broke their bones more frequently as adults than those who did not consume large amounts of milk.
