10 Worst Nutrition Myths Of All The Time.

 Hello!

With so many nutrition myths, it is hard to find where to start. In this article I dispel the 10 worst nutrition myths of all time, and the ones that need to go now! 

With all the information at our fingertips today, you’d think that nutrition myths would have become less pervasive than in our grandparents’ time. Unfortunately, the internet is rife with misinformation, and it can be really difficult to tell what’s evidence-based without reading the original research yourself. 

There are some nutrition myths that just refuse to die. Thanks to the internet you can get information at the click of a button, however, you also consistently find contradictory information which makes it really hard to dispel myth from fact. With so many opinions and so much dogma in the nutrition industry, it is hard to know what really works, what doesn’t, and why. 

The reality is, there is no perfect diet that will work for everyone. We are all biochemically unique and have different needs, however, there are some foundational pieces of nutrition information that are vitally important that everyone should understand. Although it might seem complicated at first, once you break things down and discover where we came from and how we got here, you will realize that nutrition is much simpler than most people think.

1- Non-nutritive sweeteners are healthy

Non-nutritive sweeteners may lead to adverse health outcomes, such as an increased risk of type 2 diabetes and negative changes to gut bacteria.

2- Protein is bad for you

Carbs and fats often take the blame for various health issues, but the third macronutrient isn’t always spared by the media. Protein has often been accused of harming bones and kidneys.

3- Macronutrients ration matters more than diet quality 

Although tweaking macro ratios can be helpful in some ways, the most important way to promote overall health is to follow a diet rich in whole, unprocessed foods, regardless of macro ratio.

4- Low fat and diet foods are healthy alternatives

Low fat and diet foods are typically high in sugar and salt. Unaltered higher fat alternative are often a healthier choice. Research has shown that many low fat and diet items  contain much more added sugar and salt than their regular-fat counterparts.

5-  Carbs are bad for you

For decades, fat was the enemy, but today, there’s a new scapegoat: carbs. Vilifying carbs and insulin seems to get more popular by the year. Eating less carbohydrate (especially processed carbs) can be helpful if it helps you eat healthier. But if cutting carbs makes you eat worse or feel worse, or if you can’t stick with the diet, you should consider other options.

6- Certain foods, such as grapefruit, cayenne pepper or vinegar, can burn fat

Sorry, no foods burn fat, make you lose weight more quickly or increase your metabolism enough to have an effect on weight loss. Diets that focus on single foods, like those mentioned above, are very restrictive and lack nutrients the body needs. They’re also unsustainable, and any weight loss that may occur is a result of calorie restriction and will likely come back once you discontinue.

7- A detox diet will clean toxins out the body

There’s very little evidence that dietary cleanses do any of the things they promise. The fact is we don’t need to cleanse our bodies. Our liver, kidneys and gastrointestinal tract do a good job of detoxing it every day. If you’re looking to rejuvenate your body, focus on eating more whole foods, drinking water and removing highly processed foods from your diet.

8- White potatoes are unhealthy

Often labeled as “unhealthy” by those in the nutrition world, white potatoes are restricted by many people wanting to lose weight or improve their overall health. While eating too much of any food  including white potatoes  can lead to weight gain, these starchy tubers are highly nutritious and can be included as part of a healthy diet.

9-  Salt is bad for you

Some myths contain a grain of truth. Studies have associated excess salt with hypertension (high blood pressure), kidney damage,  and an increased risk of cognitive decline.

However, salt (sodium) is an essential mineral. Salt reduction is important for people with salt-sensitive hypertension, and excessive salt intake is associated with harm. But a drastic decrease in salt intake has not shown uniform benefit in clinical trials. Most people will benefit more from a diet of mostly unprocessed foods than from micromanaging their salt intake.

10- You shouldn't eat anything after 7 p.m.

While late-night snacking can lead to weight gain or prevent weight loss, it’s not because of the time on the clock. Instead, it’s about how much you’re eating. Choosing high fat, high calorie comfort foods as a before-bed snack is common. This often leads to mindless eating and consuming excess calories.