For a long time “eating healthy” was equated with the idea of sitting down for meals that smelled funny, looked funny and (usually) tasted funny. For a long time the common mentality surrounding food was that it was the fat and sugar that gave food its yummy taste! This article looks at some of the biggest myths surrounding healthy diets and tears them to pieces (that you can eat if you want, though the fiber content in your printer paper might be a little high for you liking).
Myth #1: Carbs are evil.
There are so many diets out there that promise readers the key to losing weight is to cut out carbs. The truth is that, in order to maintain a healthy diet and your energy level, you need some carbohydrates every day. Of course not all carbs are the same—some are better than others. Around 130 carbs a day are what experts recommend. This means that you can eat bread! In fact—a sandwich made with whole grain bread can give you two of your daily recommended grains servings!
Myth #2: Dairy Products should be avoided.
Yes there is some fat in dairy—it just occurs naturally. It is possible to consume dairy products that are lower in fat than others. Skim milk, for example, is a great way to get your calcium while cutting down on your fat intake. The truth is that dairy products are the best source of calcium that you can get. While other foods do contain calcium, they usually also contain nutrients that block calcium’s absorption into your system. The calcium contained in dairy products is easily absorbed.
Myth #3: Margarine is Always Better than Butter
The reason that people often opt for margarine instead of butter is because butter contains high amounts of saturated fats which are terrible for the cholesterol level. So, for people who like to use a lot of butter when they cook, margarine seems like a healthier substitute. The truth is that margarine, when used excessively, can be more harmful than regular butter. This is because while butter can raise the levels of “bad” cholesterol in a person’s system, margarine can both raise a person’s “bad” cholesterol and lower the “good” cholesterol. Ouch! If you are a big fan of butter, the best idea is to use a vegetable based butter substitute instead of an oil based butter substitute. Same good flavor, better health benefits!
The truth is that many of the things we learned about eating healthy are simply not true. Healthy food can be tasty and filling. It can be just as good as junk food. A healthy and balanced diet can be totally satisfying. As time goes on diet peddlers will invent new reasons to choose their products over perfectly fine alternatives (look at all of the no-carb diet books that are out there). Remember to use your common sense and, when in doubt, do some research. You’ll find out that what you already eat is probably just fine!