Nutrition Myths

Everyone who wants to maintain a lean, healthy body realize that protein is important. But the problem is that we hear a lot of misinformed information all over the internet that isn’t necessarily true. Much information exists regarding nutrition. When it comes to starting fitness, there are many myths that people associate with getting fit and healthy. Because we talk and think about the food also it’s no wonder that there are so many myths and misconceptions surrounding nutrition especially when it comes to the best advice for workout or training. Myth 1: All fats are bad Fat is a really important part of the diet. Used as a source of energy, fat also has important physiological functions in the body. There are several hugely beneficial forms of fat that our body requires to function at its optimum level. Fat also provides a great source of calories for consistent energy levels over a long period of time. Fat intake should come from quality sources containing saturated (coconut oil), polyunsaturated (flax, fish oil) or monounsaturated fats (olive oil, fish, nuts, avocados) are full of health benefits not from unhealthy fats such as trans-fats and hydrogenated fats. Myth 2: Egg yolks are bad for you Eggs are extremely nutritious. Egg yolks contain a huge range of essential vitamins and minerals, including Vitamin D, Vitamin A, B Vitamins that are difficult to get from other sources including Vitamin B-12, biotin, riboflavin, choline, iodine, selenium, molybdenum, and phosphorus, in addition to an excellent amount of protein by weight. Egg whites contain 3.6g of protein and yolks contain 2.7g of protein. Although eggs do contain some saturated fat, it is a very small amount – one large egg contains about 1.5g. These nutritious little proteins are good for you and fine to eat every day of the week. The reasons why bodybuilders eat a lot of white egg because low in calories as compared to the whole egg. Therefore they’re able to eat a lot of it without going over their daily calorie limit. Myth 3: Fruits make you gain weight Eating fruits don’t make you gain weight, overeating does. Many people avoid fruit because they are concerned about fruit having “too much” sugar. Fruit contains the sugar fructose, it is nearly impossible to eat so much that will cause weight gain. The benefits of fruit include fiber, water, vitamins and minerals, and disease-fighting antioxidants. Fruits are low in calories and as long as you eat everything in moderation, it shouldn’t be a problem. Myth 4: Bananas make you fat This is absolutely false as bananas are rich in fibre and pectin. These help in decreasing bloatedness as they allow a good build-up of healthy bacteria. Banana is not only low in fat but it also helps in reducing cholesterol levels and helps in burning fats. Myth 5: Carbs are evil The body relies on carbohydrates for fuel more than the other macronutrients: fat and protein. Carbohydrates are categorized as complex carbs and simple carbs. Complex carbs are starchy carbs that are slower to digest while simple carbs tend to be more sugar. The goal with carbohydrate consumption should be on quality foods and mostly starchy sources coming from vegetables, rice, whole grains, etc. The only simple carbs in your diet should come from fruits, avoiding simple carbs from soft drinks and processed, sugary foods. Carbohydrates, much like protein and fat, do not cause weight gain. Eating more than you require is likely to result in weight gain. Myth 6: Coffee should be avoided Coffee has long been considered unhealthy, mainly because of the caffeine. Despite being perceived as unhealthy, coffee is actually loaded with antioxidants. Coffee drinkers have a much lower risk of depression and type 2 diabetes.