The beginning of the year is when most of us attempt to be at our healthiest best (for obvious reasons). And this means we’re constantly on the Internet, trying to find diet plans, recipes, etc. But not everything you read on the web should be believed. While most of the stuff we read is legit, some of it has no scientific backing. So, before you go full swing with your ‘new year, new you’ life and diet plan, here are five healthy eating myths that you should know the truth about.
Going gluten-free is the way to be
Unless you’re gluten intolerant or have Celiac disease (which is a serious autoimmune disease, where consuming gluten leads to damage in one’s small intestine), giving up gluten is not going to do you any specific good. It is not going to make you any healthier, nor is it going to make any significant difference to your waist-size. Plus, certain gluten-free products can actually be bad for you, if not made with the correct ingredients.
Anything labelled organic = food from the heavens
Yes, while organic produce is definitely a better option than the pesticide-ridden stuff we tend to eat, it doesn’t mean that it’s instantly going to make you healthier. Plus, not all organic foods are better for you. Eating organic chips and sweets is still unhealthy, at the end of the day, and they have the same amount of unhealthy ingredients as their non-organic counterparts.
Naturally-occurring sugar is better for us than added sugar
While sugar found in fruits and vegetables is a slightly healthier way of consuming sugar than in fast food and drinks, either way, you’re still consuming sugar. Your body may process these kinds of sugars differently, based on the accompanying ingredients, but it doesn’t mean it’s any better.
Foods high in cholesterol are wholly responsible for raising your blood cholesterol levels
This claim has been found to be untrue, with saturated fats and trans fats being the primary causes of increasing our blood cholesterol levels. So don’t go avoiding all high cholesterol foods, like egg yolks etc. because they are not contributing to the higher cholesterol level in your body. But that doesn’t mean you go overboard with these foods, either.
A salad is the healthiest meal option
Contrary to popular belief, that’s not always the case. While eating fresh vegetables, nuts, and lean protein is definitely a dietary win, sometimes the add-ons we choose, to make salads more tasty, can hike their fat quotient. Plus, a lot of the time, the dressings accompanying salads are the most fattening part – mainly stuff that either contains cheese, mayonnaise, or other unhealthy ingredients. So, it kind of negates the whole point. To stay true to the health quotient of a salad, lose the extra trappings and try a non-creamy dressing.
