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What do you think of when someone mentions healthy eating? Do you automatically think of a diet? What foods are good or bad for you? There are some big myths about healthy eating.
There are so many misconceptions that seem to stretch across several points of view. So, today, I want to point out a few of the biggest myths about healthy eating.
Let’s get to it!
This is a very common one, and on the surface, it makes sense. If you want to give your body the best opportunity to benefit from healthy eating, you need to clean out all the bad stuff first. It’s kind of like cleaning your house. There are stages you need to go through – you can’t vacuum before you’ve picked everything up, right? Using that analogy, a cleanse would be a sensible choice.
But cleanses and detoxes are unnecessary. Your body has a great regulatory system already in place. Your liver and kidneys detoxify naturally, cleaning your blood and ridding the body of chemicals. Even your lungs and skin work to keep the bad stuff out.
So, trust your body to do what it’s made to do. No need for expensive detox programs or cleansing supplements.
Simply put, not all carbs are equal. To say that all carbs are bad for you is inaccurate. Healthy eating can include some carbs.
Good carbs occur naturally in vegetables, fruits, nuts, and legumes. Bad carbs are the ones you find in processed or heavily refined foods. Bread, pasta, and starchy vegetables are the most common offenders here.
It’s probably easiest to remember it as refined carbs = bad/natural or whole carbs = good. That being said, if you are looking to limit carbs in your diet, it is best to check with your doctor to ensure you’re getting the right nutrient levels.
And while we are on the subject…
This one really gets me going, because there have been so many fad diets that people jump onto and then get frustrated if they plateau quickly or if the diet flat out doesn’t work.
Everybody’s body chemistry is different, so it’s insane to think that any diet will work for anybody. For example, Keto is one that you have probably heard a lot about in the past few years, and there is some sound science behind it.
However, I know several people who have had their gallbladders removed who have had a terrible time with eating Keto. Their bodies are missing an important mechanism for processing fat intake. But that doesn’t mean that every single person who has had their gall bladder removed will do poorly on Keto.
Does that all make sense? You have to work with your doctor and your known health situation to find a diet that will work for you. And remember, “diet” simply means what you are eating. It doesn’t have to be a fad or “in-style.”
Since I mentioned fats in the previous section, let’s address this one next. We’ve been sold the thought that fat is bad (regardless) and no-fat – or at the very least low-fat – foods are better, right?
Wrong.
Fat is actually a satiating nutrient. Cut that out of your diet and you will need to fill yourself up in other ways…and those ways are usually UNhealthy! The substitutes for fat that are used in non and low-fat foods are often processed, or full of sodium, or have more sugars. They have to do something to boost that flavor and satiation point.
Just like carbs, though, not all fats are good (or bad). Trans and industrial-made fats (think processed foods and commercially baked goods) are bad. Monounsaturated, polyunsaturated, and Omega-3 fats (think avocados, nuts, salmon) are good.
And while we’re at it – here’s one of the biggest myths about healthy eating.
As you can plainly see from above, this just isn’t true. It all depends on the types of fat that you are eating. So, yeah, if you’re eating fried foods and have to get that croissant with your coffee on your way to work, you’re not eating the right fats and those could ultimately cause you to gain weight.
But, if you’re eating the right types of fat, from fish, avocado, olive oils, or eggs (for example), you’re actually doing your body a favor.
Eggs
I also have to say this: eat the whole egg! There was a period where the belief was that egg yolks are bad, and you should only eat egg whites. When the science changed, I remember a commercial of an egg being let out of jail (did I just date myself there?) because it was now okay to eat the whole egg.
The yolk is actually where most of the nutrients are. Go ahead and eat the whole thing.
Hopefully, I gave you insight into some of the biggest myths about healthy eating and set the record straight on them! When it comes to healthy eating, it’s most important to remember to do your homework.
Find out which fats and carbs are good or bad for you, work with your doctor to establish a diet that fits your health and lifestyle, and let your body do the work it is supposed to do. Now, go find a diet that allows you to enjoy healthy eating.
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