It doesn’t matter if you are a seasoned dieter or new to the concept, we have all heard a weight loss myth or two in our lifetime.
As we enter into the “Land of Dieting Myths”, and debunk some of these theories, be prepared to be shocked and amazed at what the experts say.
Myth #1 – Drink Fruit Juice
Pure fruit in liquid form should be good for you. Right? Unfortunately, fruit juice (especially what is purchased already bottled) is a concentrate with dissolved fructose (70%), as well as 30% of glucose, which basically means you are drinking a lot of sugar.
When eating one piece of fresh fruit at a time, your body can adjust and slowly breakdown the sugar, thanks to fiber.
Fruit juices do not have the same fiber content as real fruit. Due to this large intake of sugar so quickly, your body is overloaded and overburdened, so eat your recommended allotment of fruit, and don’t drink it.
Myth #2 – Fat-Free Foods Won’t Make You Fat
Think again. This is a marketing ploy by the food industry, to get you to purchase their product. They prey on your desire to eat healthier and lose weight.
The marketed food may well be “fat free”, but to make the food tasty, excessive amounts of sugar is added to the product, and this makes the product totally unhealthy to consume.
Myth #3 – Avocados Are Fattening
This is a false statement that needs to be debunked, so that this healthy fruit can once again claim an honorable place in a healthy balanced diet plan.
Avocados are not fattening, and they do not have bad fats. These delicious fruits do not have a negative impact on your blood sugar levels or your cholesterol numbers.
Myth #4 – When You Eat Is Not Important
When you eat is just as important as what you eat. Breakfast has always been, and continues to be, the most important meal of the day.
When the right foods are chosen for the first meal of the day, your body will be provided with a slow, steady and healthy flow of blood sugar that will keep you energized all day.
It is advised that you enjoy a large salad for your mid-meal, and a small, light meal should be your evening eating choice.
The theory behind “eat breakfast like a King and dinner like a pauper” is that breakfast will have 16 to 18 hours to metabolize, while supper will only have about 3 hours before your body goes into rest mode.
Myth #5 – Apple Cider Vinegar Will Break Down Fats
No it won’t, but it may burn your throat and cause you to develop a stomach ulcer, if you drink it every day. ACV will not help you reach your weight loss goal faster.
Myth #6 – Eating Healthy Is Expense
In reality, with a little planning, fresh healthy foods are actually less expensive than conveniently packaged and fast food options.
In fact, by following a heart healthy diet plan, you can shave pounds from your hips, while fattening up your bank account by more than $400 annually.
To slim down your grocery bill even more, swap out meat products for legumes. You will get the same nutrients and protein power, but at a fraction of the cost.
Myth #7 – Dieting Will Remove Cellulite
You cannot remove something that doesn’t exist. Cellulite is just body fat, and no magic trick or special diet will remove it.
Cellulite is described as ripple-like bumps that are usually most visible in the thigh area of at least 50% of all women. This ugly fat is the result of fat stored in honeycomb-like structures under the skin.
The more these honeycombs are filled with fat, the more the skin will look puckered. The truth is, a healthy calorie controlled diet will keep all-over body fat to a minimum.
Myth #8 – Diet Soda Is A Good Choice When Dieting
Many dieters drink diet soda because it is not made with real sugar, but artificial sweeteners, such as saccharin, aspartame, sucralose, cyclamate or acesulfame-k. It has been studied, at the University of Texas, that the more diet soda a person consumed, the greater the risk of an individual gaining weight. Just one or two cans of diet soda per day. can increase your waistline by 500%.
According to a study conducted at Purdue University, this is because the artificial sweeteners disrupt your body’s natural ability to regulate calorie intake, based on the true sweetness of foods.
Basically, this means when large quantities of “diet” food and drinks are consumed, you may overeat, because your body is thinking it is eating sugar and wants more.
In addition, diet soda may be very taxing on your kidneys. A decade long study, conducted at Harvard Medical School found that the decline of kidney function was directly related to diet soda consumption.
