5 Food And Nutrition Myths You Need To Stop Believing

In my time as a nutrition professional I have seen the good, the bad and the ugly when it comes to nutrition myths. 

With the rising popularity of platforms such as tik-tok, Instagram and YouTube, information is easily accessible more than ever. Which means it’s more important to check that your health information is supported either by an accredited health professional or organisation.

 There are some tricky myths out there – so let’s look at 5 of the nutrition myths you should stop believing right now.

 

1)    97% Fat Free Is Always A Better Alternative.

This is a myth that catches a lot of us by surprise. It’s a pretty common way to attract shoppers who are looking to lose weight as fat can mean fat in food as well as body fat. 

 

While a food product advertised as 97% fat free may in fact only contain 3% fat – it doesn’t state whether it contains higher levels of sugars or refined flours such as corn starch. You’d be surprised how much sugars can show up in savoury foods. 

 

Always read the label and remember that by law in Australia all ingredients must be listed in descending order.  

 

2)    All Carbs Are Bad

 Not all carbs are bad ‘GASP’ I know this is a big one but it’s true. Let’s look at why. 

Carbohydrates are nutrient source providing a dense nutrient profile including iron, calcium, fibre and B vitamins to name a few.  Cutting out carbohydrates from your diet can make it harder to fill your nutrient quota for the day, as well as make it harder to reach or maintain a healthy weight.  

There are your carbs to include on the daily including wholegrain foods, legumes, apples, sweet potatoes and other fibre-rich foods. On the flip side there are your carbs to enjoy occasionally such as cakes, lollies, white rice, noodles.  

 

Carbs are a hot topic for debate so if you need some more information on the current recommendations you can see them HERE.

 

3)    Lite or Light Always Mean That A Food Is Low In Kilojoules and/or Fat 

Next time your grocery shopping – have a look at how many food products have a light counterpart. Be wary having a light claim to the label doesn’t always mean that a food is light in kilojoules or fat. 

 

Let’s have a look at some popular examples:

o   Light beer is lower in alcohol.

o   Light cake has a fluffier, lighter texture. 

o   Light potato chips are often thinly sliced and lightly salted however they have the same amount of fat as regular potato chips.

o   Light olive oil has a blander, less refined flavour. 

 

Any light food must state the characteristic that makes the food ‘light’ an be careful of claims that use the word ‘lite’ as part of branding which is commonly found in foods like:  iced teas, cordial, olive oils, yoghurts, creams, milks, probiotic drinks and chocolate bars. 

 

4)    Skipping Meals Is A Sustainable Way To Lose Weight 

 

This is one that I see often – and it truly does fool you into thinking its working at first but missing meals guarantees that you’ll be hungrier and more likely to overeat later on. 

Looking at breakfast for example, many people skip it believing that they will lose weight faster. However, breakfast has been shown to ‘kick start’ your metabolism and also keeps you from wanting to attack the lolly jar by early afternoon.

If you don’t like food first up – make your breakfast drinkable by enjoying a smoothie or ensure that you eat by mid-morning at the latest. 

 

5)    Go Vegetarian To Save Kilojoules

 

If you choose to skip meat, it will cut your kilojoule intake, but it will also eliminate essential nutrients like vitamin b12, zinc and iron. These 3 nutrients in particular are ones that women tend to run short on. 

Additionally, adding protein to your meals helps to keep you feel full and satisfied between meals. 

Opt for lean protein sources such as white meats with skin removed, lean cuts of red meats with visible fat trimmed as well as vegetarian protein sources like legumes, nuts or nutmeat, eggs, cheese, tofu and tempeh. 

If you have a #nutritiontrend or #foodtrend that you would like to know more about – get in contact today and start your journey to your ultimate wellness.