Common Health Myths You Should Stop Paying Attention To
Though it has enabled progress, the widespread availability of information in today’s age has brought it’s fair share of problems; the major one being an abundance of false information. This is nowhere as glaring as it is in the health industry; tons of health and dietary recommendations that haven’t been verified are passed as truth everyday, and a lot of us, waste our time with fruitless practices.
To help you save time, and focus on what really works, we’ve compiled a list of four popular health myths you should ignore. First is:
1. Eating too much sugar causes diabetes
The truth: Contrary to popular belief, sugar does not cause diabetes. Eating too much sugar, however, can make you put on more weight, and being overweight increases your risk for type 2 diabetes. The best way to reduce your risk of diabetes is to watch your weight. That means not only moderating the amount of sugary food you take in, but watching your intake of fatty food as well.
2. Drink 8 glasses of water a day
The truth: Despite it being a belief widely held onto for its supposed multiple health benefits (including better skin and the prevention of gallstones), the age-old mantra of drinking 8 glasses of water a day is medically unfounded. While water is essential to keep you hydrated, there is no need to drink minimally 8 glasses a day. This is because water is not the only source of hydration – our body gets its hydration from the water found in fruits, vegetables, and even in juice and coffee.That being said, water is still the healthiest drink to consume – you just do not have to drink 8 glasses of it a day. The best gauge of how much water to drink is simply to drink as and when you feel thirsty.
3. Eggs contribute to high cholesterol
The truth: Eggs have gotten an undeserved bad rap. There is insufficient data to show that consumption of eggs affects our blood cholesterol levels. Our harmful cholesterol levels are more influenced by the consumption of saturated and trans fat e.g. milk, cheese, cakes, biscuits, doughnuts etc.. It is more important to keep your cholesterol in check by monitoring these fats in your diet.
On the other hand, eggs are an inexpensive source of many nutrients, including omega-3 fatty acids, zinc, iron, antioxidants and vitamin D. Nevertheless, eggs contain saturated fat and should be eaten in moderation – a healthy person can eat up to 6 eggs each week, as a guide.
4. Brown sugar, honey, maple syrup or agave nectar are healthier substitutes for sugar
The truth: These sugars are no better for you than refined sugar – all offer empty calories and barely any nutrients. While unrefined sugar may retain some minerals such as calcium, iron and potassium, it contains them only in trace and insignificant amounts. These ‘healthier’ sugars don’t provide any significant nutrition over refined white sugar, and all sugars are almost identical in terms of calories. You should watch your sugar intake regardless of what type it is.
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