Top 10 diet myths
WebMD has a new article on recent findings presented at the American Dietetic Association this week. Here are the myths, but you'll need to read the article for the explanation.
Myth: Eating at night makes you fat.
Reality: Calories count, whenever you eat them.
Umblogger: Great, I enjoy a snack after the kids retire for the evening.
Myth: Avoid foods with a high glycemic index.
Reality: You could use the glycemic index to adjust your food choices, but don't make it your sole strategy for losing weight or controlling blood sugar, Rosenbloom says.
Umblogger: I avoid those sugary foods unless they are laying around the hallway at work, then all bets are off on my self-control.
Myth: High fructose corn syrup causes weight gain.
Reality: "There's probably nothing particularly evil about high fructose corn syrup, compared to regular old sugar," Rosenbloom says.
Umblogger: As I've told some friends, fructose is fructose, which is natural. HFS is concentrated. However, I enjoy 100% juices more than juice cocktails, because I think they taste better.
Myth: Caffeine is unhealthy.
Reality: Rosenbloom says there is some evidence that caffeine may have a positive effect on some diseases, including gout and Parkinson's disease , besides caffeine's famous alertness buzz.
Umblogger: I'm a decaf guy because when I'm hooked, I get bad headaches if I miss a day or two.
Myth: The less fat you eat, the better.
Reality: "For some people, counting fat grams can work for weight control, but it isn't the be-all end-all for people," Rosenbloom says.
Umblogger: I don't eat land animals most of the time. So I feel free to indulge in eggs, butter, cheese, and recently raw milk.
Myth: To eat less sodium, avoid salty-tasting foods and use sea salt in place of table salt.
Reality: Your sense of taste doesn't always notice sodium, and sea salt or other gourmet salts aren't healthier than table salt.
Umblogger: We aren't big fans of canned soup because the saltiness is so bad. The Smart Mom makes great chicken and vegetable soups.
Myth: Drinking more water daily will help you lose weight.
Reality: There's no evidence that water peels off pounds.
Umblogger: I had a trainer insist on me drinking a gallon of water a day based on another myth. All it did for me was increase the frequency my trips to the restroom.
Myth: Whole grains are always healthier than refined grains.
Reality: Whole grains are a healthy choice, but you needn't ditch refined grains. "You can have some of each," Rosenbloom says.
Umblogger: We make our own oatmeal bread almost daily in our home. We are not white bread folks. We even add wheat flour to our cookies.
Myth: Sugar causes behavioral problems in kids.
Reality: You might want to check your expectations about sugar and children's behavior.
Umblogger: But we will see them have a sugar crash.
Myth: Protein is the most important nutrient for athletes.
Reality: "It is true that athletes need more protein than sedentary people. They just don't need as much as they think. And they probably don't need it from supplements; they're probably getting plenty in their food," Rosenbloom says.
Umblogger: Most Asian nations prove this point. You can live mostly on rice.
Myth: Eating at night makes you fat.
Reality: Calories count, whenever you eat them.
Umblogger: Great, I enjoy a snack after the kids retire for the evening.
Myth: Avoid foods with a high glycemic index.
Reality: You could use the glycemic index to adjust your food choices, but don't make it your sole strategy for losing weight or controlling blood sugar, Rosenbloom says.
Umblogger: I avoid those sugary foods unless they are laying around the hallway at work, then all bets are off on my self-control.
Myth: High fructose corn syrup causes weight gain.
Reality: "There's probably nothing particularly evil about high fructose corn syrup, compared to regular old sugar," Rosenbloom says.
Umblogger: As I've told some friends, fructose is fructose, which is natural. HFS is concentrated. However, I enjoy 100% juices more than juice cocktails, because I think they taste better.
Myth: Caffeine is unhealthy.
Reality: Rosenbloom says there is some evidence that caffeine may have a positive effect on some diseases, including gout and Parkinson's disease , besides caffeine's famous alertness buzz.
Umblogger: I'm a decaf guy because when I'm hooked, I get bad headaches if I miss a day or two.
Myth: The less fat you eat, the better.
Reality: "For some people, counting fat grams can work for weight control, but it isn't the be-all end-all for people," Rosenbloom says.
Umblogger: I don't eat land animals most of the time. So I feel free to indulge in eggs, butter, cheese, and recently raw milk.
Myth: To eat less sodium, avoid salty-tasting foods and use sea salt in place of table salt.
Reality: Your sense of taste doesn't always notice sodium, and sea salt or other gourmet salts aren't healthier than table salt.
Umblogger: We aren't big fans of canned soup because the saltiness is so bad. The Smart Mom makes great chicken and vegetable soups.
Myth: Drinking more water daily will help you lose weight.
Reality: There's no evidence that water peels off pounds.
Umblogger: I had a trainer insist on me drinking a gallon of water a day based on another myth. All it did for me was increase the frequency my trips to the restroom.
Myth: Whole grains are always healthier than refined grains.
Reality: Whole grains are a healthy choice, but you needn't ditch refined grains. "You can have some of each," Rosenbloom says.
Umblogger: We make our own oatmeal bread almost daily in our home. We are not white bread folks. We even add wheat flour to our cookies.
Myth: Sugar causes behavioral problems in kids.
Reality: You might want to check your expectations about sugar and children's behavior.
Umblogger: But we will see them have a sugar crash.
Myth: Protein is the most important nutrient for athletes.
Reality: "It is true that athletes need more protein than sedentary people. They just don't need as much as they think. And they probably don't need it from supplements; they're probably getting plenty in their food," Rosenbloom says.
Umblogger: Most Asian nations prove this point. You can live mostly on rice.
Comments
Exercise = Weight Loss
Trips to the bathroom = Exercise
Increasing water = Weight loss
With spin like that do you think I'll qualify to go on a mainstream political analysis show?
Peace, Jeff