Myths About Health » diet

Dispelling biggest diet myths

admin — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 06:39:59 +0000

Myth number 1. Skipping eating can help me lose weight.

For today, there is no direct proofs that skipping eating concerned with a weight loss. However it is a known fact, that if body does not get enough food it will accumulate energy by decreasing your metabolic rate. As a result you feel more hungry and less energetic. It also probably will cause overeat next time you do eat.

Myth number 2. Low level of fat in your diet is a way to be healthy.

This is absolutely not true. Fat is a must for the healthy body. It is needed for the fat soluble vitamins A, D, E, K. They are necessary for vision, immune system, skin and even reproductive organs. Fat also plays other important roles like long term energy source, constituent of hormones and many many more. This is a fact – healthy body needs fat.

Myth number 3. Fasting can clean up my body from toxins and impurities.

In fact, fasting can be a reason of significant increase toxins in the blood. When your body does not have enough of carbohydrate it tries to use protein stores or fat tissues as an energy source. It causes toxins like ketones, ammonia to be released. Approved method to avoid toxins in your blood is to drink plenty of water and consume variety of foods.

Myth number 4. Meals before going to bed can increase my weight.

This statement is more false than true. Obviously, metabolism is lowered at night. But there is no direct proofs that eating before going to bed gains fat storage. Actually, there is no big difference between food consumed during the day and food consumed in the evening. The energy from the evening food is used during the next day.

Myth number 5. People with the same gender, age and height should have the same weight.

All mentioned factors are important, but besides them your body weight depends of bone mass, muscle mass and genetics. And there are variety of healthy weights for the specific height, age and gender.

Myth number 6. Feeling full after the meal certainly will increase my weight.

Our body sends us a lot of signals. And feeling full after eating is one of them. It just indicates that you already eaten enough to satisfy your energy stores. Moreover, overeating also does not always translates into the weight gain. However, consistently ignoring your body signals and overeating certainly will increase your weight.

Common Diabet And Diet Myths & Facts. Part II

admin — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 18:07:46 +0000

Myth 6. Diabetes is contagious.

Diabetes is NOT contagious. Diabetes is a disease that appears to be linked to genetic and lifestyle factors, but the exact cause of diabetes is still unknown.

Myth 7. Carbohydrates should be avoided by people with diabetes.

On no account carbohydrates should not be avoided by diabetics, as carbohydrates are they are the most important source of energy for the human body. About 50-60% of daily calories body gets from carbohydrates. But in order to keep optimal glucose control people with diabetes need to balance its intake with exercise and medication.

Myth 8. Insulin can cure diabetes.

Insulin only helps to keep sugars level in blood under control, as it removes glucose from the blood and moves to the body’s cells.

Myth 9. Diabetics can know whether their blood sugars level high or low.

The only method to know exact blood sugars level is to test it. Because some people with diabetes can have symptoms like fatigue, thirst, weakness depending of the glucose level, while others may have no any symptoms at all.

Myth 10. Treatment by pills instead of insulin makes diabetes not very serious.

The kind of treatment does not affect on diabetes seriousness. Poorly controlled diabetes can lead to other health complications such as heart or kidney disease. Every 10 seconds a person dies of diabetes-related causes.

5 Myths about Obesity

admin — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 13:15:05 +0000

Weight issues is a valuable part of a healthy living approach provided by health professionals today. But, we must admit, there are still a lot of myths. And some of the doctors still promote them, instead of the up-to-date scientific information.

Myth number 1. Health risks caused by obesity. Seems doubtful.

Obesity is assumed to be a reason for type diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease. However, recent federal research questions this. It is more likely, that these risks, as well as obesity itself, are caused by some other factors, especially genetics and inactivity.

It is not a secret now, that increased physical activity can dramatically reduce risk without weight loss

Myth number 2. Less weight – more health.

According to the federal research the lowest death rate is within the range BMI of 25 to 29.9 and up to BMI 35. Lower weight as long, as extremes of higher weight, can increase risk in a “U” curve. This fact is also confirmed by the much earlier research of the National Institutes of Health, that found the lowest risk associated with a BMI of about 25 to 27.

Despite this evidence federal agencies continue to define healthy weight at a lower point, a BMI of only 18.5 to 24.9.

Myth number 3. Losing weight can reduce risk.

Long-term researches indicate increased risk when losing weight. Higher death rates weight loss are indicated by more than 10 large comprehensive researches, such as the Harvard Alumni Study, Fram-ingham Heart Study etc.

Studies suggest the loss of lean mass from muscle, heart, bones and organs can jeopardize health, especially for older people

Myth number 4. People with obesity can lose weight permanently and safely.

There is no any method for now that are proven safe and effective; all of them can be considered experimental. To be on diet can cause a short-term weight loss for maximum six months, followed by regain, and leads to dysfunctional eating; Taking drugs offer minimal weight loss (4-12 pounds), must be taken long-term; among 6 million adults who took fen-phen/Redux, one-third developed leaky heart valves, some fatal, and others died of primary pulmonary disease.

Myth number 5. Telling people about overweight causes obesity prevention and weight loss.

A lot of researches show that the increasing lose weight information during the past years are paralleled by increases in overweight. Far from doing no harm, these pressures appear to have backfired and led to widespread nutrient deficiencies, malnutrition, dangerous weight loss efforts, occasional deaths, eating disorders, body hatred and size harassment.

To summarize these five myths, their benefit is not the health community, but mostly the weight loss industry.

Common Diabet And Diet Myths & Facts. Part I

admin — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 11:15:39 +0000

Millions of people are suffered because of diabetes in the world. And there are a lot of existing wrong conceptions about diabetes and diet. Let us separate fact from fiction below.

Myth 1. Sweets and chocolate are contra-indicated to diabetics.

The fact is that these types of food should be eaten sporadically, but they are no more restricted to diabetics.

Myth 2. Diabetics should eat only special diabetic foods.

These special foods can still increase blood sugar levels. Moreover, they can cause laxative effect if contain sugar alcohols. The nutrition for people with diabetes should follow a healthy diet that is modest in sugar and salt, low in fat, consist of vegetables, fruits, whole grains foods.

Myth 3. Diabetes can be caused by eating too much sugar.

The real cause of diabetes is still unknown, but obesity and lack of the physical activity are more important factors than eating too much sugar.

Myth 4. Diabetics should avoid starchy foods.

Starchy foods are part of a well-balanced diet. But it is important to limit portion sizes when eating these types of foods. Whole rice, cereals, grain breads, pasta, and starchy vegetables like corn, peas, potatoes can be included in the meal plan.

Myth 5. Fruits can be eaten in unlimited amounts.

No doubt, fruits are healthy food and contains vitamins, minerals, however they can also contain carbohydrates. And diabetics need to discuss with their dietitian how much fruits they can eat daily.