9 popular food myths debunked

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A contemporary individual is defined by an attentive attitude toward one’s health. A healthy lifestyle has indeed become stylish. In addition, it’s a touch mainstream. A healthy lifestyle is, above all, a discipline. As a result, new guidelines for health-conscious eaters develop regularly. However, not all stated rules are correct.

Strict guidelines that need to be reconsidered about food

People’s lives are continually becoming limited by the regulations that we encounter practically every day on the Internet. Of course, we’re talking about those who try to keep track of their health and eat well. These restrictions are growing more stringent over time. However, everything turns out to be a lot easier. So, what healthy eating misconceptions do we like debunking on the Internet? What does official science have to say about it?

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Coffee should only be had before lunch

Excessive caffeine intake has been found to increase the risk of fractures

On the Internet, there is a prevalent fallacy that coffee should only be consumed before noon, or else sleep patterns would be disrupted. Coffee’s tonic effect is, in reality, a wholly individual response. CYP1A2 is a unique gene found in the human body. It is the one who is in charge of caffeine metabolism and secretes a unique enzyme. As a result, all humans are categorized into three groups based on the quantity of this enzyme in their bodies:

caffeine hypersensitivity;
those who have a normal caffeine sensitivity;
low sensitivity to caffeine.

People with normal caffeine sensitivity make up the biggest group. They are the ones who are advised not to consume coffee before sleep to maintain their routine—general advice: do not consume this beverage within 6 hours of going to bed. If a person has a strong sensitivity to caffeine, even a cup of coffee in the morning might cause sleeplessness. Drinking three cups of coffee before sleep isn’t alarming for a group with low sensitivity!

Consume fruits and vegetables that are high in antioxidants

Another widely held belief is that a certain fruit or vegetable is high in antioxidants. This is a natural global superhero: it battles free radicals and shields our bodies from unwanted effects. On the other hand, plants are all superheroes since they are all equally high in antioxidants!

Honey should not be heated rapidly

Do you enjoy your tea with a tablespoon of honey? You have the ability to accomplish it peacefully! This is because there is no evidence to support the widely held belief that when honey is heated, it produces the life-threatening carcinogen hydroxymethylfurfural. However, this ingredient is present in many items, not harmful. Doses of up to 30 mg are completely risk-free.

Gastritis is caused by carbon dioxide in beverages

Do you agree that carbonated beverages should not be consumed since they induce gastritis and other gastrointestinal diseases? On the other hand, carbon dioxide has been demonstrated in research to be safe for human health. Furthermore, it has advantages: for example, it relieves dyspepsia. As a result, you’ll be able to continue to enjoy delightful sparkling water.

Kitchen salt is poisonous

Another current trend is to use unusual salts instead of regular table salt. It’s tough to see the change since it’s so little. However, the makeup of all salts, including Iranian, black, Himalayan, and household salts, is almost the same. True, the presence of iodine is the sole important difference between these salts. Kitchen salt, by the way, triumphs here since it includes far more of this beneficial ingredient.

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Toxins build up in our bodies and must be eliminated

Recently, a slew of detox-style beverages has appeared at cafés. However, in 2009, the research concluded that detox is nothing more than a marketing technique. Even if it was a huge success. According to a retired professor of medicine, a person’s natural bodily capacities are typically adequate for cleaning.

Cancer is caused by red and processed meat

You've probably heard a lot of talk about the benefits and dangers of meat. And although there is no definite opinion on this issue, experts nevertheless noticed that if you have too many meat products in your diet, you significantly increase the risk of developing certain diseases. How much meat should be eating per day? If you currently consume more than 90 grams of meat per day, the UK Health Department advises you to reduce it to 70 grams. What happens if you eat meat every day? Cancer risk increases Research shows that eating large amounts of red meat may increase your risk of developing colorectal cancer (malignant neoplasm of the colon). The World Cancer Research Foundation and the American Institute for Cancer Research in 2018 found that eating more than 0.5 kg of red meat per week may increase the risk of colorectal cancer. According to the American Institute for Cancer Research, regular consumption of meat products can make you more vulnerable to stomach and rectal cancers. Scientists speculate that this may be due to the saturated fat in these foods. Try replacing beef, pork, and meat products with poultry or plant-based proteins such as legumes. You will be lazy and sleepy Protein provides us with energy for a long time (meat is digested for a long time). However, it is worth noting that it will not provide you with energy instantly the way carbohydrates do - they quickly turn into the most accessible energy source for the body - glucose. According to board-certified nutritionist Caroline Passerrello, the human brain uses glucose only for energy, but it may lack that energy if your diet contains difficult-to-digest protein. Dehydration We know that meat products are high in protein. But overeating protein leads to an increase in uric acid levels. Because of this, you may notice that you are very thirsty. The kidneys need more water to dilute this toxic waste. To produce urine, we need water. If you're not careful, it can lead to dehydration, so make sure you drink enough water. You May Gain Extra Weight Our bodies rely on protein for muscle repair, but too much of it can have an undesirable side effect: if you eat more protein than you need it, it is not stored as protein later on but as fat. It would be best if you consumed exactly as much protein as the body needs. Increased risk of kidney stones Excess protein can harm the kidneys. Proteins found in animal products contain purines - nitrogen-containing compounds that enter our bodies through food. Their metabolic product is uric acid. Large amounts of uric acid increase the risk of kidney stones. Most people shouldn't have much of a protein breakdown problem, but watch your protein intake if you have kidney problems. You will have to fight bloat According to one study published in the European Journal of Nutrition, eating a lot of meat (high in saturated fat) can lead to bloating. It's also worth noting that meat products don't have enough antioxidants to fight bloat. Experts advise sticking to the "color diet." Each color of a particular fruit and vegetable is a separate group of antioxidants that act differently and bring their benefits to the body. You can hurt your heart Fiber prevents the body from absorbing cholesterol, thereby protecting your heart. If you love red meat or processed meats, and at the same time, do not eat enough fiber-rich foods, then you are even more harmful to your heart. These meats are high in saturated fats, which research has shown raise harmful cholesterol levels and, in turn, raise the risk of heart disease. Processed meats like salami, sausages, and bacon are known to be bad for the heart. The American Heart Association recommends limiting saturated fat intake to 5-6% of your total calories. Difficulty with stool Meat contains almost no fiber. We generally get fiber from fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. According to experts, among the first signs of a lack of fiber may be constipation, discomfort, and pain during stool passage. Add more healthy carbs such as whole grains, fruits, and vegetables to your diet. There is a risk that you will get sick more often If you get colds often, it may be worth considering nutrition. If you're on a keto diet, you probably don't eat many fruits, and they contain vitamin C. Fortunately, you can also get the nutrients you need from vegetables such as broccoli and bell peppers. Your skin and hair can be hurt If you eat many meat products, there is a good chance that your diet lacks nutrients. Vitamin C is less commonly found in animal products, which means it needs to be taken from other sources. It plays a vital role in the formation of collagen fibers (collagen is a protein that affects the structure of your skin, hair, nails, and bones). Passerrello noted that her clients were surprised by how much their skin improved after cutting back on animal products and focusing more on plant-based diets. Experts recommend including dark greens in your daily diet.

Have you previously cut red and processed meat out of your diet because you believe it promotes bowel cancer? There are, nevertheless, certain distinctions to be made. Perhaps you can bring red meat back to your table. This is because it is not considered recyclable. This is just a product with an extended shelf life.

Furthermore, according to specialists, there is no conclusive proof of this product’s carcinogenicity. Even 70 grams of fresh red meat every day is beneficial. When it comes to processed meat, it’s best to avoid it.

Yeast is a man-made product

Yeast, in reality, is an ancient substance that evolved organically thousands of years ago. Man “domesticated” them after that. As a result, although humans do nurture yeast, they do not make it. And the large list of complicated compounds found in contemporary yeast is just innocuous ingredients used to develop and enhance yeast. As a result, you should not be scared of them.

Mayonnaise is high in cholesterol

In a healthy lifestyle, fighting cholesterol is almost the first trend. Vegetable oil should be used instead of mayonnaise, according to popular opinion. But this is merely amusing since mayonnaise has a fat level of 50-80 percent, whereas butter has a fat content of 95-99 percent. Eggs are the source of cholesterol in mayonnaise. However, it would help if you weren’t concerned about so few of them.

Note* Always consult your doctor or other qualified health care professional for any questions you may have about your health or condition. Never disregard a health care professional’s advice or delay getting it because of what you read on this website.