There are a lot of food myths floating around in the kitchen which leave us pretty confused about what to trust and what is a bluff. Keeping up with all the food and diet trends, it is pretty hard to figure out which one is justified and which one is not.
To take you out of this mess of misinformation and misconceptions of the food world, we are debunking some common food myths so you can make healthier food choices in the future. Check some of the most shocking ones out:
EATING EGG RAISES CHOLESTEROL:
Studies have shown that a chicken egg contains approximately 186mg of cholesterol. Eggs definitely contain a moderate number of cholesterol in it; however, stating that eating eggs can raise your blood cholesterol level by a huge amount is nothing but a myth. Dietary cholesterol does not increase blood cholesterol levels. Instead, consuming foods that are high in trans-fat or unhealthy saturated fats can be the reason for raised blood cholesterol. If you enjoy eating eggs, then try to cook them in less oil. And remember; don’t stop yourself from some delicious egg recipes:
• Shakshuka
• Anda Paratha
CUTTING CARBS IS A HEALTHY WAY TO LOSE WEIGHT:
Diets are a fad in this era, from Atkins to keto. There are so many diets that are said to help you shed all the extra pounds. However, one thing that is quite similar in one of these diets is a myth that "cutting carbs is a healthy way to lose weight." And if you are also a believer of this myth, then let us break it to you - it is a misconception and is nowhere near true. Cutting carbs entirely from your diet can help you shed weight pretty quickly in the beginning, but in the long run, it can be harmful to your health. Instead, try to eat in moderation from a variety of food groups inclusive of carbs, protein and fat.
DRINKING COFFEE IS AN UNHEALTHY HABIT:
We all have come across this one and it hinders our ability to stock up on caffeine and respond to our daily cravings. However, there is nothing to worry caffeine lovers- you can still have your routine cup of coffee every day. Drinking coffee is not dangerous to your health, and is not related to any specific health problems or diseases whatsoever. Some studies have proven that coffee might be beneficial to your liver and can reduce the risk of 2nd level diabetes. The only concern about drinking coffee is how much you are consuming in one day and which type you are taking because even though coffee is not quite harmful for you, added sugar and high dosage of coffee can have an adverse effect to your health.
SPICY FOOD GIVES YOU ULCER:
If you are a lover of spicy food, then we are sure you have heard of a common statement, 'spicy food gives you an ulcer.’ Let us give you some good news - It's a myth! Spicy food does not trigger ulcers in any way. Ulcers are caused by bacteria Helicobacter pylori, which are the cause of almost all the ulcers except for the ones that can be created by some medications like aspirin. Consumption of a lot of spicy food can exacerbate an irritable bowel, which people often confuse with an ulcer.
LATE NIGHT EATING MEANS WEIGHT GAIN:
This one is just a straight-up myth too. Eating late doesn't result in gain weight; eating more calories than your body burns in a day can be the cause of your weight gain. So, eating time doesn't necessarily matter as long as you are keeping track of calories you are consuming and burning in one day.
EVERYONE SHOULD DRINK EIGHT GLASSES OF WATER A DAY:
This one might come as a shocker to you, but yes, it's a myth. Although hydration is vital, the eight glass rule is just a misconception; studies have not found any connection between water intake and kidney diseases or any other diseases for that matter. Nevertheless, water is calorie-free if we compare it to other sugary drinks like sodas or sports drinks, so it's better to drink water instead of other sugary drinks. Just drink water whenever you feel thirsty as the count of the glasses doesn't necessarily matter.
EATING CHOCOLATE GIVES YOU ACNE:
Here is another one- eating chocolate doesn't give you acne. And it's a straight-up myth! Interestinly, the amount of zits you have on your face has nothing to do with the amount of chocolate you are eating.
THE 5 SECOND-RULE:
We all have come across this one, and we believe this is the most common food myth too. It is said that if you drop your food on the floor and pick it before 5 seconds pass, then you can still eat it and it will not be contaminated. Well, let us inform you, this information is entirely wrong; it only takes one second for germs and bacteria to contaminate food, so that 5-second rule is nothing but a straight-up fallacy.
DETOX DIETS AND CLEANSES HELP REMOVE TOXINS:
We are so into the diets and eating clean these days that we tend to believe anything or everything related to diets or to cleanse our bodies. We forget that our body doesn't need any detoxing or cleanses to remove toxins from our body; instead, our body already has a built-in system to get rid of toxins and that is our kidneys and livers. So no, you don't need detoxing or drinking cleansing juices to get rid of bad bacteria.
AN APPLE A DAY KEEPS THE DOCTOR AWAY:
All of us have heard this one plenty of times; although apples are packed with vitamin C and fiber both - which are very important for your body - that is not all you need. Hence, you can have an apple every single day, but it will not necessarily keep the doctor away from you because if any sort of bacteria gets into your system and you end up with a flu, an apple is not going to help you - a flu shot will!
These were some of the food-related myths that we tend to hear every single day, so we urge you not to believe anything you hear and do your research to get your food facts right.
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