32 food myths that you need to stop believing today

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Despite good science being done…

food myths are

all around us.

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And they

persist…

…despite data proving them false.

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So let’s get to the

32 food myths

that science says should be retired.

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Food Myth #1 Natural Sweeteners are Way

Healthier than Regular Sugar

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Whether we’re talking about…• Agave syrup • Palm sugar • Evaporated cane juice • Coconut sugar • Honey • Maple syrup • Molasses

… “natural sweeteners” all behave similarly in your

body as sugar…

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More information on the “natural” sweetener food myth

(and what to do about it) can be found here:

http://mealime.com/nutrition/food-myths/#natural

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Food Myth #2 Microwaving is Inherently

Unhealthy

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Does radiation from

microwaves really destroy the enzymes and nutrients in your food?

It turns out that ALL cooking destroys enzymes and nutrients. Microwaves have

been proven safe for decades.

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More information on the “microwave” food myth

(and what to do about it) can be found here:

http://mealime.com/nutrition/food-myths/#microwave

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Food Myth #3 Frozen and Canned Vegetables are Less Nutritious Than Fresh

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Eating fruits and veggies the moment they are picked gives

you the most nutrients…

“But who does that?”Canned and frozen can actually contain more nutrients than the so-called “fresh” produce at your grocery store!

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More information on the “canned vegetable” food myth

(and what to do about it) can be found here:

http://mealime.com/nutrition/food-myths/#canned

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Food Myth #4 You Need to Consume Dairy

(for calcium)

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The majority of the world (65-75%) is lactose intolerant

to some degree…

…and you can get your calcium from other foods

(like leafy greens)

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More information on the “dairy / calcium” food myth (and what to do about it)

can be found here:

http://mealime.com/nutrition/food-myths/#dairy

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Food Myth #5 You Need to Periodically Cleanse

and Detoxify Your Body

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Your body already has a detox system. It’s called your liver,

kidneys, colon, lungs, and skin.

“Cleanses” and detoxing are bogus (though you may want to

juice for different reasons)

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More information on the “cleanse / detox” food myth (and what to do about it)

can be found here:

http://mealime.com/nutrition/food-myths/#cleanse

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Food Myth #6 Cravings are a Sign of Nutrients

Missing From Your Diet

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Cravings are much more influenced by emotions than physiological needs.

Otherwise we’d all crave vegetables instead of sweets!

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More information on the “cravings” food myth

(and what to do about it) can be found here:

http://mealime.com/nutrition/food-myths/#cravings

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Food Myth #7 “Grazing” On 6+ Meals Per Day

Will Boost Your Metabolism and Help You to Lose Weight

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Snacking every 2-3 hours to “stoke your

metabolism” has been thoroughly

debunked6 meals of 400 calories

has the exact same metabolic response in your body as 3 meals of 800 calories and so on…

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More information on the “grazing” food myth

(and what to do about it) can be found here:

http://mealime.com/nutrition/food-myths/#grazing

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Food Myth #8 High Fructose Corn Syrup is

Worse Than Sugar

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HFCS isn’t good for you, but it’s no different than “regular”

sugar…They influence your body in exactly the same way.

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More information on the “high fructose corn syrup” food myth

(and what to do about it) can be found here:

http://mealime.com/nutrition/food-myths/#hfcs

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Food Myth #9 All Raw Foods are Much

Healthier Than Cooked Foods

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It’s true that cooking destroys enzymes in plants…

…but the plant’s enzymes were created for the plant’s benefit. We have our own enzymes that allows us to digest food without a problem.

Cooking can even make food more nutritious

(not less)

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More information on the “raw” food myth

(and what to do about it) can be found here:

http://mealime.com/nutrition/food-myths/#raw

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Food Myth #10 It’s Proven That You Must Eat

Breakfast in Order to Lose Weight

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Breakfast isn’t magicalIt isn’t scientifically proven that eating breakfast will help you to lose weight.

So eat a healthy breakfast or don’t eat breakfast at all.

You’ll be fine.

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More information on the “breakfast” food myth

(and what to do about it) can be found here:

http://mealime.com/nutrition/food-myths/#breakfast

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Food Myth #11 Your Brain Needs Carbohydrates

to Survive

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Contrary to popular belief…Your brain isn’t ONLY powered by carbs.

With ketones your brain can thrive

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More information on the “brain / carb” food myth

(and what to do about it) can be found here:

http://mealime.com/nutrition/food-myths/#brain

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Food Myth #12 Eating Fat Uniquely Makes You

Fat

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Not only is fat not inherently fattening…

It’s absolutely

essential

to the body.

Eat your fat. There’s little evidence that fat uniquely makes you fat.

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More information on the “eating fat makes you fat” food myth

(and what to do about it) can be found here:

http://mealime.com/nutrition/food-myths/#fat

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Food Myth #13 Eating Carbohydrates Uniquely

Makes You Fat

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This is the same as the

fat mythCarbs are not inherently fattening

(though some, like sugar, should probably be limited)

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More information on the “eating carbs makes you fat” food myth

(and what to do about it) can be found here:

http://mealime.com/nutrition/food-myths/#carbs

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Food Myth #14 Eating Lots of Protein Will Harm

Your Kidneys and Bones

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Not only does science not support this myth…

Protein has been shown

to be hugely

beneficial to bone health,

weight loss, and gaining lean muscle

mass

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More information on the “protein is harmful” food myth

(and what to do about it) can be found here:

http://mealime.com/nutrition/food-myths/#protein

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Food Myth #15 Red Meat & Saturated Fat Will

Kill You

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Despite red meat and saturated fat being demonized

during the low fat craze of the ‘70s…

All these claims have been proven false. Red

meat (not processed red meat, mind you) and

saturated fat have no correlation with heart

disease or diabetes

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More information on the “red meat / saturated fat” food myth

(and what to do about it) can be found here:

http://mealime.com/nutrition/food-myths/#saturated

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Food Myth #16 Eating Cholesterol Leads to Heart

Disease

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Nope.

Cholesterol you eat has very little influence on total body cholesterol levels. Eat your eggs, folks.

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More information on the “cholesterol” food myth

(and what to do about it) can be found here:

http://mealime.com/nutrition/food-myths/#cholesterol

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Food Myth #17 Low Fat is the Healthiest Way to

Eat

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Fat isn’t the

problem.

You can eat low fat and be healthy. But eating low fat is often synonymous with high sugar and tons of

processed foods.

Do low fat right or don’t do it at all.

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More information on the “low fat” food myth

(and what to do about it) can be found here:

http://mealime.com/nutrition/food-myths/#low-fat

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Food Myth #18 Dark Chocolate Will Help You

Lose Weight

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Dark chocolate is great

(in moderation).But no significant study exists that proves it contains a unique weight

loss mechanism.

Sorry!

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More information on the “dark chocolate / weight loss”

food myth (and what to do about it)

can be found here:http://mealime.com/nutrition/food-

myths/#chocolate

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Food Myth #19 Coffee is Unhealthy

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Sure, your frappa / mocha sugar filled monstrosity is unhealthy

But large scientific studies show that drinking 3-4 8oz

cups of black coffee per day is associated

with tons of health benefits

Drink up!

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More information on the “coffee is unhealthy” food myth

(and what to do about it) can be found here:

http://mealime.com/nutrition/food-myths/#coffee

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Food Myth #20 Highly Processed Vegetable Oils

are Healthy

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Whether it’s…• Soy • Corn • Cottonseed • Sunflower • Margarine

They all contain extremely high amounts of pro-inflammatory omega-6 fats.

Stay away from them.

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More information on the “vegetable oil” food myth

(and what to do about it) can be found here:

http://mealime.com/nutrition/food-myths/#veg-oils

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Food Myth #21 All Trans Fats are the Same

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Artificial trans fats are horribleBut naturally

occurring trans fats from

healthy sources (because they’re

consumed in such

small amounts) are nothing to worry about.

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More information on the “trans fat” food myth

(and what to do about it) can be found here:

http://mealime.com/nutrition/food-myths/#trans

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Food Myth #22 Butter is Bad for You

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This myth started during the low fat craze of the ‘70s

But butter is MUCH healthier than processed vegetable oils and contains

essential fat-soluble vitamins

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More information on the “butter is bad for you” food myth

(and what to do about it) can be found here:

http://mealime.com/nutrition/food-myths/#butter

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Food Myth #23 Eliminating Salt from Home

Cooked Meals is the Best Way to Reduce Sodium Intake

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You need salt in order to

survive

Add it to your food to taste.

Most of the salt you consume is

stuffed into processed foods.

Avoid these as much as

possible.

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More information on the “salt is bad for you” food myth

(and what to do about it) can be found here:

http://mealime.com/nutrition/food-myths/#salt

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Food Myth #24 You Can’t Cook with Olive Oil

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Actually… olive oil is a

stable fat with a higher

smoke point than you probably

think.

Cook with olive oil as much as you want

(except perhaps for deep frying, which you probably

shouldn’t be doing anyways)

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More information on the “you can’t cook with olive oil”

food myth (and what to do about it)

can be found here:http://mealime.com/nutrition/food-

myths/#olive-oil

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Food Myth #25 You Need to Drink 8 Glasses of

Water Per Day

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There is no set amount of water you need to drink per day.

Follow your

thirst. That’s it.

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More information on the “8 glasses of water per day”

food myth (and what to do about it)

can be found here:http://mealime.com/nutrition/food-

myths/#water

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Food Myth #26 Fruit Juice is Healthy

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Fruit juice does contain vitamins and minerals…

But it also contains as much (or more)

sugar than a soft drink.

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More information on the “fruit juice is healthy” food myth

(and what to do about it) can be found here:

http://mealime.com/nutrition/food-myths/#fruit-juice

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Food Myth #27 Meat Rots in Your Colon

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Meat is fully processed by your body.

It’s actually fibrous plant matter that rots in your colon.

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More information on the “meat rots in your colon” food myth

(and what to do about it) can be found here:

http://mealime.com/nutrition/food-myths/#rot

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Food Myth #28 GMO’s are Universally Bad

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In thousands of studies, GMO’s have

been deemed safe for animal

and human consumption.

It’s a complex subject.But one that isn’t as clear cut as you may think.

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More information on the “GMO’s are bad” food myth (and what to do about it)

can be found here:

http://mealime.com/nutrition/food-myths/#gmo

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Food Myth #29 All Calories are the Same

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Here’s the thing: different foods affect the body

in vastly different ways.

What you eat matters, not just how much you eat.

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More information on the “all calories are the same” food myth

(and what to do about it) can be found here:

http://mealime.com/nutrition/food-myths/#calorie-same

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Food Myth #30 Artificial Sweeteners Will Give

You Cancer

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Decades of studies have confirmed that aspartame is safe to consume

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More information on the “artificial sweetener” food myth

(and what to do about it) can be found here:

http://mealime.com/nutrition/food-myths/#artificial

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Food Myth #31 Organics are Always Healthier

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Organic has become a buzzword.

Are organics all they’re cracked up to be?

Studies show that it’s not as clear cut

as you may think.

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More information on the “organics are always healthier”

food myth (and what to do about it)

can be found here:http://mealime.com/nutrition/food-

myths/#organic

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Food Myth #32 There is Only One Diet That’s Best

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Humans have thrived on

vastly different diets.

All healthy diets have more in common than

they differ. Stop diet bashing.

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More information on the “one diet to rule them all

food myth (and what to do about it)

can be found here:http://mealime.com/nutrition/food-

myths/#one-diet

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And that’s it!

Bye bye

food myths.

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Get the full article that inspired this SlideShare …

… plus a free PDF of this guide at

http://mealime.com/nutrition/food-myths/

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