7 Myths about Diets Debunked
Our theme of the week has been about debunking myths pertaining to health and fitness. This week we have covered myths pertaining to fitness and food and the response has been overwhelming. At our physiotherapy clinics, we’re constantly tried to empower and educate our patients and clients, therefore we’re proud that we have been able to set the record straight when it comes to these common myths. As people try to lose weight, diets become more popular but there have been many studies used to debunk myths about dieting. Here are seven common dieting myths, debunked!
Myth: Never Eat Past 8pm
There are some people who hold onto this myth and will skip a meal if they’ve had a late night at the office. The truth is, calories cannot tell time. It’s never good to skip meals due to a hectic schedule and eating past 8pm is perfectly fine. There’s a difference between eating dinner at 8pm and opting for a large ice cream sundae after dinner. Having a meal at a late time is suffice if your schedule calls for it however late night snacking before bed should be avoided. According to Doctor Mary Flynn of the Miriam Hospital in Providence, “your body uses calories the same way during morning, noon, and night.”
Myth: Eat Small Meals to Boost Your Metabolism
If you’re looking to boost your metabolism, small meals will not help you achieve this goal. The size of your meals will simply not increase your metabolism. The only factor that could raise your metabolism is the rate at which your body burns calories while resting. If you’re looking to increase your metabolism, look to gain muscle and eat the right foods.
Myth: Eating Pasta Will Make You Fat
The body needs carbohydrates and the carbohydrates from vegetables or whole grain pasta is important. It isn’t that pasta will make you fat, however eating too much pasta may increase your weight. It’s important to remember portion size when dealing with carbs, therefore, limit the pasta intake and mix in a few veggies.
Myth: Coffee Will Help You Cut Pounds
Diets are tricky in the sense that people are always looking for ways to suppress their appetite. While coffee may keep you full over a short period of time, there is no correlation between coffee and weight loss. It’s also important to remember that adding sugar or sweetener to your coffee may add to your weight, not decrease your size!
Myth: Salads Are Always Healthy
Salads are healthy most of the time but don’t be fooled because you can actually gain weight while eating salads. Salad dressing is often loaded with sugar and other ingredients which are harmful to your health. Keep the dressing at a minimum and avoid excess cheese if you’re looking for a healthy salad.
Myth: All Cholesterol is Bad
There are two different categories when it comes to cholesterol. HDL (high-density lipoprotein) is considered to be good cholesterol while LDL (low-density lipoprotein) is considered to be bad cholesterol. Therefore foods which raise your HDL such as nuts, vegetable oils and seeds are great for your diet.
Myth: Exercise Converts Fat Into Muscle
According to the University of West Virginia, fat and muscle are made up of two different types of cells. You could gain muscle and you could lose fat. Or you can gain fat and lose muscle. However, it is impossible to convert fat into muscle as they are made up of very different cells.
If you’d like to find out more about diet myths, or would like to speak to a nutritional counselor, please visit a HealthMax Physiotherapy Clinic near you or call (416) 431-4000. Our experienced staff will develop a tailored treatment plan designed to help you reach your fitness goals.