Nutrition Myths
Being a dietitian, I hear some pretty nutty food beliefs on a daily basis! I always do my best to de-bunk nutrition myths that I hear from others or see constantly on the internet. There is SO much misinformation on the internet, but here are a few of the most common:
Shop the perimeter of the grocery story
I get the premise of this, and I do believe in focusing on whole foods when possible: fruits/veggies/meats/milk etc, however, if you only shop the perimeter of the store, you miss out on so many great foods that are good for your health! My favorite middle-of-the-store items include: canned beans, pre-cooked rice, pasta, tortillas, peanut butter, oatmeal, granola, protein bars, frozen veggies, and chocolate to name a few!
All foods truly can fit in a healthy, balanced diet. Don’t limit yourself to the edges of the grocery store and miss out on tons of nutritious and delicious foods!
Don’t eat foods with ingredients you can’t pronounce/don't recognize. Avoid chemicals!
Everything is chemicals! Ascorbic acid = Vitamin C, and theobromine is the chemical compound in chocolate. Those are two things I might not recognize, but I would hate to avoid them!
“Chemicals” get highlighted in buzzy videos on the internet, but take those with a grain of salt. I always tell people to stay skeptical of any nutrition advice that is too exclusive. There is almost nothing you should never have!
Natural products are healthier than regular
The term “natural” has no regulation by the FDA, so the word “natural” can be added to any label, it doesn’t mean the product is “healthier” or any different than its alternative. This is where label reading is a great skill! Comparing the labels of two products and finding the one that suits your needs best is a better strategy than looking for “natural” labeled products!
Fruit has too much sugar
Sugar is not the enemy! That said, it’s important to remember that sugar, whether it comes from fruit, soda, or candy all breaks down the same in the body for energy! However, fruit has so many amazing vitamins and minerals that are great for our health, in addition to fiber that is good for our gut health whereas sodas, candy, etc lack these extra nutrients. I never want anyone to worry about the sugar that comes from fruit!
To maximize the energy from fruit, I recommend pairing a protein or fat with your favorite fruit. Examples: apples with peanut butter, berries with yogurt, oranges with string cheese, etc!
Lemon water will jump start my metabolism
There really is no way to jumpstart your metabolism! Lemon water is a great source of vitamin C and a way to add flavor to water which can help you drink more and stay overall more hydrated, but beyond that there is no real benefit. Claims that daily lemon water will improve digestion, metabolism, or any other ailment simply are not true!
Himalayan salt is better for me
Salt is salt! Sodium is essential for many metabolic functions, like movement but too much overtime can cause high blood pressure of fluid retention. Salt adds so much flavor, but keep an eye on it in any form. Aim for ~2,000mg of sodium/day on most days!