Friday, August 24, 2012

7 Big Diet Myths

1. Myth: White foods offer little nutritional valueTruth: Many white foods are nutrient-dense. White potatoes, white asparagus, cauliflower, white cranberries, white beans, garlic and white onions are just a few of the foods that offer a variety of powerful health-promoting nutrients. For instance, raw cauliflower beats raw tomatoes for antioxidant content. If foods become “white” due to processing—for example, when whole grains are stripped of their naturally nutritious, fiber-containing bran and germ in order to become “white” grain foods--their overall health value decreases. So stick to plant foods that are naturally white.  At the same time, it is best to avoid white sugar and white flour.

2. Myth: Celery has negative calories
Truth: No food has negative calories. The theory of negative calories is that you expend more calories chewing very low-calorie foods, like celery, than the food actually has. “‘Negative’ calories is a myth and does not actually exist.” However, celery can aid in weight loss. One large stalk, for instance, provides only 10 calories. Additionally, it provides fiber and has a very high water content (95% of total weight). That can boost a feeling of fullness, which can then play a role in weight loss. But the actual activity of chewing most foods may burn only about five calories in an hour. Any way you slice it, though, the positive news is that munching celery or any other raw veggie can help you get to, and keep, a healthy weight.

3. Myth: Drinking diet soda will help you lose weight
Truth: Don’t we all wish it was that easy? However, “Drinking diet soda will NOT help you lose weight.  Diet soda is loaded with artificial sweeteners (chemicals) which are known cancer causing agents which often help pack on the weight.

4. Myth: You don't need to cleanse or detoxify your body
Truth: “Your body does need to cleanse and detoxify.”  The best method is through a natural cleansing process by simply through diet, nutrition and exercise but sometimes your body needs additional help with specific herbal products designed to help remove parasites for example or in removing excess candida yeast from your system.  These nutritional cleanses also help to cleanse the intestines and the colon helping the digestive processes to perform on a more normal level. Following some of the strictest regimens directed at nutrition will result in better digestion, better skin and  increased energy just to name a few.  Diarrhea during a short term cleanse is not unusual and will be temporary if at all.  It is best that pregnant women do not do a detox cleanse.   t

5. Myth: There are no specific foods that will boost weight loss efforts
Truth: There are absolutely miracle weight loss foods!  You will find them in the form of fresh, raw fruits and vegetables.  “Some fruits and veges are more beneficial than others as they are nutrient dense and rich in antioxidants.”  All whole fruits and vegetables can be an important part of an overall healthful eating strategy for weight loss.

6. Myth: Carbs are bad for you
Truth: Foods aren’t innately “bad.” Carbs are a good example of this.  “Carbs that are rich in fiber, such as fruits, veggies, legumes, and sprouted whole grains, are very healthy.” In fact, a moderate amount of carbohydrates is absolutely essential to your diet, because it’s needed for energy production. Cutting too many carbohydrate-rich foods from your diet can also mean you’re cutting important nutrients. On the other hand, if the carbs are unhealthy, such as sugar laden products, such as cookies, cake, candy, and soda, they’ll provide no nutritional benefit and should be eliminated from your diet.  Sugar is toxic to our bodies.  It ferments in our digestive system causing a host of illness and disease.

7. Myth: You can eat just before yougo to bed and not expect to gain weight
Truth: “There is a much larger potential for gaining weight if you eat after 8 p.m. Even if you are  consuming your normal ratio of caloric intake for the day.  Findings from a recent Northwestern University study in mice published in the journal Obesity suggests that eating at times when you might normally be sleeping (i.e. the insomniac’s 2 a.m. snack attack) may cause weight gain because the timing of your eating is out of sync with your body’s natural rhythms. And new research on mice at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies suggests that when you do and don’t eat might be important for a different reason: well-defined periods of eating and “fasting” (i.e. not eating) may help increase the level of metabolic, or calorie-burning, activity in the liver.  For best results, eat a healthy diet loaded with dark leafy greens, fruits, nuts, sprouted grains and seeds.  Also avoid excessive snacking in between meals.  One more thing, it's best to avoid eating within 2 hours of going to bed.   

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