15 Dieting myths

With so many diet myths and advice on how to lose weight, it's hard to know where to start, what is true, what is supported scientifically, and what will work for you.

Scrolling through social media, reading your favorite magazine, or visiting popular websites reveals endless nutrition and health information - mostly wrong. Even qualified health care professionals, including doctors and dietitians, should be blamed for leaking false nutrition information to the public, adding to the controversy. We have created a summary of inaccurate dieting information to save you time and frustration. Here are some of the biggest myths associated with nutrition and why these ancient beliefs need to be brought to rest.

MYTH 1: 'Calories in/calories out' is a crucial factor for weight loss.
While creating a calorie deficit by burning more energy than you take in is the most important thing regarding weight loss, it's not all that matters. Relying solely on calorie intake does not account for the multitude of variables that can prevent a person from losing weight, even if they are on a low-calorie diet. For example, hormonal imbalances, health conditions such as hypothyroidism, metabolic changes, use of certain medications, and genetics are some of the factors that can make weight loss more difficult for some people, even when they are dieting. This concept also fails the sustainability and quality of a weight loss diet. Those who take the 'calories in, calories out' approach usually focus only on the caloric content of food, not its nutritional content. This can lead you to opt for low-calorie, nutrient-dense foods such as rice cakes and protein-rich proteins, nutrient-dense foods such as avocados and whole eggs, which are not as good for overall health. The 'calories in, calories out' theory does not describe many variables preventing a person from losing weight. Many factors, such as genetics, medical conditions, and metabolic changes make weight loss difficult.

MYTH 2: You should avoid foods containing fat.
While this old-fashioned and erroneous theory is slowly taking on a positive shape, many people still fear high-fat foods and follow a low-fat diet in the hopes that a reduction in their fat intake will benefit them. Dietary fat is essential for optimal health. In addition, a low-fat diet has been linked to an increased risk of health problems, including metabolic syndrome. It can lead to increases in insulin resistance and triglyceride levels, which are known risk factors for heart disease. Additionally, high-fat diets have proven to be just as effective, if not more, than low-fat diets at promoting weight loss. Indeed, racing on either side, be it a very high-fat or low-fat diet, can be harmful to your health, especially if the quality of a diet is poor. On the other hand, many high-fat fats are beneficial and can help you maintain a healthy weight.

MYTH 3: Don't skip breakfast.
Although breakfast was once considered a necessary healthy diet staple, research has shown that it is not the case. For one, eating breakfast can lead to a higher calorie intake. In addition, there have been several benefits to skipping breakfast altogether or eat later in the day, including better blood sugar control and reduction of inflammation indicators. Intermittent fasting can be achieved by eating a simple breakfast and then eating the last meal earlier in the evening to keep a fixed window from 14-16 hours. Please note that this does not apply to children and adolescents with different nutrition needs due to ongoing growth.
On the other hand, there is evidence that eating breakfast and eating more calories during the day than in the evening combined with a lower meal frequency can promote health by reducing inflammation and body weight. However, if you like breakfast, eat it. On the other hand, if you do not eat breakfast, don't feel that it's necessary to include it in your daily routine.

MYTH 4: Eat frequently and in small quantities.
Eating regular snacks throughout the day is a technique many people use to increase metabolism and lose weight. But if you're healthy, it doesn't matter how often you eat as long as you meet your energy needs. That said, people with certain conditions such as diabetes, coronary heart disease, and infertility (IBS), such as pregnant women, may benefit from eating more often. For individuals with good health, frequent eating throughout the day is not the best way to promote weight loss.

MYTH 5: Replace all sugar with non-nutritive sweeteners
The growing interest in low-calorie, low-carb, sugar-free foods has led to an increase in foods containing non-nutrient-rich sweeteners (NNS). Although a diet high in sugar significantly increases the risk of disease, the introduction of NNS can also lead to negative health effects. For example, NNS can increase the risk of type 2 diabetes by causing negative mutations in gut bacteria and contributing to dysregulated blood sugar levels. In addition, the introduction of regular NRFs has been associated with a common unusual lifestyle. Remember that research in this area is ongoing, and high-quality research will be required in the future to identify possible connections.

MYTH 6: Counting macros is more important than the quality of food.
While the literature on macronutrients (macros) may lead you to believe that the ratio of carbs, protein, and fats in your diet is important for weight loss and overall health, this narrow diet view misses the big picture. Even though following macro requirements may be beneficial to health in many ways, the quality of your food is the most important feature of any diet. The contradiction is that it is possible to lose weight by eating only well-processed foods and protein shakes, focusing only on reducing macronutrients. While macros may be useful in some ways, the essential way to improve overall health is to consume high-quality, highly nutritious food.

MYTH 7: Low-fat foods will help you to lose weight.
Visit your local grocery store, and you will find many foods labeled Diet, Light, Low Fat, and Low Fat. While these foods are popular with those looking to shed excess fat, they are actually not the best option. Studies have shown that many fat-free and light or dietary foods contain substantially more sugar and salt than foods with standard content of fat. It's best to avoid these foods and focus on natural foods like high-fat yogurt, cheese, and nuts.

MYTH 8: Supplements are a waste of money.
While focusing on a complete and holistic diet is the most important part of health, medication - when used and in the right form - can be beneficial in many ways. For many, especially people with conditions such as type 2 diabetes, relying on conventional medications such as statins, the proton pump, contraceptives, and diabetes medications, can have significant health effects. For example, magnesium and vitamin B supplements have been shown to help people with type 2 diabetes by raising blood sugar levels and reducing risk factors for heart disease and related complications. People who are on restricted diets, people with genetic mutations such as methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR), people over 50, and pregnant or breastfeeding women are other examples of people who some commonly important medications and foods can help. Usually, medication use, age, and certain medical conditions are just some of the reasons some people need medication.

MYTH 9: To lose weight, you must be on a low-calorie diet.
While reducing calorie intake can increase weight loss, cutting too many calories can lead to metabolic changes and long-term health consequences. Even though a low-calorie diet can promote rapid and short-term weight loss, long-term adherence to a low-calorie diet results in decreased metabolic rate, increased hunger, and subdued satiety hormones. This makes it difficult to maintain weight consistently or retain achieved weight loss after a period of following a low-calorie diet. Numerous studies have shown that low-calorie diets rarely help prevent obesity in the long term.

MYTH 10: Fiber supplements can replace fiber foods.
Good fiber is difficult to find for many, which is why fiber supplements are so popular. While fiber supplements can benefit health by improving bowel movements and blood sugar control, good nutrition should not replace them. High-fiber foods such as vegetables, beans, and fruits contain nutrients and enzymes that together promote your health and cannot replace fiber.

MYTH 11: All juices and smoothies are good for you.
Soups and cocktails are especially nutritious. For example, a nutritious smoothie, such as freshly squeezed juice with lots of starchy vegetables, can be a great way to boost vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. However, it's important to know that most store-bought juices and smoothies contain sugar and calories. If consumed too much, they can contribute to weight gain and other health problems such as tooth decay and blood sugar imbalances.

MYTH 12: Probiotics are beneficial for everyone.
Probiotics are some of the most popular dietary products on the market. However, they tend to be overestimated by practitioners, and research has shown that probiotics are not as beneficial for some people as for others.. Some people's digestive system is prone to colonization with probiotics; taking probiotics with medication can also lead to negative changes in gut bacteria. Additionally, too much organic matter in the small intestine associated with probiotics can lead to gas, gas, and other side effects. Additionally, some research suggests that probiotic treatment after antibiotic treatment can slow down the natural growth of normal gut bacteria. Rather than prescribing probiotics as uniform supplements, there should be a more individualized approach, and probiotics should be used only when there is a likelihood of therapeutic benefit. The latest research suggests that probiotic medications may not be beneficial for everyone and should not be given as a default supplement.

MYTH 13: It's easy to lose weight.
Don't be fooled by the dramatic before and after images used by social media and stories of fast weight loss with little or no effort. Losing weight is not easy. It takes persistence, commitment, hard work, and patience. In addition, due to genetics and other factors, it is much more difficult for some people to lose weight than others. If you are struggling to lose weight, you are not alone. The best you can do is curb your daily weight loss and find a nutritious, sustainable diet and activity regimen that's right for you. Many factors can affect how easily you lose weight.

MYTH 14: It would be best if you avoided cholesterol.
High cholesterol foods tend to be quickly rejected due to a poor understanding of how dietary cholesterol affects heart health. Some people are more sensitive to cholesterol-based diets than others, but in general, a nutritious high-cholesterol diet can be integrated into a healthy diet. In fact, including high cholesterol, nutritious foods, eggs, and high-fat yogurt in your diet can benefit your health by increasing feelings of fullness and providing important nutrients not found in other foods.

MYTH 15: Carbs make you gain weight.
Just as fat is blamed for weight gain and heart disease, many people blame carbohydrates for obesity, diabetes, and diabetes for fear of consuming these macronutrients. This thinking tends to complicate diets and have other adverse health effects. Eating moderate amounts of nutritious carbohydrates rich in fiber, vitamins, and minerals, such as starchy roots, old grains, and legumes, can be good for your health - it doesn't do any harm. For example, diets with a balanced mix of carbohydrates that mainly contain fiber from foods, healthy fats, and proteins, such as the Mediterranean diet, have been associated with a lower risk of obesity, diabetes, certain cancers, and heart disease. However, you should avoid foods high in carbohydrates, such as cakes, pies, sugary drinks, and white bread, because if consumed excessively, these foods can increase weight and increase the risk of disease.

As you can see, food quality is the critical risk factor for a healthy diet.

Evaluating the validity of diet related information:
First, if it sounds too good to be true, it almost certainly is. Second, ask yourself, "Who said that? »Is the plaintiff biased? Are you trying to sell a product? Is the information based only on a small study? The critical approach to information will help you to save time, money, and frustration.