Whether you’d like to lose weight or simply want to eat a healthier diet, it’s easy to become overwhelmed with the often-conflicting diet advice out there. Fear not--we’re going to dig up the truth behind some of the most common diet myths. You may be surprised at what’s fact and what’s fiction.
Nutrition myth: Carbohydrates are fattening.
Nutrition fact: Carbohydrates are an essential part of a healthy diet.
You probably know someone who’s tried a low-carb diet, or maybe you’ve tried cutting carbs to lose weight. But carbs aren’t all bad. In fact, your body needs them to function at its best. Instead of saying bye-bye to carbs, choose wisely. Fruits, vegetables, and whole grains are all carbohydrate foods that will help you stay healthy and maintain a healthy weight.
Nutrition myth: Nonfat and low-fat foods will help you lose weight.
Nutrition fact: Lower-fat foods often contain as many, or more, calories per serving as full-fat versions.
If you’re watching your weight, you may be cutting back on fat. Opting for foods that claim they have little or no fat doesn’t always make sense, though. Lower-fat versions of foods often replace the fat they remove with other ingredients like sugar. That means they’re not any healthier, and may contain more calories, than their fuller-fat versions. You may be better off with a smaller portion of the full-fat version of the food.
Nutrition myth: Meat is bad for you.
Nutrition fact: The right cuts of meat fit into a healthy diet.
Meat can be high in saturated fat. Look for lower-fat options, like round steak, flank steak, lean ground beef, turkey, and chicken. They’ll provide necessary protein and other essential nutrients without a lot of extra fat and calories.
Seeking More Food Facts?
Find more information on healthy eating, as well as great recipes, on our Eating Well page.