When it comes to eating healthy, with so many choices and decisions, it can be hard to know what to do and which information you can trust.
We want to help you make changes in your daily eating habits so that you can improve your overall well-being. Here are six food myths you've likely heard and the truth behind them.
Myth #1
To lose weight, you have to give up all your favorite foods.
FACT: You don’t have to give up all your favorite foods when you’re trying to lose weight. Small amounts of your favorite high-calorie foods may be part of your weight-loss plan. Just remember to keep track of the total calories you take in. To lose weight, you must burn more calories than you take in through food and beverages.
Tip: Limiting foods that are high in calories may help you lose weight. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans (Dietary Guidelines) estimates daily calorie needs based on a person’s age, sex and physical activity level.
Myth #2
Grain products such as bread, pasta and rice are fattening. You should avoid them when trying to lose weight.
FACT: Grains themselves aren’t necessarily fattening — or unhealthy; although substituting whole grains for refined-grain products is healthier and may help you feel fuller. The Dietary Guidelines recommends consuming grains as part of a healthy eating plan. At least half of the grains you eat should be whole grains. Examples of whole grains include brown rice and whole-wheat bread, cereal and pasta. Whole grains provide iron, fiber and other important nutrients.
Tip: Try to replace refined or white bread with whole-wheat bread and refined pasta with whole-wheat pasta. Or add whole grains to mixed dishes such as brown instead of white rice to stir-fry. Check out MyPlate.gov for more tips to help you add whole grains to your eating plan.
Myth #3
Choosing gluten-free foods will help you eat healthier.
FACT: Gluten-free foods are not healthier if you don’t have celiac disease or are not sensitive to gluten. Gluten is a protein found in wheat, barley and rye grains. A health care professional is likely to prescribe a gluten-free eating plan to treat people who have celiac disease or are sensitive to gluten. If you don’t have these health problems but avoid gluten anyway, you may not get the vitamins, fiber and minerals you need. A gluten-free diet is not a weight-loss diet and is not intended to help you lose weight.
Tip: Before you decide to avoid a whole food group, talk with your health care professional if you believe you have problems after you consume foods or drinks with wheat, barley or rye.
Myth #4
You should avoid all fats if you’re trying to be healthy or lose weight.
FACT: You do not have to avoid all fats if you’re trying to improve your health or lose weight. Fat provides essential nutrients and should be an important part of a healthy eating plan. But because fats have more calories per gram than protein or carbohydrates or “carbs,” you need to limit fats to avoid extra calories. If you are trying to lose weight, consider eating small amounts of food with healthy fats such as avocados, olives or nuts. You also could replace whole-fat cheese or milk with lower-fat versions.
Tip: The Dietary Guidelines recommends consuming less than 10% of your daily calories from saturated fats. Try cutting back on solid-fat foods. Use olive oil instead of butter in cooking.
Myth #5
Dairy products are fattening and unhealthy.
FACT: Dairy products are an important food group because they have protein your body needs to build muscles and help organs work well and calcium to strengthen bones. Most dairy products such as milk and some yogurts, have added vitamin D to help your body use calcium since many Americans don’t get enough of these nutrients. Dairy products made from fat-free or low-fat milk have fewer calories than dairy products made from whole milk.
Tip: Adults should have three servings a day of fat-free or low-fat dairy products, including milk or milk products such as yogurt and cheese or fortified soy beverages, as part of a healthy eating plan. If you can't digest lactose, the sugar found in dairy products, choose fortified soy products, lactose-free or low-lactose dairy products or other foods and beverages with calcium and vitamin D:
- Calcium – soy-based beverages or tofu made with calcium sulfate, canned salmon or dark leafy greens such as collards or kale.
- Vitamin D – cereals or soy-based beverages.
Myth #6
“Going vegetarian” will help you lose weight and be healthier.
FACT: Some research shows that a healthy vegetarian eating plan or one made up of foods that come mostly from plants, may be linked to lower levels of obesity, lower blood pressure and a reduced risk of heart disease. But going vegetarian will only lead to weight loss if you reduce the total number of calories you take in. Some vegetarians may make food choices that could lead to weight gain such as eating a lot of food high in sugar, fats and calories.
Eating small amounts of lean meat can also be part of a healthy plan to lose or maintain weight. The Dietary Guidelines has more information about including meat as part of a healthy eating plan.
Tip: If you choose to follow a vegetarian eating plan, be sure you get enough of the nutrients your body needs to be healthy.
Find more healthy eating tips from Northside Hospital Nutrition Services.
