Tag Archives: diet myths

Why is Everyone So Terrified to Eat Bananas? A Dietitian Peels Back the Truth

banana
by Amy Margulies, lead registered dietitian for Retrofit

You’ve probably heard people talking, or read articles online, about why eating bananas is bad for you nutritionally and can impede weight loss. While some people insist that bananas are just fine, others are convinced this is a fruit you should stay away from if you’re trying to lose weight – and many do, just in case the rumors are true. But what’s the real deal with bananas? It’s time to peel open this myth.

What the critics are saying

The controversy started with Dr. Susanna Holt, an Australian researcher who developed the Satiety Index, a way to evaluate how full different foods make you feel. “We found that bananas are much less satisfying than oranges or apples,” Holt stated at the conclusion of the satiety study.

Bananas are generally higher in calories from carbs than most fruits. So for those who are counting calories, this may seem like a poor choice for a snack. People have also observed that bananas cause a “binding” effect, or put more simply, they cause constipation. That’s something you don’t want when you look to the scale for signs of progress. (more…)

Posted on July 30, 2023 by GuestBlogger

5 Biggest Diet Myths Debunked on Dr. Oz

Check out Dr. Oz’s November 7 episode to find out the five biggest diet myths people believe today. The stage becomes a scientific laboratory as Dr. Oz dons safety goggles and joins his friend Science Bob to discover what’s true and what’s not in the world of dieting. 

Questions such as “does water shrink your waistline?,” “does aging make you gain weight?,” and “should you wait until you’re hungry to eat?” are debunked as myths as Dr. Oz gives audiences the real truth behind these misconceptions. He shares the shocking myths that your own doctor believes and that he was also told in medical school that simply are not true. (more…)

Posted on November 7, 2023 by SarahS

Water is Good For You, but it Won’t Flush Away Fat

If you mention weight loss it seems a million “tips” or “pieces of advice” come flying out of the woodwork. There’s many of them out there like, “Don’t eat after such and such time,” “Stop eating bread and carbs,” or “Eat eight tiny meals a day.” Most of this can be overturned and found to be another empty promise of how to lose weight. One myth that seems to be pushed is about how water has the power to flush out fat from the body. Sadly, it seems this may be just another myth.

The myth is often stated that, “drinking eight glasses of water a day flushes out fat.” Truth is, that’s simply not true.

“…There’s no magic about drinking water,” says Sue Gebo, RD, MPH, an assistant professor at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine.

Gebo explains that water cannot flush away fat, that is just a hopeful myth. While water can not perform this trick, a Virginia Tech University study explains how this myth may have started.

The study found that people who drank 16 ounces of water prior to eating a meal actually consumed 75 to 95 fewer calories than the control group. Both groups in the study were on prescribed low-calorie diets and on average the water drinkers lost more weight, 4.5 pounds more than the non-water drinkers. (more…)

Posted on May 21, 2023 by Lacy

Why Eating on a Schedule Can Keep You Slim

If you’re a foodie like me, then you try to experience as many delicious foods as possible throughout the day without gaining weight. This can prove to be a difficult task, but one of the keys I’ve found to be most effective is eating on a regular schedule. Turns out, this now has some scientific backing thanks to a new study validating the health benefits of scheduled eating.

In an effort to confirm whether or not weight gain may be caused in part by eating on an odd schedule, scientists conducted a study involving the eating patterns of mice. They fed two groups of mice a high-fat diet, but allowed one group to eat whenever they wanted. And not-so surprisingly, this group gained weight.

For the second group of mice, scientists restricted their allotted meal times to an eight-hour window. As a result, these mice did not gain weight even though they consumed the same amount of calories or more than the mice with an un-restricted eating schedule.

Over the course of the 18-week study, the mice that were time-restricted experienced fewer negative effects on their high-fat diet, and even saw an increase in metabolism when compared to the un-restricted mice. The restricted group also reportedly gained 28 percent less weight and suffered less liver damage. (more…)

Posted on May 18, 2023 by Dana

Is Moderation in Diet a Myth?

By Abra Pappa for NutritiousAmerica.com

The end goal, for me, with all of my clients is to reach a point where living is flexible, fun and free of denial and discipline. To discover an eating dogma that is ideal for the individual. An eating plan that supports every cell in the body and contributes to a feeling of abundance and vibrance. Which, for me, should also include eating a burger or a slice of pizza from time to time. Question is, is it really possible to moderate these indulgent meals? Or is indulgence a slippery slope?

There are as many dietary theories as there are people in the world. If you don’t subscribe wholly and completely to one specific (and seemingly strict) dogma (i.e. vegan, raw, paleo) yet you live a supportive healthy life filled with glorious whole foods, would you say you practice moderation?

Are there actually people that successfully practice moderation? Or is it truly necessary to adhere to a strict eating plan in order to transform your life with food and reach your health goals?

Here are my top 3 tips to make moderation possible and bust the myth that it is not! (more…)

Posted on May 10, 2023 by Nutritious_America

Eating Late Causes Weight Gain and Other Common Weight Loss Myths

With so many approaches to weight loss out there, it can be difficult to know what to believe when you’re trying to achieve a healthy lifestyle. 

It seems almost every person has their own ‘little secret’ when it comes to dropping the pounds. Even I’ve been duped into believing some weight loss tricks like ‘carbs are the enemy’ and ‘eating late will surely make me fat.’

It’s important to have the facts straight when we’re approaching a healthy lifestyle, and especially weight loss, or else we’ll build false expectations for the results we’ll experience and ultimately become discouraged when they fail us.

Today Show diet and nutrition editor, Madelyn Fernstrom, recently appeared on the show to call fact or fiction on some of the common weight loss myths our society believes – starting with one very hot topic. (more…)

Posted on April 13, 2024 by Dana

Cool Chicks Know It’s OK to Eat Egg Yolks

Karen Sherwood for Nutritious America

A 44-year-old, weight-obsessed, female client walked into my office with a punch-drunk look on her face. “My doctor says I have high cholesterol”, she said.

I asked her what she’s been eating the last six months. She quickly pulled a list from her doctor out of her purse, detailing all the things she was to omit from her diet. I took it and read, while she scanned my facial expression for reassurance. On this list I saw butter, cheese, red meats, ice-cream, shell-fish, and egg yolks. Then she told me that a typical breakfast for her was three egg whites, a large glass of no-pulp orange juice, vanilla skim latte, and a low-carb bagel. “I stay away from egg yolks all all cost,” she said. Her lunch was typically a 6-inch Subway sandwich, fat-free chips, and a Diet Coke. She told me that sugary sodas and salty chips were necessary for her to beat her typical afternoon slump (along with two more cups of coffee), but they were all “fat-free” so the doctor said it was fine. Later, dinner was a Chinese-chicken salad and a few glasses of wine.

I see this over and over again. It is the situation of a client who has been given partial information. What I don’t understand is, when did something as natural as an egg become villainized and substituted with baked Goldfish crackers in efforts to control cholesterol levels? Sometimes, in an attempt to be healthy, a client can end up causing more harm than good to his or her body. It’s simply a matter of not knowing the facts.

So Let’s Take a Look at the Egg. (more…)

Posted on January 11, 2024 by Nutritious_America

Dr. Oz to Reveal One Day Diet in Good Housekeeping Magazine

In the upcoming April issue of Good Housekeeping magazine, Dr. Mehmet Oz will unveil his newest weight loss wisdom to help readers lose weight forever. His One Day Diet claims that he can help readers lose up to two inches and 10 pounds in four weeks — and stay slim forever.

The Mediterranean style diet allows for a  total of 1,450 calories (300 calories for breakfast, 400 for lunch, 500 for dinner, and 125 for each snack). In the magazine, Dr. Oz provides a 7 day sample diet plan, which allows for meal swaps and includes recipes. In addition to the meal plan, Dr. Oz has 5 simple rules to help you lose 10 pounds in a month. These rules include:

  • Rule 1: Renew Your Vows Daily
  • Rule 2: Do Something Completely Different Every Day
  • Rule 3: Set Your Kitchen on Automatic. Arrange your pantry, fridge, and life so your only choices are good ones.
  • Rule 4: Keep Your Belly Full
  • Rule 5: Extend the Burn

(more…)

Posted on March 10, 2024 by Carmen

Uncovering the Biggest Diet and Health Myth on The Doctors

Tune in this Tuesday, November 23 to The Doctors when the most popular diet and health myths are exposed.

On hand to debunk commonly held ideas, like whether celery really does promote weight loss or if sugar really does make kids hyperactive, is Liz Vaccariello, The Doctors’ Health Investigator, author of the Flat Belly Diet and the upcoming 400 Calorie Fix.. On the show, Liz will let you know if there is a diet that makes you smarter, whether it’s OK to eat expired food and much more. (more…)

Posted on November 22, 2023 by heather

Vegetarian Diet Myths Debunked

Vegetarianism isn’t just about eating ‘bunny food’ and pounds of tofu everyday. There are a lot of myths surrounding vegetarianism; everything from how healthy going vegetarian really is for the human body all the way down to how to make proper meatless nutrient substitutions. We have compiled a list of the most prevalent vegetarian myths out there and are here to set the record straight.

MYTH: Vegetarians don’t get enough protein.

FACT: Protein doesn’t only come from animal sources. Protein can be found in veg-head-friendly foods like beans, whole grains, and vegetables. Some great sources of protein for vegetarians are tempeh, quinoa, almonds, brown rice, and pinto beans. In addition, most people, vegetarian or not, get more protein than they need in a day, so extra effort to add protein to your diet is usually unnecessary. (more…)

Posted on September 30, 2023 by Kelly

Bread Crust Will Curl Your Hair and Other Food Myths

Getting your kids to eat a healthy meal is often a struggle. You can’t blame a parent for resorting to a little trickery. We’ve all done it. I pride myself on serving fresh, whole foods and always telling my kids the truth about foods; what’s in them, what’s not, why this food is better than another for your body. But I’m also guilty of some fibbing or well-intentioned browbeating in the name of good health.

  • Eat the crusts of your bread – it will curl your hair – Absolutely untrue, although I tried for years and actually volunteered to eat my curly headed sister’s crusts.

(more…)

Posted on July 22, 2023 by Carmen