Freedom From Food Myths

Written By: text_none_author Published In: Healthy Living Created Date: 2016-08-13 Hits: 1176 Comment: 0

Should I eat this or should it be avoided? Most of us have commonly faced this question. To eat or not to eat. Individuals have a lot of convictions about nourishment – mostly when it comes to their health. There have been many questions raised regarding which is the right food to eat, can a particular food be harmful to your body and soon. However, the answers to all these questions aren’t always clear. There have been studies with contradictory results and no clear-cut solutions have come out. This Independence day finds answers to some of these questions which you have been asking yourself all these years.

1. Are brown sugar, agave syrup a healthier alternative to white sugar?

All sugars are essentially simple carbohydrates, which means it will be utilized by the body as a source of energy or stored in the form of fat if not utilized. This means all sugars are almost the same. Regardless of the type of sugar, all of them should be consumed in minimal amounts as they simply provide empty calories and pretty much nothing else.

2. Is sea salt or some other fancy salts healthier than the regular refined salt?

The origin of all kinds of salts lies in the sea or the salt deposits with the primary component being sodium. All kinds of salts are fundamentally same when it comes to their molecular composition and dietary value. The amount of sodium present in all these varieties is more or less the same. Which means excess consumption of any of these types of salts is harmful to the body.

3. Will skipping meals help lose weight?

When a meal has skipped the tendency of gorging on more in the subsequent meals is very high. The craving for snacks also increases leading to increased caloric consumption. Also, as a matter of fact, the body tries to save and conserve more energy rather than burning them off, when it is in a state of fasting. Which means skipping meals can, in fact, lead to weight gain in the long run.

4. Is water as good as a sports drink after exercise?

Water is a great option for hydration, however, plain water is devoid of any electrolytes. The body loses great amounts of electrolytes after exercise through sweat. So it is imperative to replenish these. Also, water is a non-caloric drink and does not provide any energy to the body. On the other hand, a normal sports drink contains 4-8% carbohydrates as well as electrolytes. This helps in better meeting the body’s requirements after an intense workout.

5. Will protein supplements boost sports performance?

Protein supplements have been proven to repair the muscles after a vigorous workout session. However, it has not yet been established that these supplements enhance performance. Increased protein content helps the body recover better after strenuous exercise by restoring muscle glycogen. The best way out is to opt for natural protein sources from food.

So this Independence day, enjoy your freedom to choose the right food after having some of the common food myths busted!