The concept of nutrition is centuries old and certainly when a particular concept is that old, over a period of time it is but natural that there will be certain facts which were believed to be true, but with the advancement in medical science today they have been proven to be myths. In his book Nutrition for a Longer Life, Robert Crayhon enlightens us with a comprehensive guide to certain findings in optimal nutrition. Let us have a look at some of the nutrition myths.
Eating according to the new food pyramid will ensure that you are eating a healthy diet. Virtually any food can fit into the food pyramid. Ice cream, sugar-laden cookies, fried chips, and refined white flour products. The problem with the food pyramid is that it makes little distinction in food quality. It tells you to minimize fats but does not tell you which fats are best. It also emphasizes carbohydrates, which for many may be inappropriate.
Eggs should be avoided, for they are high in cholesterol. Eggs are one of the most nutrient-rich foods known, and there is no evidence that they have any effect on cholesterol levels. They are an excellent source of important nutrients like sulfur, zinc, and choline.
Nuts are fattening. Nuts have a significant amount of calories, but that does not make them fattening. It is the sum total of the food you eat and the efficiency of your metabolism that will determine whether a food you eat increases your weight. Some actually find nuts an excellent snack to help them curb cravings and lose weight.
You need to exercise to lose weight. Exercise is an excellent and highly recommended adjunct to the weight loss process, but it is not necessary for healthy and permanent weight loss. Diet and nutrient intake are far more important.
Foods must only be eaten in certain combinations. There is no research that demonstrates that humans need to eat only certain foods at the same time. Humans are omnivores. Our pancreas secretes fat, proteins and carbohydrate- digesting enzymes simultaneously. Throughout history, the human race has thrived on a wide variety of foods eaten in innumerable combinations. The human body can handle any combination of whole foods eaten at the same time.
Diet and nutrient intake have no effect on arthritis. Vitamin E, EPA, and glucosamine sulfate are just some of the valuable nutritional aids that have proven effective in helping arthritis. The Lancet recently published a study showing the dramatic reduction in pain a vegetarian diet can make. When someone tells you that there is no success with nutritional therapies, check to see who funds that organization. They are often funded by drug companies that make arthritis medications.
Cholesterol-lowering medication will lengthen your life. Statistics show it will shorten it.
Diets don’t work. Well-designed diets by well-educated nutritionists do, especially when optimal levels of nutrients are included.
There are no magic foods. Nutrition is science, not magic. If certain foods quench free radicals or protect against cancer, suggesting we eat more of those foods is not a sleight-of-hand trick. It is a well-reasoned suggestion based on solid research and an important strategy in our fight against degenerative disease. Saying “there are no magic foods” implies that foods have the same effect on the body. That is ridiculous, pose who downplay the value of super-foods are trying to force a brand of mediocre nutrition that has kept Americans Ming of degenerative diseases long enough.
Senility is genetic and has little to do with diet. While there are certainly genetic factors at work in such ailments as Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of senility, an overall program of optimal nutrition, including nutrients like niacin and herbs like ginkgo, can play a powerful role in preventing senility and enhancing brain health.
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