Myth or Fact? Insight on Nutrition

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Trying to keep your weight down and still get the nutrition you need? Who isn’t? But the sheer number of dieting plans makes it hard to tell whether the way we diet is about following the latest fad—or if it will really lead to shedding pounds and staying healthy. Can you tell the nutrition facts from the myths? Give it a try.

 

Myth: Just because a bag of cheddar-flavored chips is labeled organic, doesn’t mean it’s a healthy choice. Conventionally grown foods are neither less safe nor less nutritious than organically grown food. That’s according to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), which notes that no clear evidence exists to prove organic foods are more nutritious.

 

Myth: A vegetarian diet may help you lose weight, but it’s not guaranteed. If you eat high-fat dairy products, pastas, and peanut butter, you can still easily add to your waistline. 

 

Even if you are careful about food choices, your diet can still be sabotaged by your cooking method. If you avoid frying and coating food in oil—and opt for boiling, steaming, or grilling—you’ll be more successful at trimming your waistline. 

 

Fact: You feel sleepy after eating turkey because it contains tryptophan. But this amino acid is also found in milk, corn, brown rice, and beans. And high-sugar foods like candy and cookies can make you crave a mid-day nap. You can also become fatigued after eating if you have digestive problems or food allergies. That’s because your immune system responds immediately and tries to rid your body of what it sees as a toxin. That consumes a lot of your energy in the process.