Latest News

MYTHS YOU SHOULD KNOW BEFORE YOU GO FOR DIETING
Tuesday, July 18, 2017 IST
MYTHS YOU SHOULD KNOW BEFORE YOU GO FOR DIETING

MYTHS YOU SHOULD KNOW BEFORE YOU GO FOR DIETING

Food trends often come and go, and with them a lot of confusion about what we should and shouldn’t eat for a healthy, balanced diet.

Nutritional epidemiologist Karin Michels, professor and chair of the epidemiology department in the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health, USA, gives her views on the latest diet crazes, and whether one should try the popular Paleo diet, cut out carbs, add in fat, and even have that morning cup of coffee.

Myth: Cut the carbs

Low-carb diets have seen a surge in popularity in recent years, however instead of cutting carbs out of your diet Michels advises you replace refined carbohydrates and sugars with whole grain carbs such as quinoa, oats, rice and pasta. She also adds that there is no good reason to avoid gluten unless you’re intolerant, and by avoiding gluten you will also miss out on important nutrients and fibre that come from grain.

Myth: A low-fat diet is best

Fat has long been seen as the enemy to a healthy diet, with many believing that a low-fat diet is good for the heart. However Michels disagrees. Instead she says most people need to change the type of fat in the diet, avoiding saturated and trans fats and adding in unsaturated fats. Unsaturated fats found in olive and canola oils and fish, nuts and avocados raise the body’s HDL (”good”) cholesterol, while saturated fats from animal and dairy products and the artificial trans fats found in margarines and cookies will raise the LDL (”bad”) cholesterol.

In line with recent reports she also cautions against coconut oil, which although was once assumed to be healthy, is full of saturated fat.

Myth: We should eat like our ancestors

Although the popular Paleo diet advocates following the diet of our hunter-gatherer ancestors – eating lots of energy-dense red meats and excluding grains – Michels points out, “We are nothing like our ancestors – instead of running around all day, most of us sit in front of our computers.”

She says the best approach is a balanced diet that limits or avoids red and processed meats, which were classified as carcinogens in 2015 by the World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer.

Myth: A well-balanced diet provides all essential nutrients

Michels says she is frequently asked about whether supplements are worth it, and says that the only one she strongly recommends is vitamin D. “Two-thirds of the US population – especially those living in colder climates – is vitamin D-deficient, and many don’t realise it,” she says.

The best source of vitamin is the sun, but using sunscreen to block out the sun’s harmful rays also blocks vitamin D production in the body. Another source of the nutrient is from food, but as it’s nearly impossible to get enough from the diet. Michels says the easiest way to top up levels is through supplements.

Myth: Coffee is unhealthy

A cup of joe used to have a bad reputation when it came to health, but Michels is in agreement with recent research, saying coffee can help lower the risk of many common diseases, including diabetes, colorectal cancer and aggressive prostate cancer subtypes.

 
 
 
 
 

Related Topics

 
 
 

Trending News & Articles

 Article
12 Early Signs Of Lung Cancer To Never Ignore

Lung cancer is usually not noticeable during the early stages. Most people are diagnosed when the disease is at an advanced stage. According to Cancer.org, it is ...

Recently posted . 7K views . 2 min read
 

 Article
11 Surprising Benefits Of Wood Apple Or Bael Fruit

The health benefits of wood apple include [1] relief from constipation, indigestion, peptic ulcer, piles, respiratory problems, diarrhea, and dysentery. It also b...

Recently posted . 4K views . 2 min read
 

 Article
10 Amazing Benefits Of Bael (Kaitha)

Bael, also known as the “Wood Apple”, is a species native to India. The bael tree is considered to be sacred to the Hindus. A famous drink known as sh...

Recently posted . 4K views . 2 min read
 

 Article
These 7 Remedies Can Remove The Milia (Milk Spots) From Your Face

Do you know what milia are? Milia is a skin condition which causes the appearance of small white hard bumps on the skin which usually appear on the face, neck or ch...

Recently posted . 4K views . 2 min read
 

 
 

More in Food & Health

 Article
The best time of day to exercise for metabolic health

The study involved only men who were eating a fatty diet, but it adds to growing evidence that exercise timing matters and, for many of us, working out later migh...

Recently posted. 883 views . 1 min read
 

 Article
Aloe Vera 101: What It’s Good for, and Its Proposed Benefits and Possible Side Effects

There are more than 300 species of the aloe plant, but Aloe barbadensis (aka aloe vera) is the best known and is prized in the health and beauty worlds for its heal...

Recently posted. 1K views . 1 min read
 

 Article
What Is the Difference Between White Meat and Dark Meat?

Have You Ever Wondered... -- What is the difference between white meat and dark meat? -- <...

Recently posted. 1K views . 1 min read
 

 Photo
Hokkah smoking



Recently posted . 1K views
 

 Reviews
Top 5 Best Window AC in India



Recently posted . 1K views . 62 min read
 

 Article
Work it out! Proper exercise may reverse damage to ageing heart

Sedentary ageing can lead to a stiffening of the muscle in the heart’s left ventricle, the chamber that pumps oxygen-rich blood back out to the body.

Recently posted. 729 views . 1 min read
 

 Article
How Is HIV Different From AIDS? Know The Different Symptoms

HIV and AIDS are neither the same conditions nor are they the same diagnosis. A person can have HIV without developing AIDS, however it is not possible to develop...

Recently posted. 1K views . 1 min read
 

 
 
 

   Prashnavali

  Thought of the Day

The only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven't found it yet, keep looking. Don't settle.
Steve Jobs

Be the first one to comment on this story

Close
Post Comment
Shibu Chandran
2 hours ago

Serving political interests in another person's illness is the lowest form of human value. A 70+ y old lady has cancer.

November 28, 2016 05:00 IST
Shibu Chandran
2 hours ago

Serving political interests in another person's illness is the lowest form of human value. A 70+ y old lady has cancer.

November 28, 2016 05:00 IST
Shibu Chandran
2 hours ago

Serving political interests in another person's illness is the lowest form of human value. A 70+ y old lady has cancer.

November 28, 2016 05:00 IST
Shibu Chandran
2 hours ago

Serving political interests in another person's illness is the lowest form of human value. A 70+ y old lady has cancer.

November 28, 2016 05:00 IST


ads
Back To Top