Nutrition myths debunked

— November 12, 2014

Do you ever get the feeling of being so overwhelmed with information that you don’t know what or who to believe anymore? Well, I think I’ve found you a little relief, at least when it comes to a few of those food and nutrition myths out there.

March is National Nutrition Month, and the Dietitians of Canada are giving you “the real deal on your meal,” the theme for this year. With nutrition tips posted every day and plenty of clear, concise information, it’s hard not to let out a sigh of relief…and also the odd exclamation when you discover facts such as your body can’t tell the difference between brown, white or syrupy sugar!

Take a look at the list of 39 myths busted by dietitians. Do you find any that are surprising? Or maybe some of them elicit a “thank God” reaction, like these:

Organic foods? Turns out they’re not necessarily safer and healthier than non-organic foods.
Those dreaded carbs? They’re not as detrimental to your weight-loss program as you might think, if enjoyed in portion sizes that are right for you.
Late night snacks? Not such a bad thing, as long as you snack smartly!
Can’t force yourself to drink 8 glasses of water a day? That’s OK. The amount of water you need varies each day, and other drinks—tea for example—also count towards keeping you hydrated.

While I still might choose brown sugar over white for my coffee every morning (I can’t help it!), at least after reading some of the myths, I now know I don’t really need to eat only grapefruit for a week, or go on one of those weird cleansing diets to detoxify my body every time I stray from the “perfect” diet.

What’s your favorite food myth?

Canada’s Food Guide:

http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/food-guide-aliment/index-eng.php