It is time to stop believing these 17 food myths. They are simply not true! These food myths have gone on long enough and we want to debunk them once and for all. Keep reading so you, too, can finally learn the truth.
Note: The content of this article is not medical advice.
“Carrots restore vision”
Everyone with glasses will understand this one. We’ve all been told carrots restore and improve vision because they’re rich in vitamin A.
While they do contain a lot of vitamin A, it’s not a magic pill you can eat to get rid of glasses. While carrots may support eye health and vision in general, they can’t fix poor eyesight completely.
“Dairy is the best calcium source”
Oof; the number of times our family tricked us into drinking milk so we could be strong and tall. They really believed this one, and so did we.
While milk and other dairy products are excellent sources of calcium, they aren’t the only ones. You can get the same or higher calcium intake from non-dairy foods, and many lactose-intolerant people will back this up.
“You’ll get cramps if you swim after eating”
This might be the stupidest myth in existence because while many people experience cramps if they swim after eating, it’s not caused by food.
The only reason you get cramps after eating is because you ate a lot and jumped to an extreme physical activity, which takes a toll on your body. It has nothing to do with swimming; you’ll get cramps or physical discomfort after any tiring exercise.
“Fish makes you smarter”
If you didn’t eat fish liver oil pills at least once in your life, consider yourself lucky. Fish is nutritious, but it won't instantly transform us into megaminds.
Certain fish are loaded with nutrients and Omega 3 fatty acids that may support the brain, but this just means they maintain their health. Eating fish can improve your brain function, yes, but eating one little filet won't turn you into Einstein.
“You get ulcers because you eat spicy foods”
Every spicy food lover with IBS just groaned at this one. And yes, we’re well aware of the pain of being gaslit.
Ulcers are actually caused by certain bacteria, which may come from anywhere. Eating spicy food may be painful for people with pre-existing ulcers, but they won’t burn a hole through your stomach on their own.
“Margarine is better than butter”
This myth became popular back in the day when we didn't know much about fats. While it’s true margarine has a lower fat content, and is a common butter substitute, it also has higher trans fat.
So margarine could have been healthier than butter solely if it had a low trans fat count, but that actually makes it much more harmful than butter. We can enjoy butter regularly in controlled amounts, but the same can’t be said for margarine.
“An apple a day keeps the doctor away”
This phrase made us believe we could ward off all kinds of diseases and health issues with just an apple. Boy, were we wrong, and it’s all granny’s fault!
While apples are nutritious and healthy, they aren’t a miracle healer for ailments. They may make you feel better in general (because what food doesn’t?), but eating one doesn’t mean you’ll never get sick or can’t. Having said that, these apple desserts are worth trying!
“Raw eggs always carry salmonella”
This one isn’t a myth as much as it is misdirected. Yes, eggs carry a risk of being contaminated with salmonella, but they don’t always.
In fact, you can pretty much get away with eating raw eggs as long as you’re sure they’re bought from a trusted source. Some people even mix raw eggs in their kids’ milk to give them a protein boost, and it doesn’t do much harm. Learn more about how to pasteurize eggs!
“Sugar makes kids hyperactive”
This myth is the bane of our existence because whenever our parents held out candy from us, 9 times out of 10, it was this reason.
Well, there’s no such link between candy and hyperactivity in kids. The behavior is just kids being kids. They don’t get excited after eating candy; they’re excited about candy. There’s no such thing as a sugar rush, at least not like this.
“Milk is the best hangover cure”
If you ever felt better because you drank milk to cure a hangover, just know it’s a placebo effect because dairy isn’t an instant stopper for alcoholic rushes.
Alcohol takes a toll on our body, so it needs time to heal up. During this, keeping hydrated helps your body remain alert, but milk or other beverages don’t just magically clear your head and bring you to your senses.
“Your belly will get bigger from eating bread”
Every food and body insecurity we had probably stemmed from being told we’d get a bread belly from eating bread. Yikes, therapy’s going well.
But there’s no such thing as a bread belly. The body doesn’t gain weight in certain areas from certain foods like bread; it’s all a combination of how fast your metabolism is, what you’re eating in general, and if you’re exercising regularly.
“Cookie dough gives you salmonella”
The cookie dough and salmonella myth is partly true. Yes, cookie dough may contain salmonella, but the chances are extremely low. If anything, you need to worry more about non-heat-treated flour.
Some even believe eating raw cookie dough will sprout harmful worms that eat your body inside out. Again, there’s no such way cookie dough invites worms.
Most of the risks can be avoided if you keep your kitchen clean and use heat-treated flour as explained in this edible cookie dough recipe.
"Plants Are Not Protein"
Many grandparents think meat is the only good source of protein. They will eat chicken, steak, and big slabs of pork at every single meal because protein is essential! Try telling your grandma that plants have lots of healthy protein too, and she will likely laugh.
But many plants are full of healthy, complete proteins. Tell your grandparents all about plant-based protein and they may become late-in-life vegetarians!
"Soy Foods Cause Cancer"
It is a long-standing myth that soy-based foods cause breast cancer but this has yet to be proven scientifically. However, many people in the older generations stay far, far away from soy for this reason.
Not only has soy not been directly linked to cancer, but it is actually a powerhouse of nutrients. Soy foods have been shown to reduce heart disease and provide lots of fiber, protein and vitamins.
Tell grandma that soy is good! Then do a quick cheers with a big glass of soy milk.
"You Need to Eat 2000 Calories A Day"
Decades ago, the US government said that 2000 calories is what a normal person should eat in a day. However, the amount of calories your body needs to intake depends on a lot of factors like your weight, your height and your activity level. There is no set calorie count that works for everyone across the board.
Weight Loss Juice Cleanse
A juice cleanse will not help you lose weight. Many people think that drinking specific juices for days will cause permanent weight loss and make you instantly healthy but this is far from true.
Drinking just juice is not sustainable and you will eventually need to eat food to keep your body working properly. You need a balanced diet of grains, protein, and healthy fats, not just the vitamins and minerals in juices.
Breakfast is the Most Important Meal
Everyone has heard this food myth before. We have been tricked for years into thinking that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. While, yes, it is important to eat a healthy breakfast, it is also important to eat healthy foods at every other meal. No one meal is more advantageous than the others.
Some people even skip breakfast and are still perfectly healthy. It's important to focus on eating healthy, balanced food all day long, not just at one specific time of day.
More for You
16 Unhealthy Foods That Are Ruining Your Diet. Dieting is so incredibly hard and these 16 foods may be secretly ruining all your hard work. These foods may not appear to be unhealthy, but they are. Each of these sneaky foods may be why your diet is failing. Avoid them at all costs!
This article was first published at Spatula Desserts.
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