Modern Myths (food)

Eating & Dieting Myths

Myth #1

Eating for your blood type makes good sense



Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! absolute nonsense: I roll with laughter anytime someone tells me they follow this bizarre ritual. I'm also amazed and alarmed by the number of intelligent people who have been hoodwinked by this fad. People who naturally discard silly notions such as the “kung fu death touch,” and “feng shui” allow themselves to be fooled by this one.



Eating according to your blood type has as much relevance as eating foods that start with the same letters as your name. This is junk science at its best with absolutely not one iota of scientific fact to back up these claims. However, this ludicrous approach has made the author wealthy; and by the way, he is NOT a doctor, nor has any medical knowledge whatsoever.



Myth #2

Vegetarian meals are healthier than meat dishes



False: Why is it that people who are dedicated strict vegetarians look like they were just released from a concentration camp It's obvious to all that they're not healthy; they're not getting their daily nutrients. There are some vegetarians who look to be in moderate good health, but they sneak in fish and poultry [and don't bother to mention it]. If you don't want to feel, act and behave like a vegan zombie, you will need to add some fish or fowl.



The problem with many vegan foods

To compensate for their lack of flavor, many meat-free dishes are loaded with sodium, fat, sugar and calories. These dishes quite often contain nearly as much fat as many meat dishes. To do vegan right, you have to prepare it yourself at home.



Myth #3

Any water is better than soda



False: No, not any water. Regular water is calorie free, but some of the newer vitamin waters may contain more than 125 calories per serving. Note that a 12 oz. can of Sprite or Pepsi contains 140 calories. Many vitamin waters contain twice the caffeine of a small can of Iced Tea.



Myth #4

If you eat late at night, the food automatically turns to fat



False: It's not when you eat, its how many calories you eat. Scientific studies have shown there is no link whatsoever between when people ate and whether they put on weight. However, eating late can cause heartburn and indigestion in some people, causing you to lose sleep.



Myth #5

Raw Vegetables are better than cooked vegetables



False: Generally, eating raw vegetables is not as healthy as cooking them. Some vegetables, e.g. eggplants and beans contain toxic substances which become harmless only after heat treatment. Some beans such as red kidney beans contain natural toxins, which can cause diarrhea if the beans aren't cooked properly; besides, the stomach often can't digest most raw products properly.



Cooking carrots and tomatoes helps release cancer-fighting substances called carotenoids and lycopenes, so the body can absorb them more easily. In fact, packaged heat processed tomato products such as spaghetti sauce can deliver six times more lycopene than the equivalent amount of fresh tomatoes. The tip is cook your vegetables, but not for too long.



Myth #6

Fresh fruits & vegetables are better than frozen, dried or canned foods



Not at all: Frozen, dried or canned foods can be just as healthy as fresh produce. Frozen or canned produce is usually packaged right after it has been picked. This helps it keep most of its nutritious value. Select packaged foods with labels such as “no salt added” and fruits packed in water not juice. Dried fruits such as raisins, figs & dates also contain healthy nutrients.



Myth #7

Never eat directly before or directly after your training session



False: An old wives tale. Generally many athletes like to eat a meal one hour or more before their activity; and eating shortly after a training session replenishes the body



Myth #8

Never eat nuts if you're on a diet



False: In fact they are some of the best foods to eat. I'm not talking about eating the whole can at once but just a handful or two. Although high in calories and fat, nuts are a high quality source of protein.



Myth #9

Some foods such as grapefruit, celery and lettuce are able to burn fat



False: There is no food on this planet that can burn off fat. This notion comes down from various fad diets throughout the years. Although these foods are not high in calories, most people will add sugar, sauces or other condiments that can increase the caloric value a great deal.



Myth #10

Special food cravings are your body's way of telling you it needs those nutrients



False: This is nonsense; the body doesn't crave any special nutrients. More probably you are craving your sugars, fats and salts, which make for more pleasurable eating.



Myth #11

It's dangerous to swim within one hour of eating.



False: This is an old wives tale that made it through the century. This myth dates back half a century when the American Red Cross published an instruction booklet on lifesaving tips and stated that swimming immediately after meal may cause stomach cramps and even death. This theory was reversed, but many people still believe it. Many swimmers assert that they usually cover long distances during training sessions immediately after meal.



Myth #12

Chopping boards made of wood are unhygienic



False: That's what manufacturers of plastic chopping boards say. In fact, there is no difference between them, where hygiene is concerned. Moreover, some biologists believe that wood boards are even better than plastic ones.



Myth #13

Liver is one of the best foods you can eat!



Not nowadays: I remember Vince Gironda preaching this daily but this has changed. The liver certainly stores many vitamins, minerals and proteins, but it also contains a lot of fat and cholesterol. Furthermore, according to American nutritionists, cattle liver accumulates hazardous quantities of chemicals and hormones animals get from fodder. More recently, infected livers from cow's suffering from “Mad Cows Disease” has made this a questionable choice.



Myth #14

Boiling water destroys pathogenic micro organisms.



Not so: Boiling does not even destroy micro organisms, let alone heavy metals, pesticides, herbicides, nitrates, phenol or oil products. So, this is not enough for its purification. Besides, beneficial salts of calcium and magnesium settle inside a teapot after boiling.



Myth #15

Dairy products are good for you



False: This one is a corollary of the Meat Axiom: you have had a "balanced" diet only when you have had your daily milk, cheese, butter, yogurt, cream cheese, cottage cheese, etc. "Only milk supplies sufficient calcium for a healthy body." This is bull. Calcium is present in sufficient quantities in vegetables. This is true however: only milk and milk products supply you with calcium caseinate, the major ingredient in wood glue.



Myth #16

It's OK to eat your meal quickly



You see this a lot in Japan, especially among kids, teens and young adults, they literally throw their food down their throat. Eating fast would be fine if digestion were a process which happened only in the stomach and small intestine and required no chewing. The fact is that digestion begins in the mouth in two ways. #1. Starchy foods begin to be digested with ptyalin and amylase contained in the saliva secreted by the salivary glands located in the mouth. The tongue secretes lingual lipase which begins the digestion of fats. If you bolt your food down, there is insufficient time for these starches to be digested, and the first stage of starch digestion is missed.



#2. Your teeth are your most important organs of digestion. They cut and grind the food, so that it can later come into contact with digestive enzymes in the stomach and small intestine. If you eat fast you end up swallowing food which is not thoroughly cut and ground. Some of this food will pass straight through you without contacting the appropriate digestive enzymes. The nutritional value of this food is wasted. You are left hungry, consequently eating more than you need to and putting an additional burden on the digestive tract, not to mention your waistline. Eat slowly.



Myth #17

It's alright to drink lots of fluids along with your meal



False: Most people do not consider their meal complete without something to drink. Many restaurant personnel expect you to order a drink and are disturbed if you do not. Just resist these pressures, because fluid dilutes all digestive enzymes, beginning with ptyalin in the mouth and continuing with hydrochloric acid in the stomach. Hydrochloric acid is responsible for beginning the breakdown of protein, so that proteinase can complete that job in the small intestine. Drinking large quantities of fluid with a meal dilutes these digestive juices, making it impossible to digest your food properly.



The best practice is to do your drinking between meals, beginning no earlier than two hours after your last meal. Two hours is the time required for your stomach to empty into the small intestine. A great time to hydrate yourself is when you first arise in the morning. A glass or two of water will not only hydrate you but also may awaken your colon, so that you begin the day free from a powerful source of intoxication. The only good purpose served by fluid with meals is lubrication for swallowing. The need for fluid for this purpose may indicate that you are eating too fast — but not always; depending on the type of food you are eating. Very dry foods may require extra lubrication beyond the saliva you produce even after thorough chewing. Drink the minimum amount necessary to swallow your food!



Myth #18

Juice is much healthier than soda



Not always: If you're drinking unsweetened, pure, organic juice, perhaps, but unless you're living on a farm, you're probably not drinking pure juice.

The so-called "fruit drinks" found in most grocery stores are not as closely related to the fruit whose name they bear as you'd like to think. These drinks, often labeled "juice drinks" or "juice ****tails," are actually very high in sugar and calories, and will rot your teeth just as quickly as soda will. In fact, 8 ounces of fruit juice and 8 ounces of soda contain a similar amount of calories -- approximately 100.



While many fruit drinks contain as much sugar as soda, and are therefore not much healthier, those juices that say "100% juice" on the label are a healthier choice. Just keep your serving sizes in check so as not to go overboard with calories. If you want to limit your sugar drink water or diet soda.



Myth #19

Red meat is bad for you


False: While red meat can be high in artery-clogging saturated fat it also contains healthy and necessary protein, iron, zinc, and vitamin B12. Stop eating fatty red meat, such as minced meat (except the "extra-lean" variety), and start eating leaner cuts of meat, such as filet mignon. This way you won't miss out on any of the vitamins, minerals, and complete protein that red meat provides.



The Bottom Line: Consuming three 2 to 3-ounce servings (the size of a deck of cards) of lean red meat per week is a healthy way to go. What's more, eating it with veggies, in a stir-fry, or in spaghetti sauce, provides even more of the vitamins and minerals you need for optimal body functioning.



Is red meat always higher in fat than poultry

When the lean and fat components of meat are blended together in mince or meat products, this can make the fat content much higher. Meat products, whether they've been made from red meat or poultry, can also be high in fat because of the other high fat ingredients they contain, such as the pastry in a meat pie or pasty. Skinned poultry meat only contains about 1–3 g. of fat per 100 g, and white meat contains less fat than darker meat. But if the skin and fatty deposits beneath it aren't removed, the fat content will be much higher. So go for leaner cuts, remove the visible fat, and remove the skin from poultry.



Myth #20

Saturated Fats are bad for you



False: The much-maligned saturated fats—which Americans are trying to avoid -- are not the cause of our modern diseases. In fact, they play many important roles in the body chemistry:

- Saturated fatty acids constitute at least 50% of the cell membranes. They are what gives our cells necessary stiffness and integrity

- They play a vital role in the health of our bones. For calcium to be effectively incorporated into the skeletal structure, at least 50% of the dietary fats should be saturated.

- They lower Lp(a), a substance in the blood that indicates proneness to heart disease.2They protect the liver from alcohol and other toxins, such as Tylenol

- They enhance the immune system

- They are needed for the proper utilization of essential fatty acids. Elongated omega-3 fatty acids are better retained in the tissues when the diet is rich in saturated fats

- Saturated 18-carbon stearic acid and 16-carbon palmitic acid are the preferred foods for the heart, which is why the fat around the heart muscle is highly saturated



The heart draws on this reserve of fat in times of stress. Short and medium chain saturated fatty acids have important antimicrobial properties. They protect us against harmful microorganisms in the digestive tract.



Myth #21

All additives and preservatives used in food and drinks are unhealthy



False: Although in the past some of this was true, this is much less so today. Many foods depend on additives for safety, stability or preservation. Preservatives inhibit growth of microbes that cause food poisoning. Ham and bacon would be highly dangerous without the preservative that also gives them their characteristic color. Similarly, emulsifiers are added to food such as ice cream to help give it a smooth, creamy taste. Without other kinds of additives many foods would look less pleasant, or taste less pleasant, or go off more quickly, or cost more.



Myth #22

MSG does not naturally occur in foods and therefore is bad for you



Glutamate is a naturally occurring amino acid and is one of the most abundant and important components of proteins found in most foods. These foods include cheese, milk, mushrooms, meat, fish and many vegetables. Glutamate is also produced by the human body and is vital for metabolism and brain function. Monosodium glutamate (MSG) is a derivative of glutamate. It is comprised of nothing more than water, sodium and glutamate. When MSG is added to food it provides the same flavoring function as the glutamate that occurs naturally in food.

The human body does not discriminate between glutamate added to foods and glutamate found naturally in foods.



Myth #23

It's better to eat three good meals a day than to eat whenever you're hungry



False: Don't eat because the clock says it is time to eat. Eat when you have a physiological need for food, stop eating when you have met that need.

Most people feel like eating something every three to four hours to avoid becoming too hungry. Dividing your calories into three meals and two or three snacks instead of three large meals can help to keep you well fuelled throughout the day and lessen the chances of overeating. Depending on what you choose, snacks can also make significant contributions to the day's total intake of vital vitamins and minerals.



Myth #24

It's healthier not to mix carbohydrates and proteins in the same meal



Complete fantasy: Some fad diets suggest that proteins and carbohydrates should not be consumed together. However, for many people, this may lead to sharp fluctuations in blood glucose levels. Although the glucose in the blood is usually tightly controlled, it can fluctuate sharply with the consumption of carbohydrate only meals, rising sharply and then falling rapidly, leading to feelings of fatigue, hunger or lightheadedness. Combining protein with carbohydrates should help avoid these highs and lows. In fact, eating mixed meals which naturally combine proteins with carbohydrates is one of the best ways to control your blood glucose, or sugar levels.



Myth #25

Don't eat too many eggs, they're bad for you



False: At one time I ate about 4-6 eggs per day and I was in the best shape of my life. Unfortunately for many years, eggs have gotten a bad rap as a forbidden food because of their cholesterol content. The mere mention of cholesterol conjured up fear and was enough to banish eggs entirely from the diets of many Americans. No cholesterol was the most important benefit trumpeted in advertising and on the labels of many food products.



Today, thanks to years of research, we know more than ever about the relationship between diet, lifestyle and good health. There is growing evidence that diet and health relationships are a function of both what is in the diet and what is missing from it. It is also becoming clear that many of our perceptions about various dietary factors are inaccurate. For example, when it comes to dietary cholesterol, many people believe that it is an extremely important factor in high blood cholesterol.



Studies have now shown that many people on a low-fat diet can eat one or two eggs a day without any measurable changes in their blood cholesterol levels and healthy individuals can eat more. Eggs are probably the most perfect food on Earth; put them back on your menu.





WR, President, Realfighting

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One hit, see blood.

It's not enough to just not get hit

“	Stop eating fatty red meat, such as minced meat (except the "extra-lean" variety), and start eating leaner cuts of meat, such as filet mignon.	”

Now that I can do

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Some of these "Myths" are questionable. Did WR cite the research articles he got all this information from

One of the ones that initially stood out to me is this:

“	Myth #4 If you eat late at night, the food automatically turns to fat False: It's not when you eat, its how many calories you eat. Scientific studies have shown there is no link whatsoever between when people ate and whether they put on weight. However, eating late can cause heartburn and indigestion in some people, causing you to lose sleep.	”

Its totally missing the point. The reason eating before you go to bed turns the calories into fat is because you are not doing anything. Sleeping, although it does burn a minimal amount of calories, is not an activity. When you eat breakfast or lunch you are involved in something else for the rest of the day to use that energy. Essentially you are taking in calories that are not being used. Your body will then store the extra energy for later. Assume that you eat dinner, go to bed, get up and eat breakfast, then begin your day. Essentially that's two meals back to back.

“	Myth #7 Never eat directly before or directly after your training session False: An old wives tale. Generally many athletes like to eat a meal one hour or more before their activity; and eating shortly after a training session replenishes the body	”

This is dumb...the myth is not to eat directly before training...yet the rebuttal cites the time to be anywhere from an hour or more from the training time. An hour is not directly before a training session.

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"You must eat bitter before you can taste sweet"- Iron & Silk
"I see no virtue where I smell no sweat"
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I just post for controversy's sake.
I did email him though and ask where he got his info and can he supply sources
Or just clarify further.

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One hit, see blood.

It's not enough to just not get hit

I am not a nutritionist, so I can't comment on some of the other stuff...But I think overall the author probably just found information to support his personal views. That's usually what happens.

However, most of what he wrote was true and were good points. I just personally don't think the article as a whole is very accurate.

Good work on checking up though Pai.

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"You must eat bitter before you can taste sweet"- Iron & Silk
"I see no virtue where I smell no sweat"
"Arm yourself because no one else here will save you" - Chris Cornell

Some was pretty interesting in that thing, however im not too sure on others, like what wraith put, eating before sleeping can cause fat to develop, because you are eating a ton of stuff before almost no activity. this sort of time is where muscle is redeveloped etc. and any calories that you havent used get stored. eating before sleeping is not the best of ideas but usually cant be avoided because most people need to eat around then (imagine how hungry you would be by breakfast :P) but eating a LOT is the main problem. most people eat their main meals just before they go to sleep, their LARGEST meal of the day is at night. most of the energy and nutrients and salt and fat and blah blah blah would be lost from that meal because you wont be using them. you wont be doing any activities for that day that requires them! Larger meals should be earlier on in the day, the last meal shouldnt be miniscule, but it shouldnt be big and not right before sleep.

“	Myth #2 Vegetarian meals are healthier than meat dishes False: Why is it that people who are dedicated strict vegetarians look like they were just released from a concentration camp It's obvious to all that they're not healthy; they're not getting their daily nutrients. There are some vegetarians who look to be in moderate good health, but they sneak in fish and poultry [and don't bother to mention it]. If you don't want to feel, act and behave like a vegan zombie, you will need to add some fish or fowl.	”

“	Its totally missing the point. The reason eating before you go to bed turns the calories into fat is because you are not doing anything. Sleeping, although it does burn a minimal amount of calories, is not an activity.	”

I dont think so, eating, per se, burns calories and the body needs some nutrients to repair your body while you sleep, sleeping is an activity and burns calories (ok it burns only a small amount), the main problem is that if you eat a lot at night you will have indigestion and you may win a lot of weight.

The health freak will return shortly to comment on these statements.



But in the mean time; cholesterol is used by the body as a 'band-aid' to quickly repair damaged cells, like skin and organs. It's also used to help clot blood, and cover toxins that the body cannot excrete. Hence Liver stones.


I'll be back

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“	Myth #1 Eating for your blood type makes good sense	”

Ok Never say effect of this... I personally don't care the kind of food I eat... I do think it's kind of FAD of some sort...

“	False: Why is it that people who are dedicated strict vegetarians look like they were just released from a concentration camp It's obvious to all that they're not healthy; they're not getting their daily nutrients. There are some vegetarians who look to be in moderate good health, but they sneak in fish and poultry [and don't bother to mention it].	”

Ok this is just false Notion among Non Veg...
In India Most of Phelwans(Wrestlers) are Veg they were damn good...
I m basically VEG(I eat eggs once in 15 days, n don't tell me that gives me enuff nutrients for 15 days... thats BS)
I Rarely eat Meat(once in 6 months is about average, may be more), again I don't think I get most of my nutrients from Meat pfffttt:
I rarely take supplements of any sort, be it protein bars, creatine, whey watever...
if you come down to india and work around indian food, I can show u way to bulk up with Veg-Indian food, author is makin general statements without researching it
here is another general statement from basic indians
I know jack sh!t about western food... I think mostly western know nothing about cooking n survive on Pizza n beer.
they r mostly drunk, they have IQ less than any rock lol...
and their womans r easy to pick Up

again general statements, it's free world I can state watever I want specially If I have my own site... who cares... give me evidence...

dairy products...
ya I even heard Erle Montague talk about this, he says our body cannot digest anything other than mother's milk... hmmm... dairy products are part of my daily routine, never had problems with it, when ever I needed to bulk up, I work around dairy products too...

“	Without other kinds of additives many foods would look less pleasant, or taste less pleasant, or go off more quickly, or cost more.	”

oh well he needed a quick lesson on Traditional Indian food, how to enhance taste and flavor... seems like westerners never heard about spices(general statement again )

“	There is no food on this planet that can burn off fat. This notion comes down from various fad diets throughout the years.	”

I Dn't remember wat it was, I think it's parsley which have negative calories... means when u eat, u don't gain calorie u loose calories, again general statement by author
-TkdWarrior-

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I'm with Wraith on this one. For the most part, it's fairly accurate, but some things about it are only half-truths or less.

I've run some of these myths by my sister and her husband, both graduates in medical and health fields, and they've cleared some up.

Vegetarian Meals : This is a gross generalization. I've known many vegs and some were healthier than me. The fact is ANY unbalanced diet is unhealthy. I don't know of any nutrient that's isolated in a single source. It's all in getting the right balance.

Late Night Eating : Well it just depends on what and how much you eat, now doesn't it Having a small snack of nuts and fruit vs a large banana split makes a large difference.

Cravings : Cravings can come anytime your body's being denied something it's used to having, be it nutrients or narcotics. If you're used to having sugars and sweets, then yes, it's possible that's all it means. But if for some reason, say, squash is sounding or tasting particularly good, it's a fair statement that you've got a slight deficiency. Believe me, your body can tell you what it needs.

Swimming After Eating : It goes both ways, to say it only works on one side is nonsense. I've worked as a lifeguard before and I've seen cramps from people doing some strenuous swimming directly after eating. However, I would say the window of an hour is much too long, more like 20-30 minutes.

Boiling Water : OK, this one has me confused. If so, all my Boy Scout training is questionable. While true, boiling alone won't get rid of any chemicals in the water, it will kill bacteria, though the "bodies" will stay in the fluid. Just make sure to boil it continuously for at least 20 min.

Dairy Products : Who says they're bad for me I'm a religious man, and when the Lord said he'd provide a land flowing with milk and honey, I'm pretty sure he didn't mean nonfat powdered milk and artificial sweeteners.

Drinking and Eating : This is exaggerated a bit. No it doesn't make digestion impossible, but yes it can hinder it. Of course, I'm curious how much is a "great deal of liquid" to the author.

Saturated Fats : Again, blown slightly out of proportion. Natural saturated fats, yes, are quite healthy, so long as you don't overdo it on quantities. But it makes no mention of hydrogenated and other types of "synthesized" fats. These are rather difficult to break down in the body.

I find it interesting that while many times "common sense" can be wrong, far more often is it correct. If you stop and think, maybe do a bit of research, you can easily find out the truth of a lot of "myths," nutritional or otherwise.

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- J

I regularly eat dinner after 9:00 p.m., not by choice but because that's when I get home. Since I'm on South Beach I don't eat many carbs anyway, but I do eat meat & vegetables with a little bit of wheat bread or 1/2 cup of pasta. This hasn't had a negative impact on my weight loss. However if I eat and then lie down immediately I get heartburn, so I just don't do that.

I question the author's opinion of vegetarianism, too.

“	Originally Posted By: tkdwarrior here is another general statement from basic indians I know jack sh!t about western food... I think mostly western know nothing about cooking n survive on Pizza n beer. they r mostly drunk, they have IQ less than any rock lol... and their womans r easy to pick Up	”

Hilarious! (But disturbingly true in some ways)

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"Pain can be a great teacher of compassion and humility."~ Unkotare-san

"Whatever the case, it proves that countless disasters can be prevented by simply assuming everyone you're working with is a moron." ~ Adam Brown, 5 Tiny Mistakes...

A good balance of all foods is the most healthy way to go. A good way to
look and feel good is to eat a good size breakfast, 1 1/2 hrs later eat a peice of fruit and have a protein drink, for lunch, have chicken breast (skin removed prior to cooking) or small steak and veggies and an apple or other type fruit, 1 1/2hr to 2 hr later eat small source of protein and carbs, for dinner have small steak or fish, salad and baked potato, 1to 1 1/2 hrs later have a fruit salad or other snak. Throughout the day, drink LOTS of WATER. Tea and/or coffee are fine in small amounts. Pure juice is much better than pop. You can even slice fruit like lime,lemon and orange and drop a few slices into a large glass of water for a good drink.
I know it sounds like a lot of eating but eat often and in smaller amounts than you usually eat. Eating like this will increase your metabolism and give you energy throughout the day. Do not eat after 6pm unless it is a very small snack. Eating this way, you will burn fat, have energy out the butt and look and feel healthy. AND REMEMBER, LOTS OF WATER!
Jeff(fuzzy30)

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“	oh well he needed a quick lesson on Traditional Indian food, how to enhance taste and flavor... seems like westerners never heard about spices(general statement again )	”

Wha spice oh, you mean salt and sugar!
Of course we have well spiced foods! we're healthy people, in a healthy - well balanced country .




tkdwarrior summed up what I was going to say. But I love indian food, could you please give me some recipes

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Land of the Slave, home of the Knave.

Let me tell you guys that its quite difficult to follow a well balanced diet living in Mexico with all our spicy and non-healthy food hahahahaha