1. “Eating before bed will make you fat”
If you work long hours or have a lifestyle that forces you to eat later, you’ve probably challenged this myth before. Fortunately, most experts agree that a little late-night indulgence won’t necessarily make you gain weight. Food is metabolized the same way regardless of the time of day, the current consensus among dieticians is that you should consider all of your food intake over a 24-hour period. In some cases, this could even be extended to 72 hours, as certain foods take a surprising amount of time to be fully absorbed by our digestive system.
2. “Walnuts are good for you”
Despite being packed with vitamins and minerals, nuts are known to be high in fat, does this mean you should avoid them? Assuming you don’t have a nut allergy, the answer is no. The fats found in nuts are known as “unsaturated fats” or “good fats”, this is because they can actually improve your health! Studies show that those who eat nuts are less likely to develop type 2 diabetes or heart disease! Their high fat content also makes them ideal for snacking on when you need a little extra energy.
3. “Your blood cholesterol goes up when you eat eggs.”
This is actually not true, cholesterol levels in the blood are determined by the body’s own production, so as long as you don’t suffer from high cholesterol, adding eggs to your daily routine is fine. They are a great source of protein, vitamins, and minerals, which means they can be a great addition to any balanced diet.
4. “Drinking coffee makes you lose fat”
This is a common myth that is often misunderstood. It is true that the concentration of fatty acids in the blood increases after caffeine intake, however, it does not necessarily mean that the body is consuming more fat. The main benefit of coffee (apart from the taste!) is the energy boost it provides, if you can use it to exercise for longer you should definitely see an increase in fat loss, provided you eat a well balanced diet.
5. “Carbohydrates make you fat”
The body stores fat when you consume more calories than you expend, your food choices have an impact on your overall health, but fat storage is governed by this principle. So, in theory, you could lose weight on a diet of chips and candy, as long as you consume fewer calories than you burn. Whole, unprocessed foods like rice and potatoes are the best source of carbohydrates because they take longer to digest, so you’ll be fuller for longer.