MEALIME.COM
Despite good science being done…
food myths are
all around us.
MEALIME.COM
And they
persist…
…despite data proving them false.
MEALIME.COM
MEALIME.COM
So let’s get to the
32 food myths
that science says should be retired.
MEALIME.COM
Food Myth #1 Natural Sweeteners are Way
Healthier than Regular Sugar
MEALIME.COM
Whether we’re talking about…• Agave syrup • Palm sugar • Evaporated cane juice • Coconut sugar • Honey • Maple syrup • Molasses
… “natural sweeteners” all behave similarly in your
body as sugar…
MEALIME.COM
More information on the “natural” sweetener food myth
(and what to do about it) can be found here:
http://mealime.com/nutrition/food-myths/#natural
MEALIME.COM
Food Myth #2 Microwaving is Inherently
Unhealthy
MEALIME.COM
Does radiation from
microwaves really destroy the enzymes and nutrients in your food?
It turns out that ALL cooking destroys enzymes and nutrients. Microwaves have
been proven safe for decades.
MEALIME.COM
More information on the “microwave” food myth
(and what to do about it) can be found here:
http://mealime.com/nutrition/food-myths/#microwave
MEALIME.COM
Food Myth #3 Frozen and Canned Vegetables are Less Nutritious Than Fresh
MEALIME.COM
Eating fruits and veggies the moment they are picked gives
you the most nutrients…
“But who does that?”Canned and frozen can actually contain more nutrients than the so-called “fresh” produce at your grocery store!
MEALIME.COM
More information on the “canned vegetable” food myth
(and what to do about it) can be found here:
http://mealime.com/nutrition/food-myths/#canned
MEALIME.COM
Food Myth #4 You Need to Consume Dairy
(for calcium)
MEALIME.COM
The majority of the world (65-75%) is lactose intolerant
to some degree…
…and you can get your calcium from other foods
(like leafy greens)
MEALIME.COM
More information on the “dairy / calcium” food myth (and what to do about it)
can be found here:
http://mealime.com/nutrition/food-myths/#dairy
MEALIME.COM
Food Myth #5 You Need to Periodically Cleanse
and Detoxify Your Body
MEALIME.COM
Your body already has a detox system. It’s called your liver,
kidneys, colon, lungs, and skin.
“Cleanses” and detoxing are bogus (though you may want to
juice for different reasons)
MEALIME.COM
More information on the “cleanse / detox” food myth (and what to do about it)
can be found here:
http://mealime.com/nutrition/food-myths/#cleanse
MEALIME.COM
Food Myth #6 Cravings are a Sign of Nutrients
Missing From Your Diet
MEALIME.COM
Cravings are much more influenced by emotions than physiological needs.
Otherwise we’d all crave vegetables instead of sweets!
MEALIME.COM
More information on the “cravings” food myth
(and what to do about it) can be found here:
http://mealime.com/nutrition/food-myths/#cravings
MEALIME.COM
Food Myth #7 “Grazing” On 6+ Meals Per Day
Will Boost Your Metabolism and Help You to Lose Weight
MEALIME.COM
Snacking every 2-3 hours to “stoke your
metabolism” has been thoroughly
debunked6 meals of 400 calories
has the exact same metabolic response in your body as 3 meals of 800 calories and so on…
MEALIME.COM
More information on the “grazing” food myth
(and what to do about it) can be found here:
http://mealime.com/nutrition/food-myths/#grazing
MEALIME.COM
Food Myth #8 High Fructose Corn Syrup is
Worse Than Sugar
MEALIME.COM
HFCS isn’t good for you, but it’s no different than “regular”
sugar…They influence your body in exactly the same way.
MEALIME.COM
More information on the “high fructose corn syrup” food myth
(and what to do about it) can be found here:
http://mealime.com/nutrition/food-myths/#hfcs
MEALIME.COM
Food Myth #9 All Raw Foods are Much
Healthier Than Cooked Foods
MEALIME.COM
It’s true that cooking destroys enzymes in plants…
…but the plant’s enzymes were created for the plant’s benefit. We have our own enzymes that allows us to digest food without a problem.
Cooking can even make food more nutritious
(not less)
MEALIME.COM
More information on the “raw” food myth
(and what to do about it) can be found here:
http://mealime.com/nutrition/food-myths/#raw
MEALIME.COM
Food Myth #10 It’s Proven That You Must Eat
Breakfast in Order to Lose Weight
MEALIME.COM
Breakfast isn’t magicalIt isn’t scientifically proven that eating breakfast will help you to lose weight.
So eat a healthy breakfast or don’t eat breakfast at all.
You’ll be fine.
MEALIME.COM
More information on the “breakfast” food myth
(and what to do about it) can be found here:
http://mealime.com/nutrition/food-myths/#breakfast
MEALIME.COM
Food Myth #11 Your Brain Needs Carbohydrates
to Survive
MEALIME.COM
Contrary to popular belief…Your brain isn’t ONLY powered by carbs.
With ketones your brain can thrive
MEALIME.COM
More information on the “brain / carb” food myth
(and what to do about it) can be found here:
http://mealime.com/nutrition/food-myths/#brain
MEALIME.COM
Food Myth #12 Eating Fat Uniquely Makes You
Fat
MEALIME.COM
Not only is fat not inherently fattening…
It’s absolutely
essential
to the body.
Eat your fat. There’s little evidence that fat uniquely makes you fat.
MEALIME.COM
More information on the “eating fat makes you fat” food myth
(and what to do about it) can be found here:
http://mealime.com/nutrition/food-myths/#fat
MEALIME.COM
Food Myth #13 Eating Carbohydrates Uniquely
Makes You Fat
MEALIME.COM
This is the same as the
fat mythCarbs are not inherently fattening
(though some, like sugar, should probably be limited)
MEALIME.COM
More information on the “eating carbs makes you fat” food myth
(and what to do about it) can be found here:
http://mealime.com/nutrition/food-myths/#carbs
MEALIME.COM
Food Myth #14 Eating Lots of Protein Will Harm
Your Kidneys and Bones
MEALIME.COM
Not only does science not support this myth…
Protein has been shown
to be hugely
beneficial to bone health,
weight loss, and gaining lean muscle
mass
MEALIME.COM
More information on the “protein is harmful” food myth
(and what to do about it) can be found here:
http://mealime.com/nutrition/food-myths/#protein
MEALIME.COM
Food Myth #15 Red Meat & Saturated Fat Will
Kill You
MEALIME.COM
Despite red meat and saturated fat being demonized
during the low fat craze of the ‘70s…
All these claims have been proven false. Red
meat (not processed red meat, mind you) and
saturated fat have no correlation with heart
disease or diabetes
MEALIME.COM
More information on the “red meat / saturated fat” food myth
(and what to do about it) can be found here:
http://mealime.com/nutrition/food-myths/#saturated
MEALIME.COM
Food Myth #16 Eating Cholesterol Leads to Heart
Disease
MEALIME.COM
Nope.
Cholesterol you eat has very little influence on total body cholesterol levels. Eat your eggs, folks.
MEALIME.COM
More information on the “cholesterol” food myth
(and what to do about it) can be found here:
http://mealime.com/nutrition/food-myths/#cholesterol
MEALIME.COM
Food Myth #17 Low Fat is the Healthiest Way to
Eat
MEALIME.COM
Fat isn’t the
problem.
You can eat low fat and be healthy. But eating low fat is often synonymous with high sugar and tons of
processed foods.
Do low fat right or don’t do it at all.
MEALIME.COM
More information on the “low fat” food myth
(and what to do about it) can be found here:
http://mealime.com/nutrition/food-myths/#low-fat
MEALIME.COM
Food Myth #18 Dark Chocolate Will Help You
Lose Weight
MEALIME.COM
Dark chocolate is great
(in moderation).But no significant study exists that proves it contains a unique weight
loss mechanism.
Sorry!
MEALIME.COM
More information on the “dark chocolate / weight loss”
food myth (and what to do about it)
can be found here:http://mealime.com/nutrition/food-
myths/#chocolate
MEALIME.COM
Food Myth #19 Coffee is Unhealthy
MEALIME.COM
Sure, your frappa / mocha sugar filled monstrosity is unhealthy
But large scientific studies show that drinking 3-4 8oz
cups of black coffee per day is associated
with tons of health benefits
Drink up!
MEALIME.COM
More information on the “coffee is unhealthy” food myth
(and what to do about it) can be found here:
http://mealime.com/nutrition/food-myths/#coffee
MEALIME.COM
Food Myth #20 Highly Processed Vegetable Oils
are Healthy
MEALIME.COM
Whether it’s…• Soy • Corn • Cottonseed • Sunflower • Margarine
They all contain extremely high amounts of pro-inflammatory omega-6 fats.
Stay away from them.
MEALIME.COM
More information on the “vegetable oil” food myth
(and what to do about it) can be found here:
http://mealime.com/nutrition/food-myths/#veg-oils
MEALIME.COM
Food Myth #21 All Trans Fats are the Same
MEALIME.COM
Artificial trans fats are horribleBut naturally
occurring trans fats from
healthy sources (because they’re
consumed in such
small amounts) are nothing to worry about.
MEALIME.COM
More information on the “trans fat” food myth
(and what to do about it) can be found here:
http://mealime.com/nutrition/food-myths/#trans
MEALIME.COM
Food Myth #22 Butter is Bad for You
MEALIME.COM
This myth started during the low fat craze of the ‘70s
But butter is MUCH healthier than processed vegetable oils and contains
essential fat-soluble vitamins
MEALIME.COM
More information on the “butter is bad for you” food myth
(and what to do about it) can be found here:
http://mealime.com/nutrition/food-myths/#butter
MEALIME.COM
Food Myth #23 Eliminating Salt from Home
Cooked Meals is the Best Way to Reduce Sodium Intake
MEALIME.COM
You need salt in order to
survive
Add it to your food to taste.
Most of the salt you consume is
stuffed into processed foods.
Avoid these as much as
possible.
MEALIME.COM
More information on the “salt is bad for you” food myth
(and what to do about it) can be found here:
http://mealime.com/nutrition/food-myths/#salt
MEALIME.COM
Food Myth #24 You Can’t Cook with Olive Oil
MEALIME.COM
Actually… olive oil is a
stable fat with a higher
smoke point than you probably
think.
Cook with olive oil as much as you want
(except perhaps for deep frying, which you probably
shouldn’t be doing anyways)
MEALIME.COM
More information on the “you can’t cook with olive oil”
food myth (and what to do about it)
can be found here:http://mealime.com/nutrition/food-
myths/#olive-oil
MEALIME.COM
Food Myth #25 You Need to Drink 8 Glasses of
Water Per Day
MEALIME.COM
There is no set amount of water you need to drink per day.
Follow your
thirst. That’s it.
MEALIME.COM
More information on the “8 glasses of water per day”
food myth (and what to do about it)
can be found here:http://mealime.com/nutrition/food-
myths/#water
MEALIME.COM
Food Myth #26 Fruit Juice is Healthy
MEALIME.COM
Fruit juice does contain vitamins and minerals…
But it also contains as much (or more)
sugar than a soft drink.
MEALIME.COM
More information on the “fruit juice is healthy” food myth
(and what to do about it) can be found here:
http://mealime.com/nutrition/food-myths/#fruit-juice
MEALIME.COM
Food Myth #27 Meat Rots in Your Colon
MEALIME.COM
Meat is fully processed by your body.
It’s actually fibrous plant matter that rots in your colon.
MEALIME.COM
More information on the “meat rots in your colon” food myth
(and what to do about it) can be found here:
http://mealime.com/nutrition/food-myths/#rot
MEALIME.COM
Food Myth #28 GMO’s are Universally Bad
MEALIME.COM
In thousands of studies, GMO’s have
been deemed safe for animal
and human consumption.
It’s a complex subject.But one that isn’t as clear cut as you may think.
MEALIME.COM
More information on the “GMO’s are bad” food myth (and what to do about it)
can be found here:
http://mealime.com/nutrition/food-myths/#gmo
MEALIME.COM
Food Myth #29 All Calories are the Same
MEALIME.COM
Here’s the thing: different foods affect the body
in vastly different ways.
What you eat matters, not just how much you eat.
MEALIME.COM
More information on the “all calories are the same” food myth
(and what to do about it) can be found here:
http://mealime.com/nutrition/food-myths/#calorie-same
MEALIME.COM
Food Myth #30 Artificial Sweeteners Will Give
You Cancer
MEALIME.COM
Decades of studies have confirmed that aspartame is safe to consume
MEALIME.COM
More information on the “artificial sweetener” food myth
(and what to do about it) can be found here:
http://mealime.com/nutrition/food-myths/#artificial
MEALIME.COM
Food Myth #31 Organics are Always Healthier
MEALIME.COM
Organic has become a buzzword.
Are organics all they’re cracked up to be?
Studies show that it’s not as clear cut
as you may think.
MEALIME.COM
More information on the “organics are always healthier”
food myth (and what to do about it)
can be found here:http://mealime.com/nutrition/food-
myths/#organic
MEALIME.COM
Food Myth #32 There is Only One Diet That’s Best
MEALIME.COM
Humans have thrived on
vastly different diets.
All healthy diets have more in common than
they differ. Stop diet bashing.
MEALIME.COM
More information on the “one diet to rule them all
food myth (and what to do about it)
can be found here:http://mealime.com/nutrition/food-
myths/#one-diet
MEALIME.COM
And that’s it!
Bye bye
food myths.
MEALIME.COM
Get the full article that inspired this SlideShare …
… plus a free PDF of this guide at
http://mealime.com/nutrition/food-myths/
Healthy Meal Plans for Busy Professionals.
Personalized, simple, and stress-free. Get yours at…
MEALIME.COM