You know you can't believe everything you read. The history of nutrition is riddled with nonsense, some of which is still being promoted. Here are 10 contenders for the worst diet advice in history:
1. Throw away the egg yolks
Because egg yolks are high in cholesterol, people believe they will raise cholesterol in your blood. Somewhere in our recent history, between egg-white-guzzling bodybuilders and cholesterol-fearing doctors, it became cool to throw away egg yolks. Let me be clear on something, egg white omelets are not cool! Don’t even pretend that you like the taste of them! And if your egg whites come from a carton, those are even less cool. Pound for pound, the nutrition of the yolk is head and shoulders above its white counterpart.
2. Cleanse, detox, and juice fast
The juice cleanse business is drawing in customers like fruit flies, promising weight loss, body detoxification and the treatment and prevention of everything from the common cold to cancer. A nutritious juice here and there can be beneficial for your health, but when it’s taken to the extreme -- limiting your diet to strictly juices for weeks -- it not only fails to be the magic solution the fanatics are claiming it to be; it can also do more harm than good. The bottom line is that these will help you lose weight in the short term because you have stopped eating. Your body actually detoxes on its own using your digestive system, kidneys, and liver. No need to “cleanse” to lose weight.
3. You burn more calories working out on an empty stomach.
As tempting as it may seem to cut down on calories before you head into a big calorie-burn session, you're not doing yourself any favors. You aren't giving yourself the fuel you need to last through a 30-minute or hour-long workout. As a result, you lose muscle mass, which can, over time, suppress your metabolism and make it harder to lose weight.
4.Take the weekends off
Throwing caution to the wind on the weekends can offset the consistency and success you had all week. On the weekends, we tend to sleep in, drink more alcohol and have heavier meals. So if you lose about one pound between Monday and Friday, you just might gain it back on the weekend
5. Cut out carbs
While it is true that excessive intakes of refined carbohydrates, like white bread or white rice, may lead to weight gain or increased cardiovascular risk, there is no research suggesting that healthy carbohydrates, such as whole grains, fruits, vegetables, or legumes, can negatively impact health or weight. I think we could all use some carb cutting when it comes to cookies, white bread, and large quantities of white rice BUT whole grains, beans, and fruits are good carbs. Our bodies NEED carbs.
6. Fat makes you fat
It depends on the type of fats you're eating. Fats in chips, cookies, and greasy foods can increase cholesterol and your risk for certain diseases. But good fats, like those found in nuts, avocados, and salmon protect your heart and support your overall health. When paired with a healthy diet, the right fats can help keep you from being....fat!!
7. Artificial sweeteners are a great substitute for sugar
Research indicates a possible link between artificial sweetener consumption and weight gain.Constantly consuming artificial sweeteners means you're never really letting your taste buds get a break from the sweet taste you love. The more you drink diet soda, for example, the longer you'll remain trapped in the sugar cycle and continue to crave.
8. You can burn more calories eating your food raw
The cooking methods such as boiling, heating, grilling, and microwaving, make a nutritional difference. However, some food may be best eaten raw, that's not the case for all foods.
9. Eat the same thing every day
You'll miss out on great nutrients if you're eating the same old foods. Different foods give you a different range of vitamins and minerals. You could choose a dozen healthy foods, but every single one might be low in, for example, vitamin C, or zinc, or both.
10. Chew mint gum to eat less
Not to burst your bubble, but the lingering taste of mint can actually reduce the palatability of healthy food. That means that when you spit the gum out and go for a snack, that snack is likely to look and taste a lot more appealing than a carrot.
It just god a lot easier for you to distinguish the best advice from all the bogus, but commonly believed, diet and weight loss tips.
