In today’s age of dietary consciousness, the race to get the perfect body, health and hair is getting wilder by the day. A number of diets are growing within the urban scene and are being recommended by nutritionists for various reasons. A lot of myths are also floating around, as a result of which, people aiming to lose weight end up doing the opposite or suffer from side-effects like hair-loss, weakness and deficiencies. While mainstream nutrition offers a good amount of statistical and scientific data, here’s what it doesn’t tell you:
Saturated fat is actually good for you in small amounts
A non-assertive statement about saturated fat made by the Food & Nutrition Board in 2002, according to which there is no relationship between the consumption of saturated fats and the well-being of the body, and therefore it may be neglected altogether led to the notoriety of saturated fats. However, recent research has proved that nutrients that constitute hormones and cell-membranes can be derived from foods heavy in saturated fats. Many vitamins are soluble in fats and therefore need fats to move around in the body. Saturated fats are also good for the normal functioning of the heart.
While large amounts of saturated fat are not healthy, small amounts can provide your body with the right nutrition. For example, using coconut oil twice a week can provide you with the proper amount of saturated fat that’s needed for a healthy diet. When you completely cut out saturated fat from your diet, your body is actually lacking the proper nutrition that it needs. By choosing coconut oil for your saturated fat source, you’ll not only get the proper amount of saturated fat, but you’ll get the many other benefits that coconut milk offers to those who consume it.
Coconut oil is one of the healthiest foods available and it can be taken alone or used during cooking. Coconut oil is known for improving heart health when taken in small amounts on a regular basis. It is proven to help reduce bad cholesterol levels, help with weight loss and improve weight loss success and even helps your hair grow.
Milk is not all that nourishing
Though milk carries a large nutritional value, owing to the high calcium content, it is not supported with vitamins D or K for its absorption, leading to various concentrations and deficiencies. Also pasteurized milk is not a safer option because the process of pasteurization intended to kill germs ends up destroying nutrients as well, such as lactase which is an enzyme and a number of vitamins as well. According to an article published in Armchair Science, London, pasteurization encourages the growth of harmful bacteria in milk.
Other than not being very nourishing, the lactose in milk is actually harmful for many people. About 70% of the population has a lactose intolerance problem, and some people may not even know they have this problem and associate it with digestive problems or everyday allergies. There are many products on the market that can be substituted for milk, and provide you with the calcium that you need to stay healthy. These choices include both coconut and almond milk, which have much higher levels of calcium, along with many other health benefits.
Not all soy products are healthy
Soy is widely marketed all over and many nutritionists recommend soy as a replacement for other notorious protein sources such as milk and meat. However, many people who are easily fooled by advertisements claiming to give them an alternative and better lifestyle fail to understand that unless soy is fermented it might actually do them harm. Unfermented may lead to a number of cardiovascular, glandular, reproductive and digestive disorders, along with a few cognitive disturbances as it contains certain anti-nutrients and a certain phytic acid that causes all the trouble.
Soy products are actually grown using pesticides, which make these products and a very risky choice. Pesticides are not designed for human consumption, and can cause a variety of different health problems. Those who consume soy on a regular basis are being misled by thinking they are making a healthy choice, while in reality they are putting their health at risk.
Eggs are the best
Eggs have acquired a bad reputation because of various allegations that eggs are responsible for high cholesterol levels in the body, generate a great amount of heat and may lead to certain skin-related problems. To the contrary, eggs are by far the best source of nutrition in your diet. Eggs are sustainable, fulfilling and a storehouse of vitamins, minerals, good fats and vital amino acids necessary for the proper functioning of the nervous and cardiovascular systems.
Fruit juice does more harm than good
Every smart diet must contain a portion of whole fruits and vegetables that supply the required amount of fiber and plant-based nutrients that are created during photosynthesis. Packaged fruit juices are not substitutes as they destroy this very goodness of fruits by supplying only the fruit’s sugar content to the consumer. Thus, fruit juices may end up causing a lot of fat storage in the body. Whole fruits and large cuts of fruits like cantaloupe and such are the best. When you purchase juice off the shelves, you are basically buying a bottle of fake coloring, sugar and preservatives. Actually, there is very small amounts of actually juice in many of these products, which isn’t beneficial for the health at all.
If you’re looking to add juice into your diet, there is no better choice than choosing to make fresh juice at home. A juicing machine can be used to remove the juice from fresh fruits and vegetables, allowing you to get all of the nutrition that the fruit has to offer. Making your own juice allows you to know exactly what you are drinking, and there are a variety of different flavors that can be mixed to match anyone’s unique taste.
Artificial sweeteners are not viable substitutes for sugar for diabetics or diets
In the attempt to reduce carbohydrate or direct sucrose intake, people opt for a variety of artificial sweeteners available in the markets, hoping that sweet-cravings for diabetics and people aiming for weight-loss would be satisfied. Far from reality, artificial sweeteners may prompt sweet-craving, disrupt your body’s homeostasis and reverse the effect or weight-loss programs because of the high soda content. According to an article published in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition in 2008, the high aspartame content in artificial sweeteners might cause certain mental disorders and disrupt the learning process.
If you are looking for a natural sweetener, Stevia is actually the only sugar substitute that is completely natural and doesn’t contain any of the harmful ingredients that are present in sugar substitutes. When choosing a Stevia alternative, be sure it is pure Stevia, and it’s not mixed with other harmful ingredients.
Meats are not a good source of nutrition
Many people swear by meat preparations for a sustainable source of proteins and fats, however by limiting themselves to meats, they miss out on a number of better sources of protein such as nuts, seeds, greens, pulses and legumes. The harmful nutrients present in the meats and the good ones destroyed by the various methods of cooking can increase the chances of cancer related to the digestive tract by almost 67%. Try avoiding meats that have been through long processes as they tend to be the harmful ones and aim for healthier cuts of meat. Many meats are also injected with hormones which can be harmful to both men and women. These hormones are given to the animal to help them grow quicker so that profit can be gained faster. Once the meat is sold, the hormones are transferred to the person who consumes them.
All said and done, nothing works for a sustainable diet like moderation. Instead of getting tied up in the loop of unverified diet and exercise routine, opt for a healthier lifestyle and you will see best results.
This post was guest-authored by Amit , a fitness trainer and a blogger who blogs at BetterHealthLiving.org. Amit has been working within the fitness field for the past six years, and is currently receiving certification as a fitness trainer.if you would like to write for HealthResource4u, check our guest submission guidelines.