On Monday, I exposed a number of common health myths that are perceived to be the absolute truth across the health industry, but the real truth is that I only scratched the surface of exposing these myths. There is plenty of faulty health information out there, and it could be limiting your ability to make the right decisions.
When you’re uninformed—or given false information by people looking to make a fast buck—it has the potential to be quite dangerous. It can add stress to your life and even make you sick. Today, I’m going to expose a few more myths and give you the real facts on some popular misconceptions.
4 More Top Health Myths Exposed
1. “Low-Fat Milk Is Healthier Than Whole Milkâ€
For decades, you’ve heard that saturated fats are dangerous and contribute to heart attacks and heart disease. Well, the reality is that saturated fats do not actually cause these problems. Buying whole-fat dairy products is not bad for your health, and there is little harm in selecting them.
2. “Frozen or Canned Fruits and Veggies Are Not as Nutritious as Fresh Optionsâ€
There is no difference in nutrition between frozen or canned fruits and veggies and their fresh counterparts. If anything, frozen or canned options are actually fresher because they aren’t exposed to oxidization during transportation or while sitting on shelves. Just make sure that the options you buy don’t have any added salt or sugar.
3. “A Calorie Is a Calorieâ€
If you’re trying to stick to a diet, believing that all calories are created equal can sabotage your results. Your body absorbs calories differently depending on the source, and options that cause spikes in blood sugar—like refined carbohydrates, high-fructose corn syrup, and added sugars—can lead to weight gain and metabolic problems. Stick to whole-grain carbohydrates, whole fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and healthy, naturally occurring fats.
4. “You Can Get Sick from a Public Toiletâ€
Public toilets are not carrying diseases—and you certainly don’t need to be scared to sit on one when you’re at a restaurant or shopping mall. In order to get an infection from a toilet seat, any bacteria on the seat would have to directly enter your body. So unless you’ve got a cut on your buttocks, you’re unlikely to contract anything from a toilet seat. Of course, just make sure to wash your hands after using any toilet.
Read Next :
Sources for Today’s Article:
Chowdhury, R., “Association of Dietary, Circulating, and Supplement Fatty Acids With Coronary Risk: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis,†Annals of Internal Medicine 2014; 160(6): 398–406, doi: 10.7326/M13-1788.
Miller, S., “Nutrition and Cost Comparisons of Select Canned, Frozen, and Fresh Fruits and Vegetables,†American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine 2014, doi: 10.1177/1559827614522942.
“What Can You Catch in Restrooms? Bathroom Paranoia?†WebMD web site; http://www.webmd.com/balance/features/what-can-you-catch-in-restrooms?page=3, last accessed October 19, 2015.