Debunking Food Myths

There had been many things about foods that our parents said to us when we were younger. Some are completely ridiculous that we go rid of them when we grew up, but some stayed on. So what is the truth behind the food myths that our parents used to tell us? The fact is some of these myths are probably preventing us from making the most of our diet so it’s about time that we know and this post is all about uncovering the truth behind the lies. Myth no. 1 Raw doesn’t mean healthy There’s a reason why our human ancestors discovered and mastered the use of fire. With the use of fire, our diet has been revolutionized. However, it has always been a huge lie that raw foods are better then cooked ones. Some vegetables will lose their nutrients when cooked for long periods while others have toxic substances that need to be killed before being eaten. It’s also a misconception that raw fish is better than the cooked variety. When it comes to this myth, eat both raw and cooked foods just to make sure. Myth no. 2 Use plastic cutting boards instead of wooden ones A 1993 study surprisingly showed that wooden cutting boards are better because bacteria died off quickly than in plastic ones. In plastic cutting boards, bacteria multiplied exponentially out of control. The results once again demystified our once long-held beliefs on food-related matter. Myth no. 3 Coffee can cause hypertension A study by the Johns Hopkins University showed that drinking a cup of coffee a day can raise the blood pressure just a little bit. However, drinking from 5-6 cups a day will increase the likelihood of developing hypertension. But then again, coffee drinking is rendered harmless as compared to other vices like smoking and drinking. The aforementioned has a more apparent effect compared to the former. Myth no. 4 Eat three times a day These days eating just three times a day are no longer enough especially with the high-octane lifestyle that we have. Essentially, most dieticians prescribe eating seven times a day and that includes the three full meals and several snacks. However, the number of meals a day does not determine how healthy you can become but the nutrients that are present. Myth no. 5 You can feed anything to your dog Your dog seems like he can munch on anything without much effort but just like humans, they have limitations too. Feed your dog a bar of chocolates and that’s enough for him to have a heart attack. Basically, 15 Hershey’s bars can kill a 22-pound dog and if there’s no veterinarian, a burnt toast can help your pooch remove the lethal theobromine. Aside from chocolates, garlic and onions shouldn’t be fed to your best friend because it can cause their red blood cells to burst. However, the trip to the graveyard for your dog would mean he or she has to eat a pound of onions first. Be wary of the things that you hear or being told you especially when it comes to health and food. Always be a skeptic and find time to verify whether the things that you’ve been told to believe really have some merit behind them.