Myths About Dieting

One of the most used and often misused words in the world is-you guessed it right dieting. There is a lot of controversy surrounding dieting, but people often confused between facts and myths.

What comprises of a healthy diet, what does not? As a person all of us are different; what is good and what is bad for us? Mentioned below are some very common misunderstandings or myths that surround the topic of dieting.

All types of fats are bad for you when on diet: This is a very common misconception, in fact when dieting some kind of fat is good for your health. Having fat in limited quantity will help you handle hunger in a better manner, and you won’t face hunger bouts throughout the day. Other benefits of fats are rise in metabolism, better digestion and glowing skin and hair. A meal low in fat is anyways better than a no-fat one.

The effective diet: All of us are different, but we tend to fall in the Perfect Diet Trap (which we think is perfect for everyone). Our bodies are different as we have different body formation, way of life, metabolism rate. Diets should be customized as per your body and your individual requirement, so your diet should be designed accordingly.

Starve Yourself: Dieting doesn’t mean you need to starve yourself; on the other hand the trick is to eat healthy, well-balanced and nutritious meal. If our selection of food is right, you will lose weight even if you eat 5-6 small meals during the day.

Fish is really good as it contains no fat & cholesterol: This is one of the major myths that surround dieting. Fish do contain fat but they definitely have lower amount of saturated fats. Some types of fish have fats in form of mega 3 (they would decrease the risk of heart disease). Avoid fried fish, but prefer fish in baked, grilled or broiled form.

Milk and milk products are a strict no-no: Dairy products have important nutrients which are essential for your body. You can choose from low-fat cheese, skimmed milk, or low-fat yogurt (these are rich in protein and calcium). Avoid things like margarine & butter which are rich in unhealthy-saturated fats these will increase your cholesterol levels.

Red meat is BAD: Lean meat gives us important nutrients like iron, zinc & protein. Don’t have them in high quantity as they are high in saturated fats.

Avoid Starches Completely: Starch is high in fibre but have high amount of fats, though it is an important source of energy. Don’t cook rice, potato, pasta etc. in fattening sauces (as these make them unhealthy and are a source of fat). Starchy food in low quantity is good for all.