These days, many people buy into misconceptions particularly when it comes to their health. Misconceptions float around in the kitchen but we should be able to separate fact from fiction: While some myths are just silly, others can be detrimental to your health. Here are some persistent fallacies you might still believe.
White Meat Is Healthier Than Dark Meat
While it�s true that dark meat has more calories than white meat, the difference is only about 30 calories per serving, so it shouldn�t affect your food choices on a daily basis. Meats like chicken are darker thanks to a compound called myoglobin that helps muscles store the oxygen necessary for prolonged activity. Flightless birds use their legs to get around, so the muscles they use for running contain more myoglobin, making the leg meat darker than the breast meat. Although slightly higher in calories, dark meat has more iron, zinc, and other vitamins than white meat. 
Eating Late at Night Leads to Weight Gain�
The myth that you should eat less as the day goes on has persisted for a long time; �don�t eat after eight,� is common advice given to people trying to lose weight. Today, contemporary nutritionists say that calories cannot tell time and it does not matter when you consume them. The misconception probably arose because midnight snacking leads to calories you wouldn�t have otherwise consumed.
Avoiding Gluten Has Health Benefits�
Unless you have celiac disease or a diagnosed gluten intolerance or sensitivity, there is no real reason to seek out gluten-free food at the grocery store. People with celiac disease can�t eat foods like wheat or barley because the gluten in them will damage their small intestine. This illness affects about one percent of the population, so gluten is perfectly safe for the remaining 99 percent. In fact, studies have shown that avoiding gluten has no health benefits for those without a diagnosed health condition. A gluten-free diet may even be too low in fiber and other nutrients such as B vitamins if you aren�t careful.�
All Preservatives Are Bad for Your Health�
Preservatives are added to food to extend its shelf life and prevent bacterial growth. They are an essential part of the food we buy from the supermarket; as otherwise, it may not even make it from the farm to the store without spoiling.
While there are select individuals who are sensitive to some preservatives such as sulfite and benzoic acid, people have been consuming these compounds for centuries, from both natural and synthetic sources, with significant benefit to food quality, availability, and safety.� As is the case with all compounds we use to improve our quality of life,� synthetic and natural preservatives should not be used in excess, as excessive use can lead to some possible health effects (for example, too much natural vitamin E may inhibit blood clotting, leading to bleeding).� Fortunately, guidelines are available from regulatory agencies around the world to guide food manufacturers to ensure the concentration of preservatives, whether natural or synthetic, used in food is safe.
Brown Eggs Are Healthier�
Brown may seem more organic or wholesome, but that�s just natural marketing. The color of the egg depends on the kind of chicken that lays it. There are multiple types of hens and each one may not particularly lay brown eggs. While the egg-laying chicken�s diet can affect the nutritional value of the eggs, assuming the chickens� diets are the same, white and brown eggs are equally healthy.�
Multigrain and Whole Grain are Interchangeable Terms
�Multigrain� and �whole grain� mean different things, so it�s important to be able to distinguish between them. Foods labeled multigrain are made with more than one kind of grain, while whole grain products are made with the entire grain. Multigrain foods tend to deliver a richer texture and flavor, while whole grain foods tend to deliver more fiber and natural sources of nutrients; so choosing between the two is more a matter of personal preference.
Microwaving Your Food Reduces Its Nutritional Value
Opponents of the microwave have long propagated the idea that zapping your food makes it less healthy.� But in reality, this couldn�t be much farther from the truth. Microwaving�especially if you add some water to the dish, loosely cover, and use the microwave to steam your veggies�is actually one of the most sound food preparation methods. The best cooking methods for retaining nutrients in your food are ones in which the food is exposed to heat for a short amount of time, minimal amounts of water are used when steaming, and the food cooks quickly. Therefore, by using a microwave to steam your food, you�ll retain more vitamins and minerals than with almost any other cooking method.
Foods that Are Labeled �Natural� Are Better for You
�Natural� is a word that evokes pleasant feelings, implying that a food is inherently good for you. However, �natural� and �all-natural� are not regulated in the same way that �organic� or �kosher� are. So-called �natural� foods could contain large amounts of high fructose corn syrup, foods treated with pesticides, or genetically engineered products. Until the label �natural� is better regulated, reading nutritional labels carefully is the best way to ensure the foods you eat are healthy. Never assume that an �all-natural� food has any particular nutritional benefit or superior qualities.
Source: www.mentalfloss.com
Eating Late at Night Leads to Weight Gain�
The myth that you should eat less as the day goes on has persisted for a long time; �don�t eat after eight,� is common advice given to people trying to lose weight. Today, contemporary nutritionists say that calories cannot tell time and it does not matter when you consume them. The misconception probably arose because midnight snacking leads to calories you wouldn�t have otherwise consumed.
Avoiding Gluten Has Health Benefits�
Unless you have celiac disease or a diagnosed gluten intolerance or sensitivity, there is no real reason to seek out gluten-free food at the grocery store. People with celiac disease can�t eat foods like wheat or barley because the gluten in them will damage their small intestine. This illness affects about one percent of the population, so gluten is perfectly safe for the remaining 99 percent. In fact, studies have shown that avoiding gluten has no health benefits for those without a diagnosed health condition. A gluten-free diet may even be too low in fiber and other nutrients such as B vitamins if you aren�t careful.�
All Preservatives Are Bad for Your Health�
Preservatives are added to food to extend its shelf life and prevent bacterial growth. They are an essential part of the food we buy from the supermarket; as otherwise, it may not even make it from the farm to the store without spoiling.
While there are select individuals who are sensitive to some preservatives such as sulfite and benzoic acid, people have been consuming these compounds for centuries, from both natural and synthetic sources, with significant benefit to food quality, availability, and safety.� As is the case with all compounds we use to improve our quality of life,� synthetic and natural preservatives should not be used in excess, as excessive use can lead to some possible health effects (for example, too much natural vitamin E may inhibit blood clotting, leading to bleeding).� Fortunately, guidelines are available from regulatory agencies around the world to guide food manufacturers to ensure the concentration of preservatives, whether natural or synthetic, used in food is safe.
Brown Eggs Are Healthier�
Brown may seem more organic or wholesome, but that�s just natural marketing. The color of the egg depends on the kind of chicken that lays it. There are multiple types of hens and each one may not particularly lay brown eggs. While the egg-laying chicken�s diet can affect the nutritional value of the eggs, assuming the chickens� diets are the same, white and brown eggs are equally healthy.�
Multigrain and Whole Grain are Interchangeable Terms
�Multigrain� and �whole grain� mean different things, so it�s important to be able to distinguish between them. Foods labeled multigrain are made with more than one kind of grain, while whole grain products are made with the entire grain. Multigrain foods tend to deliver a richer texture and flavor, while whole grain foods tend to deliver more fiber and natural sources of nutrients; so choosing between the two is more a matter of personal preference.
Microwaving Your Food Reduces Its Nutritional Value
Opponents of the microwave have long propagated the idea that zapping your food makes it less healthy.� But in reality, this couldn�t be much farther from the truth. Microwaving�especially if you add some water to the dish, loosely cover, and use the microwave to steam your veggies�is actually one of the most sound food preparation methods. The best cooking methods for retaining nutrients in your food are ones in which the food is exposed to heat for a short amount of time, minimal amounts of water are used when steaming, and the food cooks quickly. Therefore, by using a microwave to steam your food, you�ll retain more vitamins and minerals than with almost any other cooking method.
Foods that Are Labeled �Natural� Are Better for You
�Natural� is a word that evokes pleasant feelings, implying that a food is inherently good for you. However, �natural� and �all-natural� are not regulated in the same way that �organic� or �kosher� are. So-called �natural� foods could contain large amounts of high fructose corn syrup, foods treated with pesticides, or genetically engineered products. Until the label �natural� is better regulated, reading nutritional labels carefully is the best way to ensure the foods you eat are healthy. Never assume that an �all-natural� food has any particular nutritional benefit or superior qualities.
Source: www.mentalfloss.com
