Food myths for diet are everywhere nowadays, and diet myths get popular with no fact backup. Certainly it’s a trap, and many of us have already fallen into it. When it comes to weight loss, most of the viral opinions are either myths or only partly true. And trust me i know how confusing it feels
My weight loss journey was pretty horrific itself. I was desperately trying to lose weight, but the diet trends kept on changing, and I jumped from one trend to another, overwhelmed by daily decisions of what to eat, how much to eat and when to eat. I ended up exhausted and tired. Even after months of dieting, I didn’t even lose a single pound.
What I have learnt over years is that healthy eating doesn’t have to be hard; you just need to stop believing mythical diet trends.
Busting the food myths:
During my journey on weight loss, I believed in a few myths which ended up with no use for my body. Honestly at that time they sounded very convincing.
But with experience and a little research, I am now aware of the truth. Here are some of the big ones I fell for:
1) Carbs are going to make you fat:
Since I was told that carbs are my biggest enemy at the moment, I completely cut out bread, rice and beans from my diet, which resulted in tiredness and mood swings, and I even started to crave more sugar. I realised that carbs are not the problem; simple carbs, which are generally found in processed food, are, and complex carbs like rice, bread and fruits actually keep me full. I just needed to reduce simple carbs from my diet.
2) Eating late at night will make you fat:
Ever since I was a child, I have always been told that eating after 6pm is not healthy or you’ll put on weight if you eat late at night, but that’s not completely true. What matters is how much is your calorie intake is and the quality of the food.
Once I stopped obsessing over the hour I’m eating at, I instead started to focus on the balance and quality of the food.
3) Fasting is going to make you lose weight:
Fasting is not healthy if you stay hungry all day and later fill up with overeating or an unhealthy meal. Instead, look out for your daily diet, and cut out refined grains and sugary drinks. Do not cut out your meal entirely.
4) Eat gluten-free food:
Just like any other healthy eating trend, gluten-free food was trending over the internet, and everyone was avoiding bread and pasta just because it had gluten in it, thinking it was the golden key for me to lose weight. I avoided it too, but the truth is unless you have gluten intolerance, there’s no point in cutting gluten.And going gluten-free for this long, I missed out on many nutrients.
5) You should avoid fats in order to lose weight:
My kitchen and fridge were filled with fat-free stuff, yet I was not satisfied with my meals because fats are not only good for you but also necessary for you. fats like nuts and healthy oils played a huge role in my weight loss journey.
6) In order to lose weight, you’ll have to give up on your favourite food:
You don’t have to give up all your favourite foods when you’re trying to lose weight. Taking small amounts of high-calorie treats is completely okay. Just keep track of the total calorie intake per day.
7) Eating healthy is expensive:
When I was starting my weight loss journey, I completely believed that healthy eating is always expensive. I chased expensive supplements and organic grains.
But over time I learnt that healthy eating should not cost you much. Basic stuff like rice, bread, eggs, chicken, meat and basic veggies are packed with all the nutrients you need.
8) That one popular diet plan will work for everyone:
During my weight loss journey, I was looking for a magical diet plan all over the internet, and I found out about keto. It sounded amazing, but as soon as I started on the keto diet, I felt drained throughout the day, tired and cranky; it just did not fit my lifestyle. What works for one person might not work for another.
Even though I was unaware, believing in food myths made my weight loss journey harder than it needed to be. But the moment I started focusing on balance and common sense and avoided the gimmicks, everything got easier and stress-free.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Ques 1. Do carbs make you fat?
Ans: Absolutely not; complex carbs are healthy. It’s refined sugar and fats that make you fat. When consumed in excess amounts.
Ques 2. Will going gluten-free make me thin?
Ans: A gluten-free diet is prescribed to those with celiac disease or gluten intolerance. sometimes many artificial gluten-free products are packed with refined starches, which are harmful for your health
Ques 3. Is eating after 7pm unhealthy?
Ans: No, mindless eating is unhealthy no matter at what time you are eating. In fact, for many people, including some complex carbohydrates like brown rice or sweet potatoes with dinner can help improve sleep quality.
Ques 4. What’s the secret to weight loss?
Ans: Consistency is the key; there is no magical secret. Stay consistent, and keep patience.
Ques 5. Are detox diets worth it?
Ans: Detox drinks are completely unnecessary; the best way to naturally cleanse your body is by eating healthy, drinking plenty of water, and getting enough sleep.