7 Common Diet Myths Busted

Going on a diet in a bid to achieve weight loss is never easy. It’s safe to assume that we’ve all wanted to make changes to our diet at one time or another. Whether we need to eliminate a certain item due to, we’re trying to lose a bit of weight for health reasons, or we just want to improve our well-being, it’s likely that at some point, we’ll have changed our approach to eating. But just how reliable are the typical diet myths we often fall back on? And should we take them on board or abandon them completely? Here are 7 common diet myths which should help you to reach your goals.

1) Skipping meals will save on calories.

In theory, yes it will. But it doesn’t mean it’s a good idea. What’s more likely to happen is that you’ll feel tired and hungry because you haven’t eaten enough and then plate up a bigger meal to compensate, or reach for the high-calorie snacks. If you want to lose weight or eat healthier, it’s better to plan what you’re eating in advance and stick to your meal plan. This is especially important if you have a food intolerance and need to avoid certain ingredients to keep symptoms at bay.

2) You’re not allowed treats.

Let’s face it; life would be boring if you didn’t eat anything you really loved. Instead of denying yourself your favourite indulgence, it’s much more sensible to follow an ‘everything in moderation approach’. If chocolate is your weakness, for example, don’t rule it out completely because it will make you want it more, and you’ll be more likely to binge on it when temptation takes over. Instead, limit the amount you have or try a healthier version with less sugar. The most talked about diet myths include going completely cold turkey on your favourite foods. But as we have just explained, this does not have to be the case.

3) You can’t eat after 8pm.

Life is busy and for many of us, the chance of eating before 8pm is quite slim when there are children to put to bed, work to do and other obligations to work around. Instead, the healthiest thing to do is aim to eat your evening meal 2-3 hours before you go to bed so you have a chance to digest it. Ultimately, it’s better to eat a lighter, lower calorie meal at 9pm, than it is to eat a fatty dinner at 7pm, so don’t worry too much if you tend to eat late because of other commitments.

4) Avoid carbohydrates.

If you’re a fan of carbs, you’ll be pleased to know that gram for gram, they contain less than half the calories of fat. It is very common in diet myths that carbs are bad for you. But it’s still worth choosing the right carbohydrate because some are better for you than others. Wholegrain options such as brown rice and wholemeal bread and pasta are healthier than the white versions, so try and opt for these if carbs feature heavily in your diet. It’s also a good idea to be mindful of the food you team with your carbohydrates, so keep an eye on the toppings you put on your toast or the type of sauces that go with your pasta.

5) You should choose low-fat options

These days, supermarkets offer so many ‘diet’ alternatives that filling your shopping trolley with low-fat versions of your favourite foods can be tempting. However, these products often replace fat with sugar and contain extra preservatives, so they’re not as healthy as they originally seemed. It’s also worth remembering that some ‘fatty’ foods such as nuts, avocados, olives and seeds have many health benefits and shouldn’t be ruled out of your diet. Instead, avoid saturated and trans fats found in foods such as red meat, butter and a lot of processed foods.

6) Exercise needs to be intense.

Some people find the thought of exercising to lose weight intimidating because they assume they will need to join a gym or put their body under extreme stress. The truth is that even moderate exercise such as walking, swimming or gardening will use up calories, especially if you do them regularly. If you enjoy high-impact exercise such as running, then, of course, keep at it, but don’t worry if you prefer lower-intensity activities and find these are better suited to your body.

7) Eat small, frequent meals.

Many choose to forego breakfast, lunch and dinner for smaller, more frequent meals throughout the day because it will boost metabolism and help with weight loss. Although there’s nothing wrong with this approach (providing you adopt a regular meal pattern), you can continue to stick to a more traditional routine of eating if that works best for you and your lifestyle. Focus on the food you’re consuming and your overall calorie intake instead of the number of times you sit down to eat throughout the day.

If you have any questions about how having a food intolerance can affect your diet, please email [email protected], and we’ll do our best to help. You can also fill out our contact form, and we’ll aim to get back to you within two hours during the working day.