Food Myths and Facts.
Food glorious food!
There is no single diet which works for us all. We are all individuals, not cars with a fuel gauge! Some people are better eating a meat-based diet and others on a plant-based diet.
However, the food and drink industries are heavily invested financially in selling us the latest and easiest way to eat ‘healthier’. But are these messages based on facts or fiction?
Here are 11 top myths and facts about the diet and food*:
*(This information has been reproduced from the book ‘Spoonfed’ by Prof. Tim Spector)
- Skipping breakfast makes you hungrier later in the day –There is no evidence that this is true. Fact: Time-restricted eating can help the gut to clean itself, be more efficient and allow it to rest. This can ultimately help you maintain or even lose weight.
- Not all calories were created equal! Our brain uses 1/3rd of our resting energy quota. The calories you ingest from an avocado are vastly different from those in a fast food burger.
- Our bodies perceive no difference in animal or plant-based protein. Eating a variety of protein sources will give us different vitamins and minerals.
- One can of ‘full-fat’ coke contains up to 12tsps of sugar! Sweetners alter the gut microbiome so that blood sugar increases. This tricks the body into releasing insulin. When these ‘diet’ drinks are mixed with sugar and other chemicals in processed food it can confuse our gut microbes. This can change our metabolism and even our behaviour!
- Frozen and canned fruit/vegetables are still more nutritious than ultra-processed junk food. They can be cheaper, convenient and contribute to less food waste.
- Frozen fish can often be fresher than fish at the deli counter! Plant-based alternatives for omega 3 are chia seeds, walnuts and flaxseeds.
- Myth: Having more than 6g of salt per day is not good for blood pressure and CHD risk. Fact: Blood pressure only drops by 1mmHG if you reduce your salt intake. So it is not statistically significant in decreasing your risk of high blood pressure and CHD.
- Caffeine levels are affected by what medication you take. If you are taking anti-depressants and/or the contraceptive pill, then smaller quantities of caffeine will keep you awake. The opposite is true of smokers. They need twice as much caffeine to get the same hit!
- What you eat during pregnancy can differ greatly depending on where you are in the world. Here in the UK, raw fish and eggs are frowned upon and discouraged during gestating. In Japan, sushi and raw eggs are consumed by pregnant women. You are statistically more likely to die in a car accident rather than harm your unborn child by eating a chunk of brie!
- Unfiltered tap water contains traces of: ibuprofen, synthetic hormones, antibiotics and anti-depressants. These can all have a cumulative effect on our genes. This is called epigenetics.
- People who suffer with depression have a less diverse gut microbiome. Eating small but regular quantities of fermented foods can help to nourish your gut microbiome. Also eating healthy nutritious food throughout pregnancy and up to the age 14yrs, can help decrease the incidences of mental health illnesses.
There are homeopathic remedies to help with losing weight like Nux vom or Pulsatilla. There are certain food desires and aversions that lead homeopaths to the correct remedy for clients. e.g. Someone with a headache that is not thirsty but wants a buttery pastry is likely to need Pulsatilla. Someone who likes eggs, may need Calc carb, and someone who likes salty food may need Nat mur.
