Myths About Nutrition And Physical Activity

You could be overwhelmed by the everyday decisions you need to make regarding what to eat, when, how much, and the amount of exercise to get. Although the questions seem overwhelming, you should not be discouraged; you are not the only one with these questions. It can be hard to understand what you should do and the information you can trust as authentic. However, you first need to get over the myths about nutrition and physical activity.

The tips below will help you to make changes to your everyday eating and exercising habits, thereby improving your overall well-being and maintain a healthy weight. What are these myths about nutrition and physical activity?

[su_quote class=”cust-pagination”]“Humans live through their myths and only endure their realities.” — Robert Anton Wilson [/su_quote]

Myths about Nutrition

 Myth: You have to give up your favorite foods if you want to lose weight.

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Julie Fishkin, a Brooklyn-based nutritionist, says lack of sleep can lead you succumbing to sugar cravings, which leads to overeating and weight gain.

Fact: To lose weight, you don’t have to give up all your favorite foods. You can have small portions of the favorite high-calorie foods as part of your weight loss plan. You just need to ensure that you burn more calories than you ingest through foods and beverages.

Limiting the high-calorie foods you were having may help you lose weight, but it does not mean that you stop having high-calorie foods altogether; you can easily achieve your objectives by cutting down portion sizes.

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Myth: To lose weight, you should avoid grain products such as bread, pasta, and rice.

Fact: Grains are neither fattening nor unhealthy. However, you should substitute whole grains for products made from refined grains because they are healthier and help you to remain full longer. According to the dietary guidelines for Americans for the period ending 2015-2020, you should have at least 50% of your total grain intake from whole grains.

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Myth: Dairy products are fattening and unhealthy

Fact: Your body needs protein to build muscles and to help the organs function effectively. Therefore, dairy products are an important food group and should not be avoided. Dairy products such as milk and yogurt contain Vitamin D that assists your body to use calcium— most Americans face a deficiency of these nutrients. Fat-free dairy products or low-fat milk have fewer calories than the products made from whole milk. Adults should take at least three servings of fat-free or low-fat dairy products every day as a part of a healthy eating plan.

Myths about Physical Activity

Myth: Just long periods of physical activity counts if you want to lose weight.

Fact. If your intention is to lose weight, you don’t have to spend a lot of time in physical activity every day. You just need two and a half hours of moderate exercise every week. You can spread the exercising sessions throughout the week, and you also have an opportunity to exercise in short 10-minute bursts three times a day for five days a week.

Therefore, you should not be concerned about spending a lengthy period exercising. Many people spend a significant amount of time sitting in front of the computer, in their cars,  and watching TV. You can also get physical activity by moving around the house and getting away from the gadgets. Adopt his attitude during the working hours and move around at your place of work.

Various myths are doing rounds, spreading false information about what you can or cannot do to lose weight. By separating the myths from the facts, your chances of succeeding will increase.