We hear so much these days about what we should and shouldn’t eat, what the latest wonder food is, and how or when we should be eating, that it can be hard to know what is right. And that’s why leading Nutritionist, Lily Soutter, has sorted fact from fiction around some of the common food myths.
Myth 1 – Don’t eat egg yolks:
“Egg yolks are high in cholesterol, which is why there is a common misconception that they raise blood cholesterol. However, research has shown that a modest intake of eggs (up to one per day) does not raise cholesterol and unless you have a genetic disorder of familial hypercholesterolemia, you can enjoy eggs as part of a healthy, balanced diet”, Lily recommended.
Myth 2 – Gluten free is healthier:
“Whilst it is important to avoid gluten if you have a medical condition, such as coeliac disease, for the rest of us, gluten free products aren’t necessarily healthier. Often when gluten is removed from a food product, manufacturers tend to add extra salt, sugar and starches to make them more palatable. What’s more, avoiding gluten containing food groups can restrict the diet which may lead to nutritional deficiencies for some”, Lily explained.
Myth 3 – Detox/flat tummy teas help us lose weight
“This range of herbal teas claim to boost metabolism, cleanse your digestive tract and reduce bloating. What’s more, many of these companies rely on influencers to preach the message that their tea will leave you with a flat tummy just like theirs. Not only is there no conclusive evidence to back up these health claims, a common ingredient called senna is used within the teas and acts as a laxative. Senna can irritate the stomach lining and can cause cramps and diarrhoea. For those suffering with IBS, senna can only exasperate symptoms”, she explained.
Myth 4 – Fruit has too much sugar so we should limit consumption
Lily advised: “There is a lot of confusion as to whether we need to hold back on fruit consumption due to the sugar content. You may have heard rumours such as ‘bananas make you fat’ or that ‘fruit is high in sugar, therefore, unhealthy’. However, this is simply a myth, fruit sugar is locked into a fibrous matrix, which can help to slow the release of sugar into the blood stream. Fruit also provides key vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, which support health.”
