Common Food Myths That Are Wildly Untrue

Common Food Myths That Are Wildly Untrue After all these years of false information provided by family, friends and social media, people still believe some of the most common food myths to be true. Here are some major truth bombs are coming your way.

Food myth: Raw carrots are more nutritious than cooked

Fact: Cooking increases carrots’ nutritional value! The process breaks down the tough cellular walls that encase the beta-carotene.

Food myth: To minimize fat and calories, remove the skin before cooking chicken

Fact: Baking, broiling, grilling, or roasting poultry with the skin intact helps preserve its natural juices. Cook with the skin and then remove it before serving.

Food myth: Avoid eggs as it has high cholesterol content

Fact: Eggs are an inexpensive source of many nutrients, including zinc and iron, antioxidants lutein and zeaxanthin, vitamin D, and the brain-boosting chemical choline. Keep cholesterol in check by monitoring saturated fat in your diet.

Food myth: The fewer carbs, the healthier you are

Fact: Choosing the healthiest carbohydrates, especially whole grains, is more important to your well-being. Men and women who eat whole grains have 20 to 30 percent less heart disease.

Food myth: Using margarine instead of butter will save calories

Fact: Butter and margarine have about the same amount of calories. But while margarine, made from vegetable oils, was created as a healthier alternative to butter. Some margarines are actually unhealthy because they contain trans fats, which have even more adverse effects on cholesterol and heart health. Go for trans fat-free brands if you really like margarine.

Food myth: Nuts are as bad as junk food

Fact: Nuts are excellent sources of protein and other nutrients, as long as you keep servings to a handful. Women who ate nuts were 20 percent less likely to develop type 2 diabetes than those who didn’t eat them as often. Additionally, other studies have found that a regular intake of nuts protects against heart disease.

Food myth: Vitamin C can keep you from catching a cold

Fact: Experts have found little to no benefit from vitamin C for preventing or treating the common cold. Vitamin C does not ward off colds, except among marathoners, skiers, and soldiers on sub-Arctic exercises.

Food myth: Eating celery burns more calories than you take in celery

Fact: It’s a food myth that celery has “negative” calories. But, with less than 10 calories per serving, it’s great to munch on to lose weight. Celery is a healthy snack for 100-calories or less.

Food myth: Legumes must be eaten at the same time as grains to get a “complete” protein

Fact: Beans and legumes are nutritional powerhouses, high in protein, fiber, B vitamins, iron, potassium, and other minerals, while low in fat. Eat a mix of amino acids throughout the day and you’ll get all the complete nutrition you’ll need.