Is it Truth or Myth!

6^th October 2012

Regret for the things we did can be tempered by time; it is regret for the things we did not do that is inconsolable. Sydney J Harris

Research, research, research! I read so much diet related evidence and loads of it is fascinating, stacks of it is conflicting and some of it is down right hilarious!

Nutritional science is a very new science so they're learning constantly. I personally read the latest, and then decide for myself what sits with me, what I agree with and what I find believable. That’s what I would suggest everyone else does, not just with diet info but anything you read or get told - if it doesn't sit we'll with you then don't accept it.

I've just read a fab book and took onboard a great deal of what I read, however in the past I've read some real rubbish! I love it when you read a statement that totally disagrees with a long held belief, for example we were lead to believe that we should drink 2 litres of fluid a day (not including caffeine drinks because they dehydrate), that changed a year or so ago to 1.5litres and it could now include caffeine as new research showed they still helped to hydrate. Yesterday I read in my copy of the magazine Zest that “you should drink 8 glasses of water every day” is a myth the truth is it’s a waste of water!  The myth originated in 1945, with a US claim that you need 2.5l of water a day to keep your body functioning properly.  However, the researchers also said that most of this fluid comes from your food – a fact that’s been shrouded by the mists of time.  A good diet with plenty of fruit and veg should provide most of the fluids you need.  Zest Fact - Six cups of black tea drunk over a day is just as hydrating as 1 litre of water says a study in the British Journal of Nutrition.   Now personally I find the best indicator of whether you’re hydrated enough is your urine – an embarrassing subject maybe but a valid way of telling whether you need a drink or not!  If it’s clear you have nothing to fear ;-)

Other claims that you may have heard in the past that are now considered rubbish include;

·         Eating late makes you fat – RUBBISH it’s not the time of day that important, but what you’re eating throughout the day! If you eat more than you use, you’ll gain weight, whether its 8am or 8pm!

·         A slow metabolism prevents weight loss. This is a common myth among dieters who are struggling to lose weight.  Studies have shown that resting metabolism - the number of calories used by the body at rest - increases as people become fatter.  In other words, the larger you are, the more calories you need to keep your body going and the higher your metabolism.

·         You always gain weight when you stop smoking. Some people gain weight when they stop smoking, some lose weight and some stay the same.  While nicotine does increase the body's metabolism, its effect is small. It's far healthier to be an overweight non-smoker than not bother giving up because you think you'll put on weight.  Where people tend to fall down is when they replace a cigarette with comfort food.

There are just so many ideas out there and thoughts and suggestions that yes you have to take what you believe and work with it!  I’m glad to say I work for a company that is always at the forefront of research and they use the findings to improve their plan, hence the reason we’re not using ProPoints and not the Points system because research proved we process food we don’t burn it off and the results at the scales prove that was the correct decision to make.

So if you have a belief or you’ve realised something that you didn’t know, share it on our facebook page, let’s share the knowledge, find out the truths and ditch those myths.

No you don’t weigh heavier after you’ve been swimming because you’ve absorbed water ;-)

Enjoy your weekend. xx