Black Section Separator

8 Eating Beliefs That Are Actually WRONG

Black Section Separator

There's a right way to eat

There isn’t really one diet that’s healthiest for everyone – as illustrated by recent evidence that showed different people have totally personal blood sugar and insulin responses to common foods such as bananas, muffins and bread.

Black Section Separator

Five a day is based on hard science

If this were the case, guidelines would be the same everywhere, but they’re not – Australia says seven a day and America nine (though the Brit recommendation doesn’t include potatoes, while the Australian and US ones do).

Black Section Separator

Chocolate gives you spots

Acne is mostly caused by the production of hormones and the effect these have on the sebaceous (oil) glands in the skin, not by diet.

Black Section Separator

Don’t chew gum in case you accidentally swallow it

Chewing xylitol gum is good for your teeth and there's no need to worry about swallowing it by accident (though you shouldn't do it on purpose).

Black Section Separator

Spinach is a top source of iron

When scientists first analysed the nutritional value of spinach, they made mistakes in the analysis and overestimated the iron it contained.

Black Section Separator

Only water hydrates you properly

The water in tea, coffee, soft drinks, and juices all counts as fluid to keep you hydrated, as does the fluid provided by high water foods such as fruit and vegetables.

Black Section Separator

Sugar makes kids hyperactive

Parents, we know... it’s hard to believe this one isn’t true given the proof of children bouncing off the walls at parties.

Black Section Separator

Sugar is the main cause of Type 2 diabetes

Diabetes UK says that high sugar foods contribute excess calories, and it is this rather than sugar directly that can create the fatty pancreas that leads to people getting Type 2 diabetes.