Top 10 Food Myths And Truths

1. Myth: Carrots are more nutritious when raw not cooked.

Healthy eating: Come to the dark side! Cooking actually increases carrots’ nutritional value! The process breaks down the tough cellular walls that encase the beta-carotene.(*EatWell)

2. Myth: Eggs are bad for you.

Eggs are not the boogieman of foods waiting to kill you with cholesterol. They are not the bad eggs we make them out to be. According to recent research they don’t actually contribute to high cholesterol. Zinc, iron, antioxidants such as lutein and zeaxanthin, choline (a chemical known for it's brain benefits), and Vitamin D are all benefits of keeping eggs in your meal plan. Saturated fats are the real culprit when it comes to high bad cholesterol.

(*readers digest)

3. Myth: Carbohydrates should be avoided if you want to eat healthily

Carbohydrates are your body's main source of fuel. If you don't take in enough carbohydrates, you can become weak, lethargic and unable to focus on even simple tasks. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends getting 14 grams of fiber for every 1,000 calories that you consume each day. The only sources of fiber are in carbohydrates, so it's nearly impossible to get enough dietary fiber on a low-carbohydrate diet. High-fiber foods are generally low in calories as well, so getting enough fiber can help you lose weight.Dietary fiber prevents cholesterol from accumulating in your arteries and creating dangerous blockages that can lead to a heart attack or stroke.

(* LiveStrong)

4. Myth: You should not use a wood cutting board with meats.

Dean O. Cliver, Ph.D of the UC-Davis Food Safety Laboratory says "Although the bacteria that have disappeared from the wood surfaces are found alive inside the wood for some time after application, they evidently do not multiply, and they gradually die. They can be detected only by splitting or gouging the wood or by forcing water completely through from one surface to the other. If a sharp knife is used to cut into the work surfaces after used plastic or wood has been contaminated with bacteria and cleaned manually, more bacteria are recovered from a used plastic surface than from a used wood surface." (*University of California)

5. Myth: Natural sugar is different from added sugar.

Sugar is sugar is sugar. On a molecular level, the sugar in an apple is the same as the sugar you spoon into your coffee cup. There can be a difference in how our bodies break down the sugar when it's combined with other nutrients like fiber and protein, but simply being natural doesn't cut it. Sugar in a whole fruit comes with fiber and helps slow digestion and prevent blood sugar spikes. That's better than sugar that comes void of other nutrients. But when you squeeze out the juice and drink it, or eat maple syrup, agave syrup, or honey, your body reacts the same way it would to table sugar or the sugar in a Coke. (* SELF Magazine)

6. Myth: Organic Food Is Always More Nutritious

"Organic chocolate syrup is still chocolate syrup," Caroline Kaufman, R.D., states in a SELF Magazine interview," Organic cookies, crackers, chips, and candies have the same amount of sugar, fat, and empty calories as non-organic versions." That being said Organic foods are grown without synthetic flavors, colors, sweeteners, most preservatives, and certain pesticides and fertilizers. There is also a guarantee they have not been genetically modified. (*SELF Magazine)

7. Myth: Brown Eggs Are Healthier Than White Eggs

The only thing different about a brown egg and a white one is it's color and the color of it's mom's feathers. A hen with white feathers lays white eggs, a red hen lays brown eggs. Oh the other difference is the price. Brown eggs tend to be a little more expensive which has added to the myth because as we all know healthier is usually more expensive.

8. Myth: Sea Salt has lower sodium than table salt

gram for gram there is no difference in the sodium levels of table and sea salt. The only difference is because of the larger size of sea salt crystals you are likely to use less of it.(*Good Housekeeping)

9. Myth: White meat is healthier than dark meat

Although slightly higher in calories (only about 30 cal/serving), dark meat has more iron, zinc, and other vitamins than white meat. (*Mental Floss)

10. Myth: You should wash raw meat before cooking it.

Washing raw poultry, beef, pork, lamb, or veal before cooking it is not recommended. Bacteria in raw meat and poultry juices can be spread to other foods, utensils, and surfaces. We call this cross-contamination.(*United States Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection Service)