Busting 6 food myths
We’ve all been there – sitting down with friends or family to enjoy a nice meal – when someone leans across the table and tells shares with you some salacious little factoid about whatever it is you’re eating. “Carbs are so bad for you,” they’ll say, as they tuck into their leafy salad. But it’s okay, because you know that carbohydrates are actually essential to a healthy diet, and provide energy for your body. You also know that it’s the refined grains and sugars that are the less good sources of carbs. Well, if you didn’t, you do now.
Here are some other common food myths we can debunk or confirm.
1. Gotta be yolking
The myth: Eating egg whites and discarding the yolks is the healthy option.
The truth: Egg yolks actually contain over 40 per cent of the egg’s protein, and almost all of its calcium, B vitamins, and iron. All of the egg’s fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, and K) are also tucked inside that bright yellow centre. Plus, consuming the extra fat in the yolk will help you feel full for longer than if you just ate the egg white.
2. No more tears
The myth: Keeping onions in the fridge will stop you from crying when you cut them.
The truth: This one is almost true. While we can’t promise you’ll never cry while cutting up cold onions, storing them in the fridge can help – it makes them less likely to reduce the chemical that makes you weepy (for those with a knack for remembering long names, that chemical is called propanthial S-oxide).
3. Hard cheese prone to mould
The myth: Mould can be sliced off hard cheeses
The truth: This one is dead-on. Hard cheeses have a dense structure, which means that mould isn’t usually able to spread beyond the surface.
4. Fruit is secretly bad for you
The myth: Fruit is bad for you because it’s full of sugar.
The truth: This one is half-true. While fruits do contain a lot of sugar, the naturally occurring sugars are bound up with fibre, which helps reduce the impact it has on your body. You know what else fruits contain? Antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals. When you take away the good stuff, and put the fruits into juice form, things get trickier…
5. Not so Splenda
The myth: Artificial sweeteners help you lose weight.
The truth: This one just isn’t true. Studies have found that eating artificial sweeteners instead of natural sugars results in eating more and actually growing in size. This happens because the receptors in your brain which associate sweet tastes with calories are broken down when you consume the artificial sweeteners. Basically, your brain doesn’t realise it’s still eating things that aren’t great for your body, and doesn’t know to slow down.
6. Fatty foods are naughty foods
The myth: Eating fatty foods will make you fat.
The truth: This one is a little trickier, but your body actually needs fat. It provides you with a feeling of fullness, and will help your body absorb nutrients from your food. You just need to have some common sense when it comes to this one – the best fats are plant-based (things like avocados, nuts, seeds, and olive oil).
What other food “facts” have you found that turned out to be myths? Share in the comments below.
Related links:
Old-fashioned tip to tell if your eggs are fresh
The ultimate kitchen cheat sheet
Improve meals by avoiding 7 common cooking mistakes