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With the vast amount of nutritional advice and warnings available in this day and age, one would guess it would be easier to identify what foods to eat and what to avoid. Unfortunately it seems to have made things more confusing as the media continue to report on new studies and scientific findings that contradict earlier notions. While its impossible to clear ever nutrition myth to date, we have focused on the top five.
Eggs raise your cholesterol level
Yes, eggs do contain dietary cholesterol but this minute quantity has nothing to do with the cholesterol level in your body. The reason for this confusion is the fact that both are called 'cholesterol'. Your body generates its own cholesterol from specific saturated and trans fats consumed whereas the direct cholesterol you ingested doesn't significantly contribute to the overall levels in your body. Eggs for example only contain 1.4 grams of saturated fat but are packed with over a dozen different vitamins and minerals.
Wine is the only alcohol that fights heart disease
This is not true. While it was originally believed that the antioxidant properties from grapes used in wine making were what made it good for your heart, new research now shows that it is the alcohol that actually increases the amount of good cholesterol in your body. This means that moderate consumption of alcoholic beverages such as beer and whisky should also work like wine to reduce the risk of heart disease.
Adding salt during cooking is nothing more than adding sodium to your food.
This isn't exactly true. When salt is added to cooking water, it prevents the nutrients in the vegetables from leeching too quickly and furthermore shortens cooking time (salt added to water increases cooking temperatures faster), hence keeping them nutritious. Furthermore, not all added salt is actually absorbed by the food.
Fried foods are always too fatty.
This comes down to cooking method. Frying is actually an art form and if done right, minimizes oil absorption. For most food items, 375°F is ideal and that's why a fry thermometer is strongly recommended. When frying at this optimal temperature, very little oil is actually absorbed inside the food and instead forms an outer crusty layer due to moisture pushing out from the food. Furthermore, resting the food on a paper towel for a couple of minutes after absorbs any remaining oil residue.
Organic foods have higher nutritional value than its normal counterparts.
Organic food is good for the environment and small businesses but it is incorrect to assume that it's more nutritious than conventional food. Yes, it improves the soil, prevents excessive pesticides from damaging the environment and helps small farms earn a living in light of bigger players. However while organic foods may be pesticide-free, there is no significant nutritional difference between organic and conventional food and livestock.
