Diet Myths That Keep Us Fat by Nancy L. Snyderman (book review)
The Information Age has not been kind to the dieter. The volume of nutritional data available today is overwhelming. And diet advice seems to change with the season: eat more carbs, don't eat carbs, count calories, don't count calories, cut back on fats, eat all the fats you want. Who can keep up? In "Diet Myths That Keep Us Fat", Snyderman covers the many diet and nutrition beliefs - some are true and others that are anything but. She explores at popular weight-loss strategies and describes their origins, how they work, whether they're effective and how they measure medically and nutritionally. (latimes.com)
10 diet myths busted
(Myth #1) Don't eat after 8 pm. In reality calories can't tell time. "Your body digests and uses calories the same way morning, noon, and night," explains research dietitian Mary Flynn. Night eaters tend to overeat (which leads to weight gain no matter when it's done) because often they've been eating too little during the day. --- (Myth #2) Eating small, frequent meals boosts metabolism. In reality food intake has a minimal effect on metabolism. Some foods, like caffeine, may temporarily step-up metabolism, but the effect is too small to help lose weight. What most affects basal metabolic rate (BMR) is body composition (muscles) and size. (courant.com)
Diet myths debunked
Every year, millions of Americans resolve to lose weight - And every year, many get frustrated and give up before they reach their goals. Contributing to this problem is a host of bad information about diet and exercise. Take diet myths such as low fat equals low calorie. Or what about anything fat-free must be healthy. It gets better; try skip one meal a day and calorie intake will be reduced, and the all the time favorite, eating after 8 p.m. causes weight gain. These are all myths. Some of these well intentioned diet myths can be harmful to not only a person`s weight loss goals, but also to their overall health. (americustimesrecorder)
Putting obesity myths on truth diet
In her new book, "Rethinking Thin," science journalist Gina Kolata reaches conclusions likely to make enemies of every diet marketer alive. The diet marketers will find allies in the millions of thin Americans who find overweight Americans disgusting. The first conclusion: Diets almost never lead to better health. Not the Atkins diet or the South Beach diet or Weight Watchers or Jenny Craig. Most diets fail to reduce the poundage of most users. The second conclusion: Overweight women and men are rarely that way because they lack will power. Instead, they are overweight primarily because of the genes. (denverpost)
Dispelling The Top 10 Nutrition Myths
(10) Eating carbohydrates makes you fat. Cutting carbs from your diet may have short-term weight loss benefits (due to water loss), but eating carbs in moderation does not directly lead to weight gain. The body uses carbs for energy, and being too long without them can cause lethargy. (5) Vitamin supplements are necessary for everyone. If you eat a variety of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, along with a variety of low-fat dairy and protein and the right quantity of calories, you don't need to supplement. Special vitamin supplements are also recommended for people who are pregnant or have nutritional disorders. (medicalnewstoday)
Don't Be Fooled By Certain Health Foods
If you're one of the millions hoping to lose weight by buying fat-free, cholesterol-free, or all-natural products, you may be surprised. Experts say it's those so-called "healthy" foods that frequently sabotage diets. "These are the foods we naturally look to as we try to lose extra pounds; however, they are the ones that we need to be careful about," says dietitian Dee Rollins. Case and point granola: "Everyone thinks granola bars are wonderful and yet if you turn it over and look at the ingredients you'll see that it has high fructose corn syrup and a lot of sugars." (medicalnewstoday)
Weight loss success secrets - Part 1 of 4
Weight loss is a popular, but confusing, goal. There are many fad diets, workout programs, and miracle fat-burning pills. (1) The 'fat lie' is that the scale is the most important factor when losing weight. In fact people are searching for the wrong thing. Most people do not desire to lose weight. What they desire is to lose fat. Confusing the two can be the difference between success and failure. (2) Too Good to be True: Fat burning pills promise the world. I challenge the reader to find a single individual who has lost a lot of weight, kept it off for several years, and attributes their success to a pill or weight loss gadget. (ameinfo)
Can dairy help you lose weight?
In 2004, researchers authored a study that found that consuming 3 servings of low-fat dairy products daily helps burn fat and speed weight loss. A 2005 Dutch study reported that people who consumed adequate amounts of calcium were slightly leaner than their calcium-poor counterparts. Expert take: The weight-loss benefits can't be replicated by taking a calcium supplement. The slimming effect comes from an interaction between the calcium and other components in dairy products. You can't include milk, cheese and yogurt in your diet, eat whatever you want and not gain weight. You still have to pay attention to calories. (tucsoncitizen)
Experts Weigh In on popular Diet And Exercise Myths
Crunches will get rid of your belly fat: False. "You can't pick and choose areas where you'd like to burn fat." -- Stretching before exercise is crucial: False. Some studies suggested that stretching actually increases muscles' susceptibility to injury. -- You should never eat before a workout: False. Fuel is required to provide the energy for your muscles to work efficiently even if you are doing an early morning workout. -- Fat is bad for you, no matter what kind: False. There are plenty of "good fats" out there that are essential to promoting good health and aid in disease prevention. (sciencedaily)
Four Food Myths Exposed
Below, four of the most common myths are exposed and corrected. Myth: Dairy products make people fat. Reality: Research suggests that dairy products actually promote fat loss in certain circumstances. -- Myth: If the label says "low fat" or "reduced fat," then the product will always be the healthier choice. Reality: Studies show that people eat more foods that are labeled "reduced fat" or "low fat." Processed products that claim to be reduced fat often supplement flavor and texture with other ingredients. Even though the food has less fat, the reduction in calories is often insignificant. (---)
Blow Up Dieting Myths - 5 Falsehoods You Can Stop Believing
When you're ready to lose some weight, but how to separate fad from fact? We took five top diet myths to a panel to see which ones don't stand up to reality. (1) I have a slow metabolism, so I'll never lose weight. "It's rare that someone has a slow metabolism and that's the only reason (they aren't losing weight)." While you can expect your metabolism to slow by 1-2% for every decade after age 30, it is easy to combat that with increased activity. (2) Skipping a meal is a good way to jump-start a weight-loss program: "Totally skipping a meal is a really bad idea. It causes your body to go into conservation mode." (wsbtv)
Myths and Facts of Weight-loss Walking
Walking is easy to do and apart from a pair of comfortable shoes needs no equipment. Because of this simplicity people sometimes believe walking can't help to make you healthier. These are most common myths explained. (Myth) Walking will make you hungry so you eat more than usual. (Facts) Walking does not automatically make you hungry. If you are overweight you won't need extra calories after a walk. (Myth) If there is no Pain then there is no gain. (Facts) Not true. You do not have to come back from your walk aching and sweaty. (bellaonline)
Five Dieting Myths -- A Few Facts
You've most likely heard that certain foods can help you burn calories or that snacking when on a diet is always a bad idea. It turns out these are just myths. ((2)) Some foods make you burn calories. It would be great if there were foods that speed up your metabolism. Sadly, there is no such thing. There are foods that are good for you, but none of these will make you lose weight. However, if you are on a weight-loss regimen. you may consider eating foods that are high in water and fiber because they stay in your body longer, fill you up, and keep you from overindulging, which can help you lose weight. (cbsnews)
Tips for setting and meeting your weight-loss goals
You've made the commitment to lose weight. Set goals that are realistic, specific and measurable. No one can make you lose weight. In fact, external pressure may only make matters worse. Trying to lose weight to satisfy someone else rarely works. ((Getting ready)) It takes a lot of energy to change habits, and you want to be sure you're focused on the matter at hand. Timing is crucial: Look at your life and what challenges you're facing, such as work-life or relationship concerns. ((Setting goals)) Weight loss requires lifestyle changes, so set process goals, eating healthier and exercising more, as opposed to outcome goals such as losing 50 pounds. (mayoclinic)
Five Weight Loss Myths Debunked
No matter how well you follow your diet or fitness routine, there is usually some cheating involved -- and not just the fibs you tell about what you're eating when no one is looking. Most of us have tried at least one quick fix to drop weight -- fasting, or removing certain foods from our diets -- only to gain the weight back. Myths about how you can lose weight can sabotage even the healthiest relationship between you and your treadmill. It's a great rule to be suspicious of quick and easy weight loss solutions. Fad dieting and gimmicks can do more harm than good when it comes to losing and maintaining your weight. (foxnews)
10 weight-loss myths that can ruin your diet
One day, you can¡¯t eat carbs; the next day, it¡¯s snacks. We¡¯re obsessed with diets and dieting. Every day we¡¯re bombarded by new, and most often confusing, information on what is the best way to shed those extra pounds. There are fat-burning pills, low-fat-low-carb snacks, and diet tips galore: Don¡¯t eat carbs, stay away from desserts, don¡¯t skip breakfast, etc. With all this conflicting information, it¡¯s difficult to find a diet that is right for you ¡ª and that will work for you! And it¡¯s not that all this weight-loss advice is useless. It¡¯s just that one person¡¯s diet secret may not work for you. The same doesn¡¯t work for everyone. (msnbc)
Weight-loss and Nutrition Myths
Try the low- carbohydrate diet, the high-protein diet, or drink a shake and lose 10 pounds in 10 days. And so on. With so many weight-loss theories out there, it's easy to get confused. This fact sheet will help clear up the confusion about weight loss. (1) Myth: Skipping meals is a good way to lose weight. Fact: Your body needs a certain amount of calories each day. If you skip meals during the day, you will be more likely to make up for those missing calories by snacking or eating more. People who skip breakfast tend to be heavier than those who eat a nutritious breakfast. A healthier way to lose weight is to eat many small meals throughout the day. (mh)