| There are multiple rules to maintaining a healthy diet. | | | | carbohydrate intake comes from whole grains, which |
| Trouble is, it's hard to figure out which ones are worth | | | | should allow you indulge in a serving of refined carbs |
| following. | | | | every now and again. |
| A study published in the International Journal of Obesity, | | | | Myth 3: Eat five small meals a day |
| looks at the various diet ideals that we are | | | | Theoretically this makes sense, five small healthful |
| encouraged to live by and concludes that those who | | | | meals ensure that your blood sugar is kept steady, |
| are flexible with regards to what they eat, often | | | | your appetite satisfied, and your metabolism high. |
| succeed in maintaining weight loss, over those who are | | | | However, more meals mean more opportunities to |
| strict and live by the letter of the law. It makes sense, | | | | overeat, with some studies showing links between |
| its hard to keep up an 'all or nothing' approach that | | | | frequent meal consumption and obesity. Additionally, |
| some diets require. No carbs? Protein only?? Dinners | | | | for those with an emotional tie to food, having to |
| divided into macro-nutrient ratios? I can see why some | | | | constantly think about what to eat five times a day |
| diets are made to be broken. The best diets fit into | | | | can be stressful, and lead to bad dietary choices. |
| your lifestyle, and should be possible to maintain | | | | Myth 4: A low fat or fat free diet is good for you |
| whether eating at home, or out at a restaurant or | | | | No matter what size you are, you need fat in your diet. |
| friends house. However, there are some myths that | | | | About one third of your calories should come from fat, |
| need to be broken, to enable you enjoy the flexibility | | | | necessary for energy, tissue repair and to transport |
| that allows a diet to succeed. | | | | fat soluble vitamins A, E, D, and K around the body. |
| Myth 1: It's best not to eat after 7 p.m. | | | | Simply make sure this fat intake is from unsaturated |
| It's not when you eat, it's what you eat, and how much. | | | | fats, such as those found in olive oil and avocados, and |
| Studies show that those who eat late at night do not | | | | not trans or saturated fats. |
| gain weight because of the lateness of their calorie | | | | Myth 5: Low fat foods help you lose weight |
| consumption, but because eating at that stage usually | | | | This is a very common misconception. Low fat does |
| pushes them well over their daily calorie requirement, | | | | not mean low calorie. Most of these products are high |
| given that you probably haven't eaten since lunchtime. | | | | in sugar, which turns to fat. In addition, people tend to |
| If you do find that dinner is most likely to be consumed | | | | overuse low fat products, often ending up consuming |
| late at night, make sure to eat a healthy snack mid | | | | twice as much as they would of the full fat product. |
| afternoon to counter the chances of overeating. | | | | Understanding nutrition and taking a balanced approach |
| Myth 2: Avoid white bread, rice and pasta | | | | to your food, should enable you to make the right |
| While not as healthy or nutritious as their wholegrain | | | | choices, without the stress or rigidity of an impossible |
| counterparts, don't beat yourself up if you find yourself | | | | to follow diet. |
| tucking into 'white' carbs. Simply ensure most of your | | | | |