Busting Health Myths

Health is wealth. This is a saying that every single person has been introduced to since a very young age itself. All of us know how important it is to manage our health.

In the process of doing that, very often, we blindly follow many health myths which are propagated and fed to us through various media. We must realize that these myths are not helping us in any way, and that we need to educate ourselves with the facts in order to achieve our health goals.

Thus, ahead of World Health Day, here are some myths which people commonly follow, and the real facts!

1. Myth #1: Fat-free foods are always good!

Many people believe that avoiding fat, and consuming 'fat-free' foods will help them get rid of all their health problems and become healthy.

Fact #1: Fats are necessary for our body!

Fats play a very important role in our bodies! Fats help to lubricate our joints, and are reserves of energy. Our brain structures are also composed of fat! Fat-free products often have a high quantity of sugar in them, which will end up getting converted to fat anyway if it's not utilised by our bodies. So, be mindful of the sugar content and don't blindly buy products just because they're advertised as 'fat-free.'

2. Myth #2: Natural sugar is always good!

It is also commonly believed that sugar that comes from food items like dates, fruits, and jaggery is good because there is no 'artificial sugar' in them.

Fact #2: Sugar, irrespective of the source, is not healthy for your body if your lifestyle is not healthy.

Sugar, no matter which source it comes from, will spike your insulin levels and lock your fat storage. Even if it comes from natural sources, it doesn't make any difference to your body, unless you have a very healthy lifestyle, and your sugar intake is generally low.

3. Myth #3: Fruits are always good!

People believe that fruits are very good because they provide us vitamins and minerals and contain natural sugars.

Fact #3: Yes, fruits do have the above nutrients, but it is important to know that whether a food item is good or bad depends on the quantity, quality, time of consumption, how frequently it is being consumed and whether that is suited to your bodily requirements.

So, if you're working on weight management, reduce your consumption of fruit because it has sugar which isn't very useful for your body.

Myth #4: Starving helps you lose weight!

A lot of people who want to lose weight think that starving can help them lose their weight.

4. Fact #4: Starving prevents your body from functioning properly!

Our bodies are exactly like machines, in fact the most amazing machines on this planet, and thus they need good quality fuel which are carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins, minerals and water, on a daily basis. Understand your daily calorie requirement, and have balanced meals. It's the proportion that matters. You can maintain your weight by consuming the required proportion of calories.

Thus, we must be aware and not fall prey to these myths. It's always a good idea to consult a health professional to help you navigate through these myths and give you the real facts. Let's unfollow the myths, and be better informed regarding our health!

Wishing you all a very happy & healthy World Health Day 2021.

The above article is authored by Dr. Umesh Wadhavani, a Nutritionist Corporate Wellness Coach and Mental Health Professional with www.healthassure.in/