Some Myths Debunked

 

Ok, it is time to dispel a few myths.

1. There is no such thing as "double jointed". Think about that. No one has two joints! Extremely flexible people are just that, extremely flexible. Genetics is a huge factor in that.

2. There is no such ting as "big boned". Skeletons are roughly the same size. Our "size" is determined by fat and muscle mass.

3. We do not "flex muscles". We contract muscles in order to flex joints.

4. It is a myth that you have no control over your metabolism. I have heard people say that they would work out more, but their metabolism is slow, so it won't do any good. The truth is that your metabolism is slow because you don't work out. Exercise and physical activity increase metabolism!

5. Potatoes really are good for you!

6. Meat is not essential to the human body, *complete* protein, is! (See the Protein page for more info on protein)

7. Sugar is not bad. LOTS of sugar, is.

8. Salt is also not bad. LOTS of salt, is.

9. It is a myth that running on a treadmill puts less stress on your knees than running on pavement. Running is a great workout, but does have an impact on the knees. It is the force of your body weight on your joints that causes the stress and it's the same whether you're on a treadmill or pavement.

10. It is a myth that doing crunches or working on an "ab machine" will get rid of belly fat. Crunches help strengthen the muscles around your midsection and help improve your posture, but not being able to see your "6 pack" has to do with your overall percentage of body fat. You can not "spot reduce". When you burn fat, it comes from all over the body, not just one area. Cardio will help burn fat and strengthening exercises will help tone muscles. That's how it works.
 

 

And a  couple more myths debunked by science, from the Livestrong Foundation

Canola Oil is Made from Rapeseed (And Is Toxic!)

Many people think that canola oil comes from the rapeseed plant, but it actually comes from the pressed seeds of the canola plant. While Rapeseed oil does contain very high levels of erucic acid (a compound that in large amounts can be toxic to humans), canola oil contains very low levels of erucic acid. Misinformation about canola oil may stem from the fact that the canola plant was developed in the 1960s through traditional plant crossbreeding with rapeseed to reduce the erucic acid and glucosinolates contained in the rapeseed oils. While canola oil is not, by definition, genetically modified, as of 2010 90% of canola crops are genetically modified (GMO) to make them more resistant to pesticides. To avoid GMOs always look for organic and expeller pressed canola oil (mechanically extracted at a temperature of 120F vs. chemically).

“Juice Cleanses” Are The Best Solution for Long-Term Weight Loss

From celebrities to personal trainers, there’s no shortage of people advocating juice “cleansing.” There is no such thing as cleansing or detoxing. (Science has, in fact, debunked this, years ago.) Your liver and kidneys do that for you. If they are not finctioning properly, you need a doctor, not a "detox" or a "cleanse." This is nothing more than fake science designed to make money off of the fears of certain consumers. If you really want to do your body a favor, get regular exercise, sleep, and eat a healthy, balanced diet.

 

Harvard Medical School

The dubious practice of detox

 

"The human body can defend itself very well against most environmental insults and the effects of occasional indulgence (see "The body's own detox system"). If you're generally healthy, concentrate on giving your body what it needs to maintain its robust self-cleaning system — a healthful diet, adequate fluid intake, regular exercise, sufficient sleep, and all recommended medical check-ups. If you experience fatigue, pallor, unexplained weight gain or loss, changes in bowel function, or breathing difficulties that persist for days or weeks, visit your doctor instead of a detox spa."

MYTH: Some Foods, Like Celery, Have Negative Calories

When something sounds too good to be true, it probably is. A “negative calorie food” may sound great, but unfortunately there is no such thing. The myth of “negative calories,” stems from the notion that some foods will burn more calories than they provide. The faulty logic of this urban legend rests on the idea that the thermic effect of food (TEF), i.e. the amount of energy required to digest some foods, can give certain foods less-than-zero calories. Celery, apples, and limes and are among those touted to be negative calorie foods. Sadly, there are no negative calorie foods. The TEF generally ranges from 10%-20% of the calories in a food. So let’s say a celery stalk has 7 calories. Even if we assume a 20% TEF, that still means you're left with about 5.5 calories.

 

 

And remember:

There is no diet that will do what eating healthy does. Skip the diet. Just eat Healthy! Eat whole foods the way nature intended, not processed and loaded with chemicals. If you can't pronounce it, don't eat it!
Example: Eat fresh veggies and fruits, whole grains, nuts, healthy oils, such as olive oil, eggs, yogurt and only small amounts of lean meat.
55 to 65% of your diet should be vegetables, fruits and whole grains, 10% from fat (ideally from healthy oils, nuts, seeds and fish.) Avoid high fructose corn syrup, artificial sweeteners, MSG, modified food starch, hydrogenated oils and preservatives.