• Share

PRINT

Nutrition is a hotly contested topic. Scrolling through social media, reading your favorite food blogs, and listening to podcasts exposes you to endless information about nutrition and health — much of which is a little suspect, to say the least.

Myths that were previously passed through word-of-mouth now spread like wildfire through these channels, making it difficult to tell what’s truly evidence-based.

You’ve likely heard these three myths repeated at one time or another. Let’s set the record straight.

Myth No. 1: Fresh is best. From strawberries to broccoli, fresh produce has a natural appeal to many people. “Fresh” just sounds healthier than “frozen,” doesn’t it?

But just because something is sold as fresh doesn’t necessarily mean it’s more nutritious. While there can be some differences between fresh and frozen veggies and fruits for select nutrients, overall, the nutritional content is similar.

Since frozen produce is flash frozen in its ripened state, it may have higher levels of some nutrients and antioxidants than fresh options that have been in storage for several days. Plus, there can be considerable cost savings when using out-of-season frozen items like berries and cauliflower.

The fact: Strive to eat more of all fruits and veggies — fresh, frozen or canned.

Myth No. 2: Fasting is the best for weight loss. Intermittent fasting, time-restricted eating, whatever you call it, this eating pattern is promoted as a better way to drop pounds than simply cutting back on calories. But the differences are more minor than you would think.

Studies have shown that intermittent calorie restriction — where you only eat your calories during a narrow time frame each day — doesn’t necessarily lead to better weight loss success than a diet where you eat more regularly during the day but make sure that calorie intake is controlled. Overall, calories are calories no matter when you eat them.

The fact: There is more than one way to eat for weight loss, and skipping meals isn’t necessary if it’s not something that pleases you. For you, perhaps breakfast truly is the most important meal of the day.

Myth No. 3: Eating more often boosts metabolism. Unfortunately for grazers, there is little scientific evidence that eating smaller, frequent meals boosts metabolism in a meaningful way.

Yes, there is a temporary uptick in your metabolic rate when digesting and processing food (due to the thermic effect of food), but the 24-hour difference that occurs from eating several times a day versus less often is negligible.

The fact: Meal frequency has little to do with overall metabolism. Instead, pay attention to your hunger cues and eat when you feel hungry.

Reprinted with permission from EnvironmentalNutrition.com.