I spend much of my time in seminars and individual appointments, dispelling the myths that the media has created when it comes to nutrition so I have decided to dispel some of those myths for you, my loyal readers so that you might finally have some clarity on everyday misconceptions.

Myth #1 – We must cut out the carbohydrates to remain slim.  Absolutely not!  Carbohydrates are our greatest source of energy.  Society has caught onto the fact that white bread is stripped of nutrients and we shouldn’t be eating white or refined flour products but rather whole grains.  But many notice that eating whole grains i.e. pasta can cause us to feel bloated, tired or heavy soon after consumption.  This is due to the gluten that is added to pasta and bread to make it light and fluffy but we don’t digest gluten well.  The trick is to consume low gluten or no gluten pastas and breads such as spelt, kamut, quinoa or rice pastas and breads.  These grains give us the energy we need and are the most easily digested and therefore will not cause weight gain!

Myth #2 – Bottled water is a waste of money.  There is definitely waste in the packaging of bottled water. But, unlike tap water, bottled water does not contain chlorine, which is so harmful to our bodies and depleting of the good bacteria we all need so badly in order to remain healthy!  Does bottled water contain bad bacteria?  Yes, some more than others; reverse osmosis bottled water is generally safer.

Myth #3 – We all need multi-vitamins.  It is more important to improve our digestion than it is to take a multi-vitamin.  If we cannot digest the multi-vitamin, what good is it doing for our bodies?  Better to remove the foods hindering our digestion and causing symptoms in our bodies and then introduce healthier foods and a multi-vitamin, once they can be better absorbed.

Myth #4 – Avocados, olives, nuts and seeds are fattening.  These foods contain ONLY good fats.  Our bodies need good fats.  Good fats can actually help us lose weight if we are overweight but they also keep our brains healthy, our skin healthy, our immune systems strong, increase our energy and much more.

Myth #5 – Olive oil is the best oil with which to fry foods.  Coconut oil and rice bran oil are far more stable oils when heated to high temperatures.

Myth #6 – Changing what I eat cannot help me with my acne/headaches/fibromyalgia/irritable bowel/ADD etc.  We eat multiple times a day.  It is what we put into our bodies more than anything else yet why do we believe that what we eat has no impact on us?  Food can cause or worsen every single symptom, condition and disease.

Myth #7 – We need to count calories and measure the amounts of food we consume.  Certainly, the number one way in which to age with vitality is to eat smaller portions but most of us do not need to measure our food.  The emphasis should be on eating natural, alive and good quality foods on a regular basis.  A good rule of thumb for a proper serving size is that the size of one’s palm not including the fingers equals one serving size.  When you look at a child’s palm, one can see that a serving size for meat/poultry/carbohydrates/good fats/vegetables/fruits is not very large at all.

Myth #8 – We should not consume any sugar.  Sugar does weaken the immune system however fruits, which contain natural sugars, can strengthen the immune system, particularly organic fruit.  It is the refining of sugar that causes the blood sugar spikes and multiple health issues.  Maple syrup, unpasteurised honey, date sugar, stevia and other healthier alternatives can be enjoyed in moderation.

Myth #9 – Eating healthy costs too much money.  The more of us that eat healthy, the lower the costs of healthy food become.  It’s simply supply and demand.  Eating fruits and vegetables and cooking our food is far less costly than purchasing ready-made packaged foods.  When a family goes to an amusement park and buys everyone lunch and treats throughout the day, the cost is far greater for them than it is for the family that brings their own healthy lunch and snacks.  The more we do spend on high quality foods, the healthier our bodies will be and the better quality our lives will be.  And what could be more important than that?

Myth #10 – Hollywood stars only use plastic surgery and great camera angles to look slim and healthy.  Most Hollywood stars actually place a large emphasis on nutrition.  They pay nutritionists thousands of dollars to teach them how to eat, how much to eat, what supplements to take and how to exercise most effectively.  And those that learn the actual foods that work best with their bodies are even further ahead.

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Until next time,

Meredith