Who ya gonna call? Myth Busters- The truth about nutrition rumors

I am always trying to eat healthier, and, in turn, I am also a sucker for the ever-changing nutrition rumors.

Having said that, I decided I would look up several of these “myths,” and see if they were actually accurate.

First, I have always been lead to believe that calories eaten late at night were more of a detriment to your body than calories eaten early in the morning. According to Eatingwell.com, this is not the case at all.

“Calories are calories are calories, and it doesn’t matter what time you eat them,” John Foreyt, Ph.D., said. “What matters are the total calories you take in.”

Next, as someone who has struggled with acne, I always strayed away from chocolate. I actually don’t really like it, but that’s a different story. According to DukeHealth.org, this myth isn’t necessarily true either.

“Chocolate has been implicated in the role of acne for decades without any convincing data to support or refute this theory,” Dermatologist Diana McShane said. “Studies that specifically address the association of diet and acne are difficult to design with enough power to determine true cause and effect.”

In other words, this rumor does not have sufficient evidence besides its centuries-old history.

Another myth I’ve always wondered about follows the new gluten-free fad. Working in a restaurant, I have come across many people who request the gluten –free menu, but they admit right away their diet is a lifestyle choice not an allergy.

Tricia Thompson, R.D., said such a diet only benefits those who suffer from celiac disease.

Going gluten-free helps them become more energetic and feel better all around, Thompson said. When it comes to those who do not have the autoimmune condition, a gluten-free diet will not have these results and will have “probably no benefit,” she said.

The last thing I wanted to look up was the benefit of becoming a vegetarian. I have always considered making the diet change, and I’ve heard from many people that it can increase your health.

On the contrary, according to Judd Handler, of mnn.com, living the life of a vegetarian has several health benefits, but the diet can also increase a person’s risk of colorectal cancer, lower bone mineral density and lower levels of vitamin B12.

While these factors should be considered, Handler said studies have consistently been insignificant when it comes to determining how harmful any of these risks can be.

These are just a few of the myths that I have always been curious about. If you have anymore, please don’t hesitate to email me at BowenAK15@uww.edu, and I will research and post them on this blog.

~Remember, you have to learn to love yourself before you can truly love someone else~

Abbey :]