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Tuesday, July 05, 2011

Diet Myths

There are a few statements when it comes to food that I have issues with:

"Don't eat carrots.  They have too much sugar."
How many people are too heavy due to eating too many carrots?  If carrots are the true culprit of your diet, then you eat far better than I or anyone else does.
from askfreud.com
"I avoid pasta and bread."
There's no need to avoid bread and pasta.  Stick to whole grains.  And remember what a portion size is -- 3/4 of a cup of dry pasta, or 56 grams, is 210 calories.  Measure it out.  You'd be surprised how small it is compared to a standard restaurant serving size of pasta.  And, when you go out to dinner, stay away from the bread basket, especially if you are getting a pasta dish or meal with bread  in it.
from walldesk.net

"I don't eat red meat.  I eat lots of chicken and fish."
I wrote a whole post on this subject.  An animal is an animal is an animal.  Why should an animal of one species be so "good" for you an another be "bad"?  Beef, chicken, and fish have the same quantities of cholesterol.  And, lean beef and chicken have similar quantities of artery-clogging saturated fat.  So, if you really want to do yourself a favor, cut back on or get rid of the animals from your diet.

6 comments:

ruthkidd said...

Thanks for mentioning the carrot thing! The last time someone turned down my dilled carrot dish and then consumed an entire piece of chocolate cake, based on the sugar myth, I had to bite my tongue so hard I'm surprised I can still talk!

Teri said...

LOL, never heard the carrot myth before.

debby said...

During the height of the Atkins thing, I was chastised for eating a peach by a woman who was eating a pepperoni stick. We were both heavy, but apparently peaches were seen as the culprit behind my weight gain.

Anonymous said...

I certainly agree with eliminating saturate animal fat. Since going vegan, my hair, skin and nails are healthier than ever. I get plenty of protein, plus other valuable nutrients and fiber from peas, legumes, quinoa and brown rice.

Debbie J-R said...

Hi Heather,
Thanks for you informative blog. I have followed it periodically for the last couple of years (and also contacted you via facebook). I got big laughs when I read about your cardiologists meeting at a certain steakhouse! :-) Anyway, I've felt for a while that I ate a fairly healthy diet - if there is such a thing: eating very little red-meat. But, you're right about chicken/fish. Like you, I also saw Forks Over Knives and couldn't believe what I was hearing (and I had also seen Food, Inc awhile ago). Last week, I finished The China Study. What Dr. Campbell said about animal protein shocked me. As of last Sunday, I've been eating a whole grains/plant food diet. I know I won't be perfect, but so far, after just a few days, it hasn't been that difficult.
Thank you again for all your info. I was wish I was in LA to attend your classes, but we moved to San Diego about a year ago.
Debbie J-R

Dwight Alvans said...

Yeah, these are some common diet myths. The carrot myth is so funny. LOL. Every diet has myths that come along with it, and people have to determine which are true and which aren't.