Weight Loss & Nutrition Myths - Part 2

Thursday 8th July 2010 10:12am

Myth: Certain foods, like grapefruit, celery, or cabbage soup, can burn fat and make you lose weight

Fact: No foods can burn fat. Some foods with caffeine may speed up your metabolism for a short time but, this is a temporary effect and doesn’t result in weight loss.

Tip: The best way to lose weight is to cut back on the number of kilojoules you eat and be more physically active.

Meal Myths

Myth: “I can lose weight while eating whatever I want”

Fact: To lose weight, you need to use more kilojoules than you eat. If you increase activity beyond your intake then yes it is possible to eat any kind of food you want and lose weight.

Tip: When trying to lose weight, you can still eat your favourite foods—as long as you pay attention to the total number of kilojoules that you eat and how much activity you are performing

Myth: Low-fat or fat-free means no kilojoules

Fact: A low-fat or fat-free food is often lower in kilojoules than the same size portion of the full-fat product. But many processed low-fat or fat-free foods have just as many kilojoules as the full-fat versions of the same foods—or even more kilojoules. They may contain added sugar, flour, or starch thickeners to improve flavour and texture after fat is removed. These ingredients add kilojoules.

Tip: Read the Nutrition Facts on a food package to find out how many kilojoules are in a serving. Check the serving size too—it may be less than you are used to eating.

Myth: Fast foods are always an unhealthy choice and you should not eat them when dieting

Fact: Fast foods are not always unhealthy, but nearly so. Most fast foods are high in added salt, sugars and are also high in saturated fats.

Tip: Avoid fast foods as much as possible. They are often not as fast as preparing a healthy meal yourself but if you feel you have to indulge then choose the smaller sized portions. Also look for any healthier choices on the menu.

Myth: Skipping meals is a good way to lose weight

Fact: People who skip breakfast and eat fewer times during the day tend to be heavier than people who eat a healthy breakfast and eat four or five times a day. This may be because people who skip meals tend to feel hungrier later on, and eat more than they normally would, often snacking on whatever is close at hand like chips and chocolates. It may also be that eating many small meals throughout the day helps people control their appetites.

Tip: Eat small meals throughout the day that include a variety of healthy, low-fat, low-calorie foods.

This information is not intended as a substitute for qualified medical advice. Please consult a properly qualified health care practitioner.