With all the information available about diet and exercise, there's bound to be misinformation and misconceptions. Some of the myths associated with these two areas are based on old ways of thinking and some are from ideas promoted by entrepreneurs seeking a profit. Separating the wheat from the chaff isn't always easy, but it can be done by obtaining your information on diet and exercise from a reliable resource.
Fad Diets
The myth is out there that fad diets work for permanent weight loss. The Weight-control Information Network explains that fad diets promote fast weight loss by severely limiting calories or controlling which foods to eat and which to avoid. Over the long term, most fad diets rob your body of adequate nutrition. In addition, it is difficult and often unhealthy to follow a fad diet for any length of time. When you resume your normal eating habits, the weight that you'd lost while on the fad diet will return.
Exercise Duration
One of the myths about exercise is that it must be done in 30 minute or longer intervals to benefit your heart. The fact is, even short intervals of five minutes to 10 minutes at a time provide benefit to your heart. It is true that the longer intervals of exercise give your heart a better workout, but if you are having difficulty finding a 30 minute block of time for exercise, break your physical activity bouts into shorter segments throughout the day.
Weight Loss Products
There is a common misconception that weight loss products labeled "natural" or "herbal" must be safe to use. The fact is that over-the-counter products and dietary supplements don't undergo the same type of scrutiny that prescription medications do. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, or USDA, only becomes involved in non-prescription products once complaints are lodged by consumers. By the time an investigation can be launched and completed, innocent consumers' health may be at risk.
Exercise Misconception
Sweating does not indicate you are losing weight during physical activity. Sweating is the loss of water through the pores of your skin. True, after strenuous workout, the scale will likely show you weigh less than before the workout--but this is water weight that you've lost. Once you've re-hydrated, your body will absorb the amount of fluid it needs to maintain the proper balance of fluids and electrolytes.
Loss of fat happens over a period of time--when you've utilized 3,500 more calories than you've taken in, one pound is lost.
Special Foods Cause Weight Loss
Although urban myths abound about the special properties of certain foods that will "burn" fat, the truth is that no such food exists. Not grapefruits, or vinegar, or pomegranate, or even cabbage will cause you to burn calories. Beverages that contain caffeine do slightly raise your metabolism for a short period of time, but high levels of caffeine can be unhealthy, especially if you have high blood pressure or certain heart conditions.
Diet and Exercise Facts
Look to current data and material when trying to determine what information is fact or myth about both diet and exercise. The U.S. Department of Agriculture presents many diet and food facts through the MyPyramid site and program. The U.S. National Institutes of Health provide both diet and exercise information, as does the American Heart Association.
When trying to separate fact from fiction about diet and exercise, be sure the information you use comes from a reputable source or sources. Chances are, if the source you are using is trying to sell you a product, the information you gather from them will be one-sided at best.
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