Your body can be thought of as a precision machine. It comes with thousands of intricate parts that combine to make an amazingly functional team. Like any machine, your body needs regular maintenance and fuel.
Bodies need fuel with the right mix of nutrients to run at maximum efficiency. Good eating habits will improve your overall health, but it is also necessary to dig through the poor information that most of us hear about.
There are seven big myths about good eating habits, and here we address them:
1. “You should work out on an empty stomach.” This is definitely a myth. The rumbling in your stomach is trying to tell you something, and it’s not that you need to dash to the gym. Ignore those tummy rumbles and you’re forcing your body’s engine to run on empty. Always be sure that you have a light snack, such as a piece of fruit, before any physical activity.
2. “Meal replacement bars and drinks are good for you.” Sorry, another myth. Meal replacement bars and drinks can offer a small benefit if you are traveling or in a real pinch, but they are nowhere near the same as eating real food. Vitamins, antioxidants, minerals, fiber, and plenty more is available in fruit and vegetables, and is much better than bars.
3. “Breakfast can be skipped.” Nope. Mom was definitely right on this one, and breakfast is still the most important meal of the day. Give your body the morning charge up it needs to deal with your crazy schedule. Skipping breakfast means you start the day with low fuel, and will feel sluggish and mentally slow all day long.
4. “Low-carb diets provide all the nutrients we need.” Another myth. For temporary weight loss, low-carb diets may work, but in terms of overall good health, they come up short. We need carbohydrates for our very survival, and they start by developing muscle tissue, and storing energy for later use.
5. “Eat what you want, when you want.” If only life were that easy. Just because you’re making some good food choices and exercising regularly, doesn’t necessarily give you license to eat everything you want. Balance is the key. You can’t eat only cheese and no fruit or vegetables and expect to lead a healthy life.
6. “Cut as many calories as you can.” While losing weight does involve cutting calories, you should never run on too short a fuel supply. Trim your calories wisely, and aim for a healthy weight loss of one or two pounds per week. If you start to drop weight too quickly, add a little more food to bring your daily calorie count up.
7. “Skip alcohol and soda.” Yes! Not a myth. Good drinking habits are part of good eating. Soda pop really is just colored sugar water with chemical flavor. Why add to the profits of those companies, when you can drink tap water, juice, or milk? Drink regularly throughout the day. (Though it should be noted that the eight glass a day “rule” is not actually based on scientific research, but is itself a frequently repeated myth.) Don’t let yourself get dehydrated.
Good eating habits begin with a solid understanding of proper diet. When you change what you eat, you’ll be taking an important step toward improving your overall wellness. Fuel up and keep your motor running for optimum performance today, and down the road.
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