Abstract
Mis-information from mass media, social media, normalized stigmas, and the rise of an era of influencers has cultivated a health culture that seeks to promote the latest trends, including weight-loss fads, without taking into account potentially negative short-term consequences.. This chapter will identify some common health misconceptions in society and the popular media, and address false information with facts.
Contents
Introduction
Nutritional Misconceptions:
-Whole Wheat
-Fruit and Vegetable Chips
-Low-Fat Diet
Unraveling Nutritional Misconceptions
The Vitamin Misconception
The Importance of Whole Foods
The Aging Misconception
The Carbohydrate Misconception
The Influence of Industry and Research
The Insulin Resistance Problem
The Fat Misconception
The Protein Misconception
The Low-Fat Diet Misconception
The Misconception about Processed Foods
The Sugar Misconception
The Misconception about Fruit Juices
The Misconception about Microwaved and Frozen Foods
Whole Wheat and Fruit Chips
The Misconception about Meat, Eggs, and Milk
The Misconception about Processed Foods
The Importance of Probiotics
Lifestyle Misconceptions
Unraveling Health Misconceptions: A Doctor’s Perspective
Losing Weight
Food Misconceptions
Top 20 daily misconceptions
Conclusion
Patient Testimonial
Introduction
Nutrition is a complex and constantly evolving topic, and there are many misconceptions that are commonly believed to be true. One of the most common nutritional misconceptions is the idea that all fats are bad for you. While it’s true that certain types of fats, such as trans fats, can be harmful to your health, other types of fats are essential for optimal health and well-being. For example, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats can help to lower your risk of heart disease, improve brain function, and reduce inflammation in the body. Unfortunately, many people still believe that all fats are unhealthy and should be avoided. This can lead to a diet that is deficient in important nutrients and can have negative effects on overall health. It’s important to understand that a balanced diet that includes healthy sources of fat, such as nuts, seeds, avocados, and fatty fish, can be beneficial for your health. If you’re unsure about how to incorporate healthy fats into your diet, consider speaking with a registered dietitian or nutritionist who can help you develop a personalized nutrition plan.
In this chapter, we will be discussing the importance of fat and proteins in your diet-this is NOT misconceptions?!. Fat and protein are two of the three macronutrients that are essential for a healthy diet, with the third being carbohydrates. While carbohydrates are important, many people overlook the crucial role that fat and protein play in maintaining a healthy body. We’ll start by looking at the role of fat in our diet, discussing how it provides energy, supports brain function, and aids in nutrient absorption. We’ll also discuss the difference between good fats and bad fats, and why it’s important to include healthy sources of fat in your diet. Next, we’ll move on to protein, and explore the many benefits it offers. Protein is essential for building and repairing tissues, supporting muscle growth and strength, and maintaining healthy bones. We’ll discuss the difference between complete and incomplete proteins, and provide examples of healthy sources of protein. We’ll also cover some common misconceptions about fat and protein, such as the idea that all fat is bad for you, or that you need to eat large amounts of protein to be healthy. Finally, we’ll offer some tips for incorporating healthy sources of fat and protein into your diet, and provide some recipe ideas to get you started.-misconceptions?!
Debunking Nutritional Misconceptions
As a society, we’re riddled with misconceptions about nutrition. These misconceptions often lead to frustration among parents who want to provide their children with the best education, health, food, and life but find it challenging due to conflicting information.
One of the main issues we face today is that food is not food anymore. Even most of our plant-based foods are saturated with detectable levels of herbicides, pesticides, and insecticides…our animal foods are contaminated with with antibiotics, steroids, and growth hormones.
Let me clarify a few things that we often get wrong:
Whole Wheat Misconception
When you see ‘whole wheat’ on a label, it might seem like a healthy choice. But remember, the wheat we have now is not the same as the wheat we had 30 years ago. In 1979, Dr. Norman REFgenetically modified wheat, which has led to widespread gluten sensitivity. So when you see ‘whole wheat’, remember it’s genetically modified and often contains dyes, bleach, and processed sugar. This is woefully incomplete. Refs, See the bread lab.
Misconception about Fruits and Vegetable Chips
hen we see fruit or vegetable chips on the shelves, we think we’ve found a good snack for our kids. However, these chips are made using processed oil, excess sodium, and preservatives – all the same unhealthy ingredients found in regular chips.
It’s essential to be aware of these misconceptions and make informed choices about our diet. Remember that the best diet is one that includes whole foods and is plant-based.
The Low-Fat Diet Misconception
In response to the rising cases of heart disease, the government assembled a team of scientists to design a diet that would help citizens combat this health issue. The scientists found that people were consuming a lot of animal products, cheese, butter, and ghee, leading to an increase in heart disease. It made sense that eating more fatty foods led to the development of fatty plaques in the arteries, contributing to heart disease. REF
In 1947, the idea of a low-fat diet was first developed REF?. The goal was to reduce heart disease by cutting down on fat consumption. However, this approach did not yield the expected results. Heart disease remained the number one cause of death and even worsened over time.
It eventually came out that dietary fat and cholesterol have no impact on body cholesterol or heart disease. This revelation challenged the low-fat diet misconception that had been prevalent for years. REFS?!
Unraveling Nutritional Misconceptions
Nutritional misconceptions are not a new topic. They have been prevalent since World War II, when the U.S. economy was thriving, agriculture was booming, and people were consuming a lot of food. However, it was also during this time that heart disease became a significant health issue.
The Vitamin Misconception
A common misconception I encounter is the belief that taking vitamin supplements can replace consuming fruits and other nutrient-rich foods. Many people argue that fruits are too hard to cut, chew, swallow, and are costly. They prefer to take vitamin C supplements, which they believe offer the same benefits.
However, this is a flawed perspective. Vitamin C, in its complex format, is not just one molecular vitamin; each vitamin has a complex type. While food contains all these types together, supplements often only contain one type because they are synthetically made.
Research data shows that 90% of vitamin C supplements on the market are not even made from food. Astonishingly, a lot of Vitamin C is made from gasoline- no its not! REF?. So, it’s crucial to be careful when choosing supplements.
The Importance of Whole Foods
The truth is, there’s no substitute for whole foods. Plant-based foods provide your body with the raw materials it needs to function optimally. They offer a wide range of nutrients in their natural form, which your body can easily absorb and utilize.
The Aging Misconception
Another misconception pertains to aging. As people grow older, they should become smarter, healthier, and wiser. However, what’s happening today is quite the opposite. As people age, they quickly develop diseases like cancer and lose their cognitive abilities to conditions like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.
People spend their golden years in hospitals or bedridden for years before they die. They lose everything – their health, their wisdom, their money. It’s as if they never existed because they lose their quality of life.
Therefore, it’s essential to debunk these health misconceptions and promote a healthier lifestyle centered around whole foods. By doing so, we can ensure that as we age, we do so with grace, maintaining our health, wisdom, and quality of life.
The Carbohydrate Misconception
In the realm of health and wellness, misconceptions are common. One such misconception revolves around carbohydrates and their role in our health. Here, I aim to debunk this misconception and shed light on the importance of understanding insulin resistance.
A common misconception is that everyone needs carbohydrates for energy. While it’s true that carbohydrates convert into glucose as soon as we chew any carb-rich food like rice or bread, and glucose does convert into calories, carbohydrates have no other function in the body apart from calorie production.
However, carbohydrates can have a lot of negative side effects. For instance, glucose can lead to insulin resistance, which in turn can cause obesity, cancer, and female estrogen dominance problems.
Carbohydrates are converted into glucose as soon as we consume them, be it rice, bread, or sugar. Our glands secrete an enzyme called amylase that facilitates this conversion. Glucose is a calorie, and aside from calorie production, carbohydrates have no other function in the body.
The Importance of Controlling Carbohydrate Intake
When you have health problems like these, it’s crucial to cut down on carbohydrates so that your body can function properly and go into healing mode. A common misconception is that everyone needs carbohydrates for energy. Contrary to the misconception that everyone needs carbohydrates for energy, fat can actually provide double the calories of carbohydrates. However, carbohydrates only provide 4.5 calories per gram. On the other hand, healthy fats from sources like oil, nuts, avocados, dark chocolate, or fatty fish are excellent alternatives for energy production. If you’re dealing with a health issue, it’s crucial to control your carbohydrate intake and focus on consuming more healthy fats.
The human body needs carbohydrates only for energy. If you have major health issues, controlling your carbohydrate intake is essential for your body to function properly and enter a healing mode.
Therefore, understanding the role of carbohydrates in our bodies and their potential impact on our health is crucial. It’s not about completely eliminating them from our diet but about finding a balance that works best for our individual health needs.
The Insulin Resistance Problem
However, carbohydrates can have several adverse effects. For instance, excess circulating blood glucose-the breakdown product of carbohydrate metabolism- can lead to insulin resistance, which in turn can cause obesity, cancer, and female estrogen dominance problems. Insulin resistance is a condition where the body’s cells become resistant to the effects of insulin. When this happens, the body needs more insulin to help glucose enter cells. This can lead to higher insulin production, which can cause a variety of health problems. In fact, a significant number of female patients are estrogen-dominant due to insulin resistance caused by high carbohydrate consumption.
In my practice, I’ve observed that 80% of my female patients are estrogen-dominant. One such patient’s story stands out. Today, I saw a female patient whose story shocked me. Her journey was filled with numerous surgeries and procedures, including a gastric bypass surgery, all stemming from insulin resistance causing high estrogen levels that led to numerous health problems. Unfortunately, many doctors fail to recognize this connection.
The Fat/Protein Misconceptions
In the world of nutrition, misconceptions are rampant. Two of the most common misconceptions revolve around fat and protein. Here, I aim to debunk these misconceptions and shed light on the importance of these nutrients in our diet.
The first misconception is about fat. Many people believe that they should avoid fat at all costs, opting for fat-free or low-fat options. However, this is a misconception. Your body needs fat to function properly. Fat plays a crucial role in developing your hormones, cholesterol, brain, cell membranes, vitamin D, nervous system, and even your cartilage. Every single function in your body needs fat.
When you go on a fat-free diet, you’re not helping your body; you’re harming it. Your body stops functioning properly, and you start deteriorating. What you need to do instead is cut down on your carbohydrates, so that your body will not spike insulin. A healthier lifestyle seeks to obtain and maintain a healthy carbohydrate/fat/protein ratio .
A Protein Misconception
The second misconception is about protein. Many people believe that they need to look for protein in their diet. However, protein is everywhere; you never need to look for it. Whether you’re eating spinach or broccoli, you’re consuming protein.
In some cases, plants have more protein than animal products. For instance, chicken has 24% protein while plants average 40% protein. The reason we don’t see this is because of the calorie content; fats have more calories.
Instead of looking for protein, you should focus on consuming healthy fats and a more plant-based diet. Even foods like cheese and butter contain protein. Only a few foods like oil and some nuts don’t have protein.
However, be careful with the source of your protein. Consuming genetically modified proteins can cause issues like arthritis, inflammation, and bloating. REF
It’s essential to debunk these nutritional misconceptions and promote a healthier diet that includes the right amount of fats and proteins. By doing so, we can ensure that our bodies function optimally and maintain our health.
The Low-Fat Diet Misconception
In response to the rising cases of heart disease, the government assembled a team of scientists to design a diet that would help citizens combat this health issue. The scientists found that people were consuming a lot of animal products, cheese, butter, and ghee, leading to an increase in heart disease. It made sense that eating more fatty foods led to the development of fatty plaques in the arteries, contributing to heart disease.
In 1947, the idea of a low-fat diet was first developed. The goal was to reduce heart disease by cutting down on fat consumption. However, this approach did not yield the expected results. Heart disease remained the number one cause of death and even worsened over time. REF
Dietary fat and cholesterol, it turns out, have much less significance on cholesterol or heart disease, than previously thought.. This revelation challenged the low-fat diet misconception that had been prevalent for years.
The Misconception about Processed Foods
One of the main problems I’ve encountered is the consumption of processed foods, particularly those marketed as healthy options. For instance, many people opt for fruit and vegetable chips as a healthier alternative to regular chips. However, these ‘healthy’ chips are often made using the same unhealthy ingredients – processed oil, excess sodium, and preservatives. If you want to enjoy fruit and vegetable chips, I recommend making your own at home using healthy oils like coconut or olive oil.
The Sugar Misconception
Another common misconception is about sugar. Many people consume products like yogurt thinking they’re making a healthy choice. However, even a small portion of yogurt can contain up to 32 grams of sugar. And this isn’t brown sugar; it’s pure white sugar.
The Misconception about Fruit Juices
Many people believe that 100% fruit juices are healthy. However, these juices are often pasteurized, which means they no longer contain beneficial minerals. What’s left is a large amount of sugar – essentially, these juices have become pure processed sugar.
The Misconception about Microwaved and Frozen Foods
Parents often resort to microwaved and frozen foods for convenience. However, microwaving food changes its structure and can lead to nutrient loss. Similarly, frozen foods are often heavily processed. REFS
It’s essential to be aware of these misconceptions and make informed choices about our diet. Remember that the best diet is one that includes whole foods and is plant-based. By doing so, we can ensure that our dietary choices are informed by accurate information rather than industry-influenced misconceptions.
Whole Wheat and Fruit Chips
In the realm of health and wellness, misconceptions abound. Two such misconceptions revolve around whole wheat products and fruit chips. Here, I aim to debunk these misconceptions and shed light on the importance of understanding what goes into our food.
The Whole Wheat Misconception
Another common misconception is about wheat. Many people believe that whole wheat products are healthy. However, the wheat we consume today is not the same as the wheat we had 30 years ago. It has been genetically modified and can cause gluten sensitivity in many people.
Instead of wheat, we should opt for alternatives like rice, brown rice, quinoa, millet, sweet potato, lentils, and chickpeas. These foods can be used to make everything from bread to pasta to cereal.
Whole wheat bread or pasta may seem like healthy choices at first glance. However, when you dig deeper, you’ll find that these products are often made from genetically modified wheat. They also contain dyes, bleach, and processed sugar.
When dining out or shopping for groceries, you’ll often find gluten-free options or aisles dedicated to gluten-free products. This is because many people have developed sensitivity due to genetically modified wheat.
The Fruit Chips Misconception
Fruit chips are often marketed as a healthier alternative to regular chips. However, these ‘healthy’ chips are often made using the same unhealthy ingredients – processed oil, excess sodium, and preservatives.
When you think you’ve found a good snack for your kids in fruit chips, remember to consider what goes into making them. They might not be as healthy as they seem.
The Misconception about Meat, Eggs, and Milk
I want to talk about the importance of natural foods and probiotics in our diet, especially for children. Many people believe that meat, eggs, and milk are good sources of nutrients. However, these products often come from animals that have been given steroids and grain. As a result, these products lack the nutrients that they should naturally contain. Instead, we should opt for naturally grown chicken, fish, and free-range meat.
The Misconception about Processed Foods
Processed foods like fruit juice and products made from wheat contain processed sugar, salt, and industrial oil. These ingredients are more harmful than even cigarettes because they cause inflammation in the body which can lead to various diseases.
The Importance of Probiotics
Probiotics are essential for maintaining a healthy gut. Many children today are becoming constipated due to their diet. As a naturopath, I always recommend a good probiotic for children as well as adults.
In my family and with my patients, I always include probiotics in our diet. For older adults, I recommend 16 billion (cfu’s) per day. For younger children around the ages of 9-10, I recommend about 8 billion per day – 4 billion in the morning and 4 billion in the evening.
Therefore, it’s essential to debunk these nutritional misconceptions and promote a healthier diet that includes natural foods and probiotics. By doing so, we can ensure that our bodies function optimally and maintain our health.
Lifestyle Misconceptions
A typical lifestyle misconception is that “breakfast is the most important meal of the day”, however, skipping breakfast or intermittent fasting is actually a great way to optimize your health. We normally eat dinner as our largest meal of the day, so breakfast should be very light or have fewer calories. However, fasting a few hours (intermittent fasting 16-20 hours) is the best approach for improving health. [4]
Another misconception is that drinking bottled water is safer than drinking filtered or distilled water. Studies have shown, however, that more than 24,500 chemicals are found in bottled water, therefore filtered water is actually a much better option. Bottled water also has BPA and polycarbonate, which disrupts human physiological systems such as endocrine, neurological, etc. [5]
In the day and age of COVID-19, many health clinics promote the idea that we should always use antiseptics to keep ourselves germ-free. Although antiseptics do kill germs, it is not always beneficial to use them constantly because antiseptics kill good bacteria that leave our immune systems weak.
One of the biggest trends in social media is how to lose weight as quickly as possible, creating the misconception that being skinny is equivalent to being healthy. This inaccurate aesthetic commonly outweighs the fact that healthy tissue formation is actually the key to optimum health.
Another diet misconception that is often portrayed in the media is the idea that you need to eat smaller portions and frequent meals for optimal health. In reality, you should actually focus on eating in a specific window helps to heal and balance hormones.[1]
Losing Weight
Along with diet misconceptions, the idea that you need to count calories to lose weight also ties in with it, however, you actually need to eat the right food, focus on hormone balance, and practice intermittent fasting to lose weight properly. [2] The trend of losing weight fast through eating less and exercising more creates a false perception of proper weight loss; the best way to lose weight in a healthy manner is through a plant-based whole food diet with intermittent fasting and keeping hormones in check is the key to balancing healthy weight. [3]
Food Misconceptions
Common misconceptions also arise about the types of foods that we deem are “proper and healthy”. One of these misconceptions is that carbs are an essential part of your nutrients. In reality, although carbohydrates are an important macronutrient, the consumption of pure/refined carbs has no contribution to body regeneration and daily nutrient needs, but carbohydrates that are complex carbs are full of essential micronutrients and a good source of calories. However, protein and fat are the better choices of calorie sources. Whole salt is an essential micronutrient (electrolyte) for health, as our tears, saliva, blood, etc., are made of over 90 electrolytes, so we need to consume whole salt to balance body salt/electrolytes! Another fad idea is that all carbs are bad. The truth is, that some carbs such as complex carbs are essential and nutritious for the body. Along with carbohydrate misconceptions includes the idea that whole wheat bread is good for your health and should be preferred over white bread, however, the best option is wheat-free (gluten-free) since gluten has wheat which causes major diseases.
Sugars are also a form of carbohydrate and are often promoted as unhealthy and should be avoided altogether. In actuality, whole sugar has lots of essential nutrients that everyone consumes!
Next on the topic of diet misconceptions is the idea that salt is bad for your health. The real fact behind it is that whole salt is an essential micronutrient for health! The idea of increasing meat intake to build muscle promotes the idea that lean meat is the best protein to get, however, plant food sources have more protein than animals and are easy to digest and absorb. Along with protein misconceptions comes the idea that athletes need lots of protein, however, athletes need a high plant and keto diet. Vegetarian diets are also assumed to be protein deficient, however, it is actually rich in protein from other alternative sources like tofu.
The liver makes 80% of the cholesterol that the body needs! In fact, cholesterol food helps to balance cholesterol levels. Oftentimes we hear that “Red Meat is Bad for Your Health”; in actuality, grass-fed red meat has phytochemicals, minerals, and healthy fat/protein which is essential for heart function and overall health. [6] Cholesterol’s bad image is further conveyed by the idea that it causes heart blockage, and heart blockage leads to heart attacks. The fact is, that cholesterol is produced in the body to control inflammation, and heart attack is the result of inflammation, toxins, malnutrition, etc.
Top 20 daily misconceptions
Misconception 1: Breakfast is the Most Important Meal of the Day
Fact: While breakfast has traditionally been touted as the most important meal of the day, recent research suggests that this may not be the case for everyone. The importance of breakfast can vary greatly depending on individual nutritional needs, lifestyle, and personal preference. Some studies have found benefits to eating breakfast, such as providing energy, improving heart health, reducing the risk of diabetes, and improving cognitive function. However, these studies are often observational and cannot definitively prove that breakfast is the cause of these benefits. Other research suggests that as long as a person can fit their nutrients in during other meals, breakfast may not be the most critical meal of the day. (To Eat or to Skip Breakfast? What the Science Says, 2022) (Is Breakfast Really the Most Important Meal of the Day?, 2022)
TIP: Listen to your body and choose what works best for you. If you wake up hungry, enjoy a nutritious breakfast. If you’re not a morning eater, ensure you’re getting balanced nutrition throughout the rest of your day.
Misconception 2: Counting calories is the best way to lose weight.
Fact: Weight loss doesn’t necessarily require you to completely give up your favorite foods. You can still enjoy small portions of high-calorie foods as part of your weight-loss plan, as long as you monitor your total calorie intake. (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. (n.d.)
Tip: It’s not just about counting calories, but also about eating a balanced diet with a variety of nutrients. Remember, all calories are not created equal. 100 calories of vegetables can have a different impact on your body than 100 calories of a sugary snack. So, focus on the quality of the food you eat, not just the quantity.
Misconception 3: All carbohydrates are essential for the body.
Fact: Carbohydrates are a type of macronutrient, and they provide the body with energy. Whether they are essential to the diet remains a highly debated topic. (Medical News Today, 2023)
Tip: Include a variety of carbohydrates in your diet, such as grains, legumes, dairy, fruits, and vegetables.
Misconception 4: All high cholesterol foods should be avoided.
Fact: Some high-cholesterol foods may not raise your heart disease risk after all.
Tip: Limit or avoid unhealthy high-cholesterol foods, which are also high in saturated fat. (5 High Cholesterol Foods to Eat and Avoid, 2021)
Misconception 5: All red meat is bad for you.
Fact: High intake of red and processed meats is linked to a higher risk for heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and premature death.
Tip: Stick to no more than two to three servings of red meat per week. (What’s the Beef With Red Meat?, 2020)
Misconception 6: All salt is bad for you.
Fact: Too much salt can lead to high blood pressure and other health issues.
Tip: Monitor your sodium intake and try to limit it to the recommended daily amount. (Ajmera & Petre, 2017)
Misconception 7: All low-fat diets are good for weight loss.
Fact: A low-fat diet can be effective for weight loss, but it requires a lot of discipline to work and be safe.
Tip: Seek help from a registered dietitian or doctor to ensure that your low-fat diet is balanced and nutritious. (Gunnars, 2018)
Misconception 8: You should only eat lean meat to get protein.
Fact: There are many non-animal sources of protein.
Tip: Choose lean, unprocessed meat where possible and vary your protein sources. (Thomason & Boesch, 2023)
Misconception 9: Athletes need a ton of protein.
Fact: Athletes do need more protein than non-athletes, but the exact amount depends on the type of sport and the individual’s body.
Tip: Athletes should consult with a nutritionist or dietitian to determine their specific protein needs. (St, 2023)
Misconception 10: Vegetarian diets are protein deficient.
Fact: Enough protein can easily be obtained in a vegetarian diet.
Tip: Include a variety of plant-based protein sources in your diet, such as beans, lentils, and quinoa. (What To Know About the Vegetarian Diet, 2023)
Misconception 11: Bottled water is always better than filtered or distilled water.
Fact: The quality of bottled, filtered, and distilled water can vary, and all can be healthy choices depending on their source and the way they are processed.
Tip: Consider the cost-effectiveness and environmental impact when choosing between bottled and
filtered water. (Bottled Water Vs. Filtered Water Vs. Tap Water, n.d.)
Misconception 12: A very low-calorie diet is the best way to lose weight.
Fact: While a low-calorie diet can help with weight loss, it’s not sustainable for long-term weight loss or good for overall health.
Tip: Consult with a healthcare provider or a registered dietitian before starting a very low-calorie diet. (Lehman, 2021)
Misconception 13: All whole wheat bread is good for health.
Fact: Whole wheat bread is a good source of fiber and other nutrients, but the nutritional content can vary based on the brand and how it’s made.
Tip: Look for whole wheat bread that is high in fiber and doesn’t contain added sugars.
Misconception 14: You have to be skinny to be healthy.
Fact: Health is not solely determined by weight. It’s possible to be skinny and unhealthy, or overweight and healthy.
Tip: Focus on maintaining a balanced diet and regular exercise, rather than striving for a specific weight.
Misconception 15: All sugar is bad and should be avoided.
Fact: While excessive sugar is unhealthy, some forms of sugar are part of a balanced diet, such as the natural sugars found in fruit.
Tip: Limit added sugars and opt for natural sources of sugar, like fruits, whenever possible.
Misconception 16: You need to eat small, frequent meals for optimal health.
Fact: The optimal eating pattern can vary greatly among individuals. Some people may feel better eating small, frequent meals, while others prefer traditional meal times.
Tip: Listen to your body and eat when you’re hungry, whether that means small meals throughout the day or three larger meals.
Misconception 17: Gluten-free foods are inherently healthier.
Fact: Gluten-free does not automatically mean healthy. Some gluten-free foods can be high in sugar and low in nutrients. Gluten-free foods aren’t necessarily healthier unless you have celiac disease or are sensitive to gluten. A gluten-free diet is not a weight-loss diet and is not intended to help you lose weight.
Tip: Unless you have a medical reason to avoid gluten, focus on eating a balanced diet that includes a variety of foods. Remember, making changes in your daily eating and physical activity habits can improve your well-being and help you reach or maintain a healthy weight. (Some Myths About Nutrition & Physical Activity – NIDDK, n.d.)
Medicine and Diseases
Modern medical doctors have been given credit as the only reliable source for proper nutrition and health information. The idea is that Medical doctors are the real doctor and pharmaceutical medicine is the real medicine, however, modern allopathic doctors are pharmaceutically trained only to manage symptoms that come with a list of side effects. A few thousand treatment methods have been used in human history that are applied to recover diseases completely and those should be considered real doctors. Pharmaceutical drugs only can suppress disease and bandage the problem instead of focusing on curing and targeting the root cause of the disease
Finally, the biggest misconception is that diseases are mostly genetically inherited. In reality, gene expression depends on the lifestyle and environment inside the body!
The Influence of Industry and Research
In the realm of health and wellness, misconceptions abound. As a doctor, I’ve noticed several misconceptions about nutrition that are prevalent in our society. These misconceptions often lead to unhealthy dietary habits, which can have detrimental effects on our health and well-being. Here, I aim to debunk some of these misconceptions and shed light on the importance of a balanced, whole food diet.
Nutritional misconceptions are not a new topic. They have been prevalent since World War II, when the U.S. economy was thriving, agriculture was booming, and people were consuming a lot of food. However, it was also during this time that heart disease became a significant health issue.
Every four years, the government provides dietary guidelines. However, these guidelines have been changing over time, and there is no unique idea in the community about what constitutes a healthy diet. Some people advocate for the keto diet, others for paleo, veganism, Mediterranean diet, vegetarianism, and so on.
The right idea is to eat what our ancestors used to eat – whole foods and plant-based diets. Our ancestors consumed all types of food – including meat and fat – but not processed foods.
The misconception part comes in when everyone has their own idea and research. Industries fund these research studies and develop them on behalf of selling their products or processed foods. To sell their own food, everyone presents their own data, leading to different ideas and misconceptions.
Conclusion
With the rise of social media and popular diets and health fads, the portrayal of healthy foods and proper nutrition in society has been stained with misconceptions about losing weight quickly or overexercising. These misconceptions have become the new health norms in society that you may not even realize that they aren’t as factual as they are presented.
Many misconceptions aim to alter lifestyle changes that only produce short-term and ineffective methods of maintaining or improving one’s health. Other common misconceptions target fast weight loss or eliminating vital food groups. Such misconceptions can actually be detrimental to your health instead of improving it.
Patient Testimonial
KW, a patient in 2021, shares her inspiring journey towards health under the guidance of Dr. Haque. K’sexperience is characterized by perseverance, faith, and a strong belief in the power of hope.
KW’s journey began with a feeling of helplessness, a common sentiment among patients dealing with health issues. However, she decided to try her best and follow Dr. Haque’s advice. This decision marked a turning point in her health journey.
KWs’ faith played a significant role in her journey. She believed that she was in the right place, receiving the right help at the right time. This belief, coupled with her determination to follow Dr. Haque’s advice, led to significant improvements in her health.
Kari’s story serves as an inspiration for others dealing with health issues. It underscores the importance of perseverance, following medical advice, and maintaining hope. Her experience highlights the transformative power of faith and determination in overcoming health challenges. This case study serves as a testament to the impact of holistic healthcare and the significant role of patient determination and faith in the healing process.
She wrote:
“When you think you can’t do it, just try your best. Do your best to do what Dr. Haque says to do and just have hope. God has sent you to the right place to get the right help that you need at the right time.”
KW, Patient, 2021
References
Ajmera, R., & Petre, A. (2017, August 21). Is Salt Actually Bad for You? Healthline. Retrieved December 7, 2023, from https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/is-salt-bad-for-you
Bottled Water vs. Filtered Water vs. Tap Water. (n.d.). Brita. Retrieved December 7, 2023, from https://www.brita.com/better-health/the-drinking-water-debate/
Carbohydrate as an essential nutrient: What this means. (2021, October 20). Medical News Today. Retrieved December 7, 2023, from https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/carbohydrates-are-they-really-essential
Does Eating Small Frequent Meals Work For Weight Loss? (2023, October 25). Simple. Retrieved December 7, 2023, from https://simple.life/blog/small-frequent-meals/
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