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Healthy eating is not what you think. If you are overweight, tired, or plagued with chronic illness, your problem may stem from myths that have been around so long that you have stopped questioning them. Like uninvited guests who have long since overstayed their welcome, these false ideas about food and nutrition can make your life miserable. Why suffer one day longer than you have to?
Here are the most dangerous myths that can make you sick – or even kill you.
1. The more of a nutrient, the better – The fact is, your body is an exquisitely delicate and complex machine designed to work within narrow limits. Your body wants to maintain certain ratios, or proportions, between different kinds of nutrients. Too much of a good thing can tip this fine balance into illness and malfunctioning. Whole plant foods naturally package the exact amount of nutrients that your body thrives on.
2. A little bit can’t hurt – Actually, toxic substances may wreak havoc even in small doses. For example, even 3 cigarettes a day can increase your risk of cardiovascular disease by 64%. Similarly with eating, the heavy metals and other pollutants in some foods, especially animal foods, can disrupt your body and trigger inflammation even in tiny amounts. Whole plant foods minimize toxins in your diet and help your body get rid of the chemicals you already have stored.
3. We should dissect our foods into proteins, fats, and carbs – The practice of taking food apart and worrying about each piece separately has led to bizarre eating patterns. Chasing one nutrient at the expense of the others can lead to imbalance and deficiencies. Instead, you should concentrate on eating whole plant foods, rich in a super team of beneficial nutrients.
4. Fish oil is the best way to get omega-3s – The fact is, fish cannot make essential omega-3 fatty acids. No animal can. Only plants (marine algae in the case of fish) can manufacture anti-inflammatory omega-3s. Decaying, pollution-laden fish are not a healthy source of any nutrient. You get the healthiest omega-3s from plants, including ground flax seeds (2 tablespoons a day is the best amount for most people).
5. Protein is the premier nutrient – Protein is the basis for all life, plant and animal. Only plants can make the essential amino acids your body needs to assemble its own unique proteins. Manufacturing these amino acids requires more metabolic energy than animals can muster. Plants use the sun to fuel this energy-intense assembly of the amino acids needed by all living beings. Animal protein is recycled plant protein.
Too much protein overwhelms your liver and kidneys, possibly sparking inflammation throughout your body. If you eat a balanced mix of whole plant foods, you will get exactly the amino acids you need, without toxic excess.
6. Cow’s milk is the best place to get calcium – Actually, this commonly advertised statement embodies two myths. The first is that you need a specially designated source of calcium. In fact, all plants need calcium just to survive. Plant foods contain calcium absorbed straight from dissolved minerals in the soil. Animals don’t eat soil, and hence must get their calcium from plants or drinking water.
The second myth is the idea that cow’s milk is a vital food. In fact, this milk, which comes largely from pregnant animals on modern factory farms, is brimming with estrogen. This hormone fuels breast, ovarian, endometrial, prostate, and testicular cancer. Your solution is to go dairy-free with any of the dozens of delicious milks made from soy, rice, oatmeal, nuts, seeds, or other plants.
7. Supplements are a great source of nutrients – These pills often concentrate one nutrient at the expense of others, leading to imbalanced nutritional ratios. Supplements can also create a false sense of security, enticing you to eat a nutrient-poor diet and take pills instead of nutrient-dense foods. A well-balanced diet of whole plant foods requires only vitamin B12 and possibly vitamin D supplementation.
The solution to these nutrition myths is simple and fun. Just eat a diet based on whole plant foods. This includes vegetables, fruits, beans, potatoes, whole grains, herbs, spices, nuts, and seeds. True nutritional excellence, a trim figure, and vastly improved health are within your easy reach. Think of how great you will feel!
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