There are some myths that we need to break in order to get a better understanding and thus improve our current lifestyle.
1. Food Myth: Drinking decaffeinated beverages are better to maintain a caffeine free lifestyle.
Caffeinated beverages
Decaf, short form of decaffeinated. Read carefully the the label said before you purchase.
- There are many decaffeinated beverages in the market ranging from coffee, tea, to sodas. Decaffeination process needs formaldehyde to absorb the caffeine in order to remove it. Formaldehyde is a substance usually used to kill plants, if it kills plants it should be able to cause damage to our body too when we consume it.
- There are some ‘more natural‘ way of decaffeinated process like soaking it into water prior to roasting the coffee beans or decaffeinates the beans using carbon dioxide. Whichever ‘natural’ ways will spoil the flavour of the coffee, therefore chemical method is still mainly used by many companies.
2. Food Myth: Consuming low fat food is the best way to lose weight.
Be careful of what you eat. Some food are low fat but high calorie.
You really lose weight with the so called "low fat" food? Think again.
Myth buster:
- High fat food is usually high in calorie but low fat food might have the same or more calories than the fatted food. This is mainly because in reduced-fat food, sugar is normally increased.
- Sugar rapidly absorb into bloodstream than fat. Sugar can cause the rise of hormone insulin which acts to clear sugar and fat from the blood and store in the tissues for future use, too much of that causes weight gain.
- Also, the psychology of eating, studies found we often assume the energy content of food is much lesser than in food labelled “low fat” than it really is. When we saw food labelled “low fat” it is like a “green light” and end up eating more than usual. Study showed people ate 28% more of the supposedly low fat variety.
Conclusion: Low fat food or reduced fat food is not equal to low calorie food. When we need to lose weight we look for low calorie food, not low fat food.
Solution: calculate your daily calorie intake and look for those food item that matches your diet. Do not rely only on its “low fat” label but go through its content and its calorie to avoid unwanted weight gain.
3. Food Myth: It’s OK to skip breakfast.
Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Eat it right!
Myth buster:
- Breakfast is the most important meal of a day. It provides the requirement energy that you need for the later day. If you do not take breakfast, you are likely to be sleepy and less productive for the day. Study by Dr. Ronald Kleinman shows breakfast improve the quality performance of children in school.
- After a long fast during the sleep, glucose in our body continues to reduce. Glucose is needed as a fuel to make the brain function. As we skip breakfast, it mean we lengthen the time for our brain to go without being refueled. Thus, it impacts our body in various abilities such as problem solving, logically thinking, communication as well as temperament.
Conclusion: Breakfast kicks start your day to meet your daily dietary requirement which helps to boost up your productivity. It also reduce your likelihood of overeating best for weight lost.
Solution: Take healthy breakfast which high in fiber and vitamins, at least a cup of cereal will do.
4. Exercise Myth: High intensity exercises today will make you lose all weight you desire tomorrow.
You just cannot lose weight overnight.
Programed your exercise from low to high intensity. With determination and regularity, it will work.
Myth buster:
- It is an exercise myth. There are many reasons why you gain or lose weight. It includes genetic factor and dietary intake factor. It is how much calories that you eat that really counts.
- Every individuals will not lose weight under the same exercise program thus it is impossible to lose all your weight overnight. Just be reasonable, your body cannot burn all the fats at a time to burn those fats that you have accumulated for years.
- Instead sudden high intensity work out in the beginning and returning is bad for your health especially your heart as you gave it a sudden wake up call for extra work load. It is difficult to sustain and harmful enough to cause physical injuries.
Conclusion: Rome is not built in a day. Sudden high intensity work out do more harm than good.
Solution: Start of with some low intensity work outs and gradually increase it. Also, regular exercise is important to a successful long-term weight management.
5. Health Myth: A lump in your breast means you are having cancer
Lumps might not be cancerous.
Worry is too early. Take a regular check up to confirm rather than to guest and get worried.
Myth buster:
- Do not jump into conclusion right away that lumps mean cancer. It might just some harmless lumps such as cysts, fibroadenomas or pseudo lumps which are natural among females.
- Usually they are caused by poor blood circulation in the breast.
- Normally cancerous lumps feel irregular in shape with a pebbly surface not round and is hard. If it is tender then it is likely not cancerous.
- However, you still need to double check with the doctor to confirm and seek advice on the lumps. It is crucial, do not be a doctor of your own.
Conclusion: Lumps might not be cancerous.
Solution: Worries occurs mainly due to ignorance or less-knowledge in the area. Learn more about breast lumps to help you to understand more about it. Self-exam your breast every month or at least after your period for early detection. Seek for professionals for advice, diagnosis or go for medical check-ups.
Be wise to differentiate myths and truth for a better and healthy lifestyle!
