11 Myths About Food: True Or False

Are carbs evil? Is snacking late at night a bad habit? Turns out that there are many notions about food that you have been getting wrong. Priya Chaphekar fact-checks the most popular ‘truths’ at the table.

- Priya Chaphekar

Whether we’re at work or a party, we’re bombarded with health advice from colleagues, friends and family—don’t eat this, don’t drink that! We take these old school myths too seriously, well, most of the time. While some of us force ourselves to gulp down bland, low-fat food, others skip that piping hot plate of rice altogether. The biggest mistake we make is to blindly follow the crowd, without digging for evidence or knowing what works for our body. What happens next? We swear off our favourite foods because we think they’re harmful for our health. But what if we tell you that most of these myths have no scientific backing? That rice can be good for your health and you can indulge your sweet tooth once in a while? Take heart, as we bring you the real deal.

CARBS MAKE YOU FAT: FALSE

Over the last few years, health fanatics have suddenly started referring to carbohydrates as ‘demon food’—which is a very wrong notion. Carbohydrates are one of the three macronutrients found in food, besides fat and protein. They are the primary sources of energy in a healthy balanced diet. Skip them, and you’ll end up feeling dull and lethargic. “I have a lot of clients who tried to omit carbs from their diet,” says Suman Agarwal, founder, Selfcare, Mumbai, “However, instead of losing weight, they started gaining more.” Suman advises to eat one serving of rice every day. “Eliminating an entire food group isn’t advisable. Carbs give you a sensation of fullness and provide you with essential nutrients that the body needs. Any food, if overeaten, will make you fat. The trick is to manage what you eat and how much.”

CALORIES AT NIGHT ARE MORE FATTENING: FALSE